No, it’s not the Caribbean. New Jersey’s oceanfront really is that clear right now
Clean Ocean Action tells News 12 that scenes like these are because of the tireless efforts of thousands of people who fought hard to change environmental laws.
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Are you looking for clear, clean and warm ocean water? Forget the Bahamas and South Florida, you may only need to drive to the Jersey Shore.
"Never seen it this clear, not in my life. Only in Florida but we are not in Florida," said Kellie Frain, who was visiting Belmar from Yardley, Pennsylvania.
It seems like everyone's noticed the beauty of New Jersey’s beaches recently.
"The water is gorgeous, beautiful, warm, clean - very clean," said Vincent Yannone, of Belmar.
Drone video taken from late May over Belmar and Seaside Heights shows typically dark blue ocean water. Drone video from June 12 resembles a tropical getaway.
So what happened?
"The water has been exceptionally clean, as well over the weekend. We had a west wind, which blows out the surface water and keeps it clean," said Belmar Chief Lifeguard Harry Harsin.
"You can actually see the animals too. I was actually looking at some fish swimming and I pointed it out to my friends. It's so cool," said Charles McGuire, visiting from Hamilton Township.
"It's like being in a Caribbean country seeing the clear water," said Seaside Heights Mayor Tony Vaz.
Clean Ocean Action director Cindy Zipf tells News 12 that scenes like these are because of the tireless efforts of thousands of people who fought hard to change laws and make the Jersey Shore what she calls “the ultimate comeback kid.”
"Whatever mandates they've been putting in effect for environmental safety and ocean dumping over the years we've definitely seen an increase in marine life," added Harsin.
Retired National Weather Service Mount Holly director Jim Eberwine says the brilliant turquoise colors seen this week are from a combination of a recent upwelling event last week and phytoplankton bloom, which enhances those tropical-looking blue-green colors.
