Photo for Headline Surfer / The Atlantic coastal inlet at New Smyrna Beach and Ponce Inlet as shown by New Smyrna Beach resident and surfer Kem McNair on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Longtime surfer, nature photographer, and New Smyrna Beach resident Kem McNair is very astute when it comes to the ocean's impact locally, especially at the inlet where surfing is a rite of passage.
Recently, McNair observed and opined on the high tide changes there:
"Just in case you have never seen this, as the high tide changes and the tide is starting to go out, the water starts to exit the inlet as seen here. Here, it shows up really well because of all the rain we have been receiving, which dirties the water for all the runoff. The water in the river is extremely cloudy and murky.
"This process continues throughout the entire outgoing tide cycle, and the brown water flows out, forming a giant comma shape to the south, but does not mix significantly with the ocean water.
"When the tide goes slack, the water flowing out of the inlet stops, and slowly starts being vacuumed up into the river, and the whole 'Brown comma' returns into the inlet, and the ocean water flows into the inlet behind this murky water. It's quite a sight to watch a whole tide cycle from the inlet condo. which takes about 6 hours. I love the Ocean!"
"When the tide goes slack, the water flowing out of the inlet stops, and slowly starts being vacuumed up into the river, and the whole 'Brown comma' returns into the inlet, and the ocean water flows into the inlet behind this murky water. It's quite a sight to watch a whole tide cycle from the inlet condo. which takes about 6 hours. I love the Ocean!"
That's quite an analysis, Kem McNair, and proof positive why your oceanic observations are important and interesting.
Meet Kem McNair: Surfer extroardinaire, environmental photog & artist:
Kem McNair is a notable figure in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, particularly for his contributions to surfing and environmental efforts. McNair was a pioneer, a standout of the 1960s and 1970s, and a junior member of the legendary Surfboards Hawaii and Hobie Surf Teams of the 1960s. He was known by everyone for his radical, cutting-edge surfing well into the 1980s. He's also a photographer, artist, musician, and shopkeeper. More at https://www.kemmcnair.com/kem-mcnair.html.
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