The World's Most POLLUTED Surf Spots...

11 beaches around Durban are seriously polluted due to mismanagement. Ballito Tidal Pool, Westbrook Beach, Umdloti Beach, Glenashley Beach, Virginia Beach, Umgeni River, Umgeni River mouth, Laguna Beach, Country Club Beach, Bay of Plenty and Addington Beach - all have critical levels of E. coli.

I’m from SanDiego and the place I used to live the closest surf was Imperial beach. It’s got some good breaks and the TJ river mouth has some insane barrels. Really nice break but the water is so polluted. The whole town smells bad. Really unfortunate. I know people that have been surfing it their whole lives and they never have been sick. It certainly isn’t clean but I’d go out if it’s firing

It's sad the corporations making billions have cuased so much ecological destruction....and at worse pay a fine ....and just keep on polluting becuase the government got paid .

Been surfing 32 years. Luckily only had 4 ear infections (Bali, Samoa, Croyde, Hossegor). Have had semi closed ear canals (surfers ears aka: ear exostosis) for about last 13 years and about 9 years ago got the worst ear infection where it totally blocked one of my my already 50% closed exostosis ears. Was sent to ear surgeon where he chiseled out the abscess with no local anesthetic - was a fuckin painful 5mins. But luckily I have never had an ear infection since as I quickly adopted a new regime: Always where ear plugs (I like speedo fusion or Macs silicone). Where wetsuit hood in cold water. Always rinse out ears with fresh water after each surf and most importantly wash ears 1 to 2 times a week with rubbing alcohol (70%) and then use a soft tissue to dry outer ear entrance. I believe the ear plugs have also helped my ear canals from closing any further. So basically good ear management can help resist further ear canal detonation. I'd strongly advise any new or young surfers doing all this from day one to avoid the wretched surfer's ear and general infections.

1:23 Imperial Beach, CA 2:27 KAHALU'U, HI 3:28 Godrevy Beach UK 4:55 Cangu, Bali 6:38 Fukushima, Japan 7:20 Newcastle UK 8:01 Rio 9:18 Long Island NY 9:48 What can be done??

Long Island is not nearly as dirty as the LA area after rain. I’ve seen beautiful blue or emerald green water days on the Island. Honestly suprised you didn’t mention a place like topanga or first point which are next to nasty sewage/river mouths.

I used to surf over tar balls and hospital waste on the Jersey shore back in the 80s. It’s so much cleaner now.

There is a nice little wave in Tarkwa Bay in Lagos, Nigeria. Super consistent, but it's a shame the water is so polluted. It sits adjacent to a major industrial shipping challen, and is kind of near the rivermouth/lagoon. You have urban runoff and heaps of trash and rubbish. It's like surfing in garbage and gasoline. I didn't stop me from getting out there as it's my only option in the near area, but it's a challenge to bear it.

I used to live in IB and surfed the sloughs quite a few times. I also am a plumber who works at hospital and regularly deal with raw sewage. I would tell people that I built an immunity surfing the sloughs. I was there during the sewage spill in 2015. I was able to smell it at my house 2 blocks from the beach. It’s pretty bad. The wave is fantastic though.

The Tijuana Sloughs was an early big wave testing ground...late 40s through 50s. Bob Simmons surfed there when it broke. I'm sure the water quality wasn't so great back then either.

Canary islands - many dont know but also has a big problem, las americas in tenerife youll walk right over the sewage pipes to go surf. People get sick often and dont know why

Thank you Dan for raising more awareness around this sad topic. You're the man!

Sayulita, in Nayarit Mexico sometimes has "black water" after a heavy rain. It used to be awesome but now its overcrowded, dirty, and full of garbage.

Always good content 🤙 Thank you! 🌊

I grew up surfing Imperial Beach all my life. I’ve gotten diarrhea, rashes and finally in the past recent years, I’ve quit surfing my home break next to the pier. I worry about my health and don’t want to put myself at risk. Now have to travel north or even south just to surf. The smell at times at night is so bad we have to close our windows. The smell affects Imperial Beach, Nestor, San Ysidro. It’s very unfortunate we have to live with this pollution. C.R.A.P. , Citizens Revolting Against Pollution!!

As a Capetonian I’ve had some serious staph infections exposure. This makes you aware of how little we do and how much we can do. Good episode and awareness thanks Dan.

One of my mentors, and the only surfer back in the day who could give Donald Takyama a run for his money in surf competitions was Barry Ault. In 2014, he and two others out at Sunset Cliffs, two days after a rain..all three got staph infections but Barry succumbed to the infection, 3 days after they went surfing.

I grew up surfing the north end of Coronado Beach. Super fast and hallow on a South swell, its being closed constantly from pollution now. Pretty sad

I surf just south of imperial beach. In Mexico. There’s never anyone in the water. I think people are afraid of the pollution. I dont go after it rains but any other time is great. I think my immune system is used to it!

IMPERIAL Beach has been nasty back in the 80's Santa Monica is fealthy real bad now.