Cocoa Beach Warnings and Dangers

Riptides are incredibly dangerous and will sweep even the strongest swimmer out to sea if they aren't careful. Cocoa has riptides very often and the beach patrol is very good about posting. If you do find yourself caught in one, swim parralel to the shore until you are out of the rip.
Parents: never take your eyes off you kids. EVER.

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During spring break land sharks from various colleges and universities inhabit the local beach pubs. If you're a female who likes sharks, you'll see fins to the left and fins to the right, and you'll know you're the beach bait. Hammerheads are hardly ever seen.

On the shore fisherman will cast long lines with big hooks. Don't walk near them when they are casting, and don't get tangled in their long, nearly-invisible lines.

You have to be extremely wary of the beach (not so bad in Cocoa Beach) and grassy areas where fire ants like to colonize. The bites hurt and can cause little hard bumps on non-allergic people but if allergic, they can be life threatening. Plus, they itch beyond belief and sting. Make sure you watch out for any little mounds and take other precautions to prevent any bites.

It never ceases to amaze me the amount of people that refuse to put on suncream and opt for nothing or even baby oil or cooking oil in the naieve belief that it will help them tan quicker. It will not, it will only make you burn and then peel quicker.

A high factor sunscreen is always a good idea, a healthy white skin is far more attractive than burnt, peeling red skin.

When buying the sunscreen make sure that it doesn`t have water or agua as an ingredient, it evaporates in the heat and doesn`t help you at all.

I would also recommend a hat, long sleeve shirt and sunglasses as well to help protect you from the suns harmful rays.