Main Beach @ Boardwalk

A.k.a. Santa Cruz Beach, this large beach adjacent to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk features lots of people, surfers, open sand, and volleyball: the quintessential beach scene!

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COVID-19

Keep your distance from other people.

Practicing social distancing is still essential. Only go to the beach if you are able to keep 6 feet or 2 meters away from others. Follow the instructions provided by your local health authorities. If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter our efforts to curb the virus’s spread.

Water Quality

Passed water quality tests 60-95% of the time
Historical Status
This status is based on the latest sample, taken on February 7th, 2023. Swim Guide - Main updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on February 23th, 2023 at 9:55 AM.

For water quality icon legend, click:

Current Weather

14°C

Mostly clear

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Monitoring Frequency

Source Information

Santa Cruz County’s department of Environmental Health Services provides recreational water quality to the public through their website and by calling 831-454-3188. Samples are collected and tested for the levels of 3 types of bacteria. Please refer to the monitoring frequency in the beach description as frequencies vary throughout the year. Swim Guide checks daily for the latest results.

Country standards for indicator bacteria are as follows:
Total Coliform > 10,000 MPN (Most Probable Number) / 100 ml of water
E.coli > 400 MPN / 100 ml
Enterocococcus > 104 MPN / 100 ml

A beach will be marked Green when all three levels of bacteria are below standards

A beach will be marked Red when 1 of the bacteria levels are above the standard

A beach will be marked Grey when there is no current or reliable information.

The county advises that you avoid swimming in areas at risk to storm water runoff for at least 3 days after heavy rain.

Water Quality Graph