Category Archives: Surfing

Failed Disney World Wave Machine from Early 1970’s

By R. Michael Brown, Writer| Producer & Former Field Engineer

In the lake in front of the Polynesian Hotel and Village, Disney World built a wave machine on an island to pump waves toward the hotel beach for surfing.

The company I worked for was doing some geotechnical work on it and I was the only surfer in the company so they sent me out to test the waves.

When the machine worked, which wasn’t very often, it would pump out a 2 foot closeout of murky swamp water.

*Me [my skinny self back then] OR Dick Nunis, Disney executive?*

There is only one photo that I’ve found of someone surfing the wave (above). A Disney employee newsletter ran the photo and said it was Dick Nunis surfing in the photo, the Disney executive that came up with the wave machine idea and acquired the $400,000 budget to build it. Might have been him but the newsletter also said it was a 5 ft. wave. That’s a stretch LOL.

It wasn’t a very powerful wave but it was strong enough to ride on a longboard AND wash away the man-made fine white sand beach next to the Polynesian.

I told them they should try to use larger/heavier grain size quartz beach sand; but, that’s tan and gray and they wanted pristine white – I’m sure for the Disney attraction brand or something. Powdery white sand only comes in tiny grain sizes and is easily moved by wind and waves. Erosion was instantaneous. Common sense really.

I was just an ocean engineering college student, employed field soils engineer, and surfer, so what did I know, right? They didn’t listen or try it.

It failed.

So the ride/attraction was cancelled and scrapped.

Nunis did finally get his wave machine with Typhoon Lagoon in 1989 – But that’s another story…

Surfers Hitting Perfect Huge Flagler Pier Surf

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Thursday, 8-21-2025
By R. Michael Brown

Huge perfect surf from Hurricane Erin at Flagler Pier in North Florida.

Even though the storm is 600 miles away this morning, the swell is still pumping in, even from the backside of the hurricane.

Waves are overhead – look closely at the outside sets to see surfers ripping it up!

Video 3:03 min. Surfers riding overhead waves, clean up set, offshore winds.

Check on the current surf conditions with our FREE Florida East Coast Beach Ad-Free Webcams here on BrownieBytes.NET

BTW, all the construction equipment and material is for the rebuilding of the pier that was damaged by a hurricane years ago.

BIG Surf Starts to Arrive in Florida

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Hurricane Erin is due east of West Palm Beach now.

Giant closeouts this evening in Boca Raton. Not rideable.

*Boca Raton, FL Palmetto Park Road Pavilion (South Beach Park).*

Some waves either snuck through the Bahamas or they’re wrapping around the islands.

Interesting that this size at the same time is NOT hitting Palm Beach, Singer Island, Jupiter, and further north of Ft. Pierce.

Be careful out there. If you’re not a serious experienced surfer, don’t go in the water deeper than ankle deep. The currents, waves, and runouts are now extreme.

Inexperienced surfers should stay out of the surf too. I saw several surfers paddling out upcoast today and they had a “come-get-me-stroke.”

See the live beach webcams on my webpage on Brownie Bytes to see the surf and conditions:

Surfing Webcams in Florida

BIG SURF Expected on Florida East Coast Tuesday PM –> Wednesday –> Thursday PM

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8-17-2025 1 PM
By R. Michael Brown, Writer and Multimedia Producer

*Windy Surf Forecast for Wednesday Afternoon 8/20/2025 at 4 PM.*

Erin’s top winds have weakened, so the storm is now a Cat 3.

The National Hurricane Center is predicting that winds will increase to 145 mph in the next 24 hours making the storm a strong Cat. 4. They slowly decreasing after that. However, after the rapid intensification over the last 48 hours to a Cat. 5, the models still have difficulty predicting storm intensity.

Windy. As of this afternoon. is predicting really big surf in the 6′- 9′ range north of Palm Beach. Only big wave spots like Pump House, Reef Road, Monster Hole, RC’s will be able to handle a swell that size.

Most of Erin’s effects in Florida will be from Palm Beach County north. But, from the Windy wave forecast, it’s possible to get 5′ – 6′ in mid to southern Palm Beach County.

The wave window is Tuesday PM until Thursday PM.

Check on the current surf conditions with our FREE ‘Live’ Florida East Coast Beach Webcams here on BrownieBytes.net

BIG SURF Expected on Florida East Coast Tuesday PM – Wednesday – Thursday AM

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“Rough Surf, Dangerous Rip Currents:” Hurricane Erin Boosts to Cat 5

Hurricane Erin strengthens into a Category 5, as it moves north in the Atlantic and experts warn of potential dangerous (and possibly) epic waves.

Swell-chasers and wary coastal property owners continue to monitor the trajectory, and strength of Hurricane Erin, as it continues toward the east coast.

*Windy Peak South Florida Surf Forecast for Thursday, 8/21 at 7 AM*

The storm is currently looming over the Caribbean, with a trajectory moving northward, with a path that curves away from the eastern seaboard, away from landfall, yet still sending stormy conditions (and potentially sizable swell) to the east coast.

AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva, called the conditions “near perfect,” when it comes to the storm strengthening on its path.

“Erin is forecast to slowly curve to the north as it continues to strengthen over the weekend. At this time, the storm is forecast to remain hundreds of miles off the East Coast,” DaSilva said. When it comes to the waves, he continued:

“Beaches along the entire East Coast, from Florida to New England and Atlantic Canada, will likely experience rough surf and dangerous rip currents as Erin tracks north and eventually northeast.”

Here’s the latest from the reliable forecaster Bryan Norcross:

Norcross is known for his matter-of-fact content and delivery without all the hype from others that is intended to scare folks and get clicks.

Check on the current surf conditions with our Florida East Coast Beach Webcams here on BrownieBytes.net

*Hurricane Erin 8-16-2025 2 PM Windspeed Forecast*

Sargassum Seaweed Bloom Back Overrunning S. Florida Beaches

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Seaweed is invading South Florida beaches again this summer. From Miami Beach to Ft. Pierce, Florida, the sargassum bloom has impacted beaches with up to shin deep stinky weed.

Click images to enlarge:

It’s caused by fertilizer runoff and pollution in the Atlantic Ocean and greatly impacts the Caribbean and Florida beaches. Since I reported on the first major Sargassum Seaweed bloom over 10 years ago, we’ve had a couple times that was almost this bad. Hopefully it won’t get as bad as the first:

Seaweed Invasion Continues in Palm Beach (scroll down)

See our Surfcam webpage to see live shots of beaches from Boca Raton to St. Augustine