The sun, sand, and water -- the beach is a beautiful place to enjoy a nice day either by yourself or with some good company. The only problem is, the beach can be like the Wild West. Just about anything can happen when mass groups of people congregate to one area in order to relax. It's rare to visit the beach without seeing at least one questionable or hysterical thing. So, we've compiled a list of some of the most absurd things that people have caught on camera while basking in the sun.
So Pitted
We're sure there's nothing better than dropping into a wave only to find yourself 10 feet up in the air and heading towards the beach. We're sure this guy actually surf's because it's hard to imagine that an amateur could get this much air even if they didn't mean to.
But hey, at least it makes for a good picture that they can put up on Instagram since the guy does look graceful even though he's about to be in a lot of pain. Hopefully the lifeguard saw this happen, because he might need some attention after this fall.
"Where We're Going We Don't Need Roads"
We're going to take a guess and say this person was driving on the beach and was caught in the rising tide. We doubt many things are more painful than watching your prized truck slowly engulfed by the sea as you watch helplessly.
Chances are, this car will be totaled by the time the tide finally recedes, so hopefully they have excellent insurance. Considering how majestic this picture is, maybe they can post an ad on Craigslist and somebody might actually end up taking the truck off of their hands. But chances are, this will probably not happen.
Couldn't Contain Its Excitement
This baby elephant is either having a really good day, or a really bad day. We're going to assume that it's having the best day and couldn't contain its excitement to be at the beach so it had to bury its head in the sand and water. To be honest, that looks pretty relaxing, especially if you happen to be a baby elephant.
Maybe its their first time at the beach and this was its reaction to experiencing something totally new. All we know is that it's adorable and possibly one of the cutest things we've ever seen at the beach.
When The Sun Is Not Your Friend
For most people, going to the beach is about relaxing in the sun and maybe going in the water, but not for this person. Soaking up some rays isn't even an option for fear of getting deathly sunburned. Although we admit that the fear of getting sunburned is real, it seems like there are less intense ways to prevent it.
We wonder if they stayed wrapped up like a mummy all day or if they poked their head out to take in the ocean view. We bet they're wearing sunscreen on top of all of that.
You Can Never Be Too Careful
Everybody knows that when you're at the beach people are out to steal your sandals. This person is just trying to stay one step of everybody and keep their flip flops as safe and secure as possible. Yet, before we judge, it's possible that these sandals have some sort of significance to their owner, or maybe they are a limited edition pair.
It seems that the easiest way to make sure they're safe is to just keep them on your feet but to each their own. Who wants to wear sandals at the beach anyway?
A Horse Enjoying Its First Time At The Beach
This is an animal that doesn't know what to do with itself. Much like the adorable elephant, it looks like this horse is overwhelmed seeing the beach for the first time. It's probably a mix of amazement and confusion. Horses are generally very smart animals, so they know when they're somewhere out of the ordinary.
Hopefully, this horse had an opportunity to frolic around in the water with his friends. Who knows, maybe he'll even be hired to give couples romantic rides on the beach. That would be the life.
Anyone Up For A Swim?
If this sign isn't inviting you to come swimming, we don't know what is. We're also not sure sure where in the world crocodiles at the beach are a problem. All we know is that we're staying as far away from this place as possible.
The authorities have made it very clear that they don't want anyone swimming. This is good, because some people might ignore the warning entirely, thinking that it's no big deal. Also, whoever took this picture must have no fear since a crocodile could snag you out into the water easily from that distance.
Romance Might Be Dead
There's no way to tell for sure, but this seems to be a rather ironic picture with a couple arguing as they're taking romantic engagement photos at the beach. We're sure that the photographer is cringing behind the camera, continuing to take pictures anyway.
We can't blame the couple either, they might as get their money's worth whether they're arguing or not. Hopefully, they will be able to look back at these pictures and laugh instead of seeing it as a reason they might have split up. We wish them the best of luck!
Hope He Has A Wireless Hotspot
Bringing your computer to the beach is risky for a number of reasons but that's not stopping this guy. We're not sure if there's any wi-fi to be found on the beach but we're sure he's got that all handled. Aside from having a computer, he looks like he's prepared for a successful workday at the beach.
He's got a 12-pack of Dr. Pepper, a grill, an ice chest, and a few other beach necessities. We hope he's watching a beach-themed movie like Endless Summer or Finding Nemo in order to get ready for his day at the beach.
Will You Grab Me My Milk?
This baby should be every vacationer's spirit animal. We don't think we've ever seen someone kicking back with such suave and ease. The kid looks so relaxed it's like he were born in that inner-tube. We should all take notes from this baby about what it means to take a load off, although surely their life isn't all that stressful yet.
This is going to be a picture that the family needs to keep forever so the baby can prove that he's been chilling since a young age. This would be a great social media photo later on in life. Cheers, little guy.
Beach Master
Now this is someone who knows how to beach. While everyone else is struggling with their towels, beach chairs, and grills, this guy is sitting back and enjoying a cold one. We don't care how long this seating arrangement may have taken to make because it sure looks worth it. You can fit all of your friends and family in there if you needed and stay warm by the fire.
However, if you're going to try this at home, make sure you learn about the rules at your local beach because this could be a big no-no in some places.
Just Hanging With The Locals
The sand, water, and few few cows... what more could you need? Unlike the other animals we've seen, these cows seem very accustomed with the beach and calm enough to relax next to some vacationers. We're not sure which beach has free-roaming cows, but it's now a must-visit for us.
We wonder if they like to cool off in the water, because everyone should get the opportunity to swim with some cows in their life. Those tourists better keep and eye on their lunches, we're sure the cows would be happy to take them off their hands.
Garfield Phones
For 30 years, Garfield phones have been washing up on the beaches in Brittany, France. It was a big mystery, with a lot of people assuming that a shipping container carrying the phones had sunk years earlier and was at the bottom of the ocean. Turns out they were pretty close.
In 2019 a local farmer came forward and solved the puzzle: he had found a metal shipping container stuffed with Garfield phones in a cave back in the 1980s. The tide would wash the phones out at times, leading to the bizarre beach sight.
Hello Sea Dog, I'm Land Dog
Most dogs will only encounter a few other kinds of animals in their lives, and a sea lion is usually out of the question. These lucky dogs are probably one of the few that get to interact with a sea creature face-to-face. Chances are, these three played a little bit together since sea lions have been known to play with dogs at times.
We're just happy someone managed to get a picture of their reaction, neither species quite knowing what to think of the other. Even the more cautious dog is running to catch a glimpse.
Not The Children!
This is the definition of a family photo gone wrong. There are a multitude of emotions in this one photo, ranging from joy and fear to despair. Considering the smile on the dad's face, it's clear that he doesn't even know what's about to happen, and that their cute family photo is going to end in disaster. And possibly a mouthful of sand.
To keep things on the lighter side, we're going to assume that the mom caught her baby by its feet miraculously and the family will be able to nervously laugh the situation off. It's safe to say this might be their last family picture for the foreseeable future.
Take Me Back Home Please!
This picture is proof that cats are not big fans of water. This looks like the cat is living its worst nightmare, staring at the biggest body of water on the planet. It probably wants to run away but also wants to be as far from the wet ground as possible.
We can't help but feel bad for this poor feline, but the picture makes it all worth it. We bet that the next time this cat gets put in a car it's going to pray that it's going to the vet rather than the beach.
Strange Things Happen At The Beach
From what you've gathered so far, you can probably agree that a particularly weird amount of things occur down at the beach. Maybe it's just too much nature for some people to handle, but they're not alone. Dogs also get weird at the beach.
Strangely enough, this dog acquired the skill to walk on two paws while he was cruising the shoreline. Combine that with his beachy hair and this is sure to cause a double take or two.
Always Look Behind Yourself Before Snapping A Photo!
This girl wanted nothing more than to have a nice selfie of her time at the beach. It is just too bad she didn't think to look behind herself.
In the back of her photo, there is a night billboard of a young girl sticking her tongue out. It looks as though she is making fun of the girl taking the photograph!
Just Your Typical Beach Day With The Family...
This photo deserves a massive amount of awesome points. Just look at the poise of that chihuahua. Not only does she have a cigar, sombrero, and eyeglasses (did you miss those?) but she's casually walking on a hot summer day.
This baby behind her is still learning to walk, and just trying to keep up with the family dog. Even once they learn how to walk, they'll have a lot of catching up to do in terms of cool points!
Bananas Were A Bad Idea
If you bring a bunch of bananas to a beach full of monkeys, you're probably going to have a bad time. Monkeys are unlikely to politely ask for more when they can just swarm you and take what they want. This woman looks like she just realized her mistake as she is slowly surrounded on all sides by a group of ravenous primates.
If she makes one wrong move, she might find herself covered in monkeys, something you probably don't want to happen in the wild. We hope this worked out okay and she didn't need a rabies shot.
Well, Alrighty Then...
This beach sign is way more than sassy. Who do you think you're talking to? Telling me to fly a kite? Then telling me I can't fly my kite. I didn't want to fly a kite before, but now I do.
Whoever came up with this sign, along with it's color coded sass, has a lot of passive aggressive creativity that needs to be released. The only question we have now is, did taxpayers buy this sign?
Burn Me Once, Shame On Me
Have we stressed the importance of sunblock? For folks who haven't spent a whole lot of time at the beach, it's important to note that you need to cover every bit of skin that will be exposed to the sun with sunblock.
You may not be used to putting sunblock on your feet, but when was the last time they saw the sun? This dad learned the hard way, and he's going to be feeling the burn every time he puts on his shoes.
She Got That Beach Bod
Once New Years hits, everyone is trying to lose weight, get in shape, and get ready to hit the beach for spring break. The beach body is one of the hardest things to achieve in life, it seems. Even if you think you're almost there, you take one look in the mirror before heading out and think, NOPE.
This confident gal knows she's beach-ready, and she's going to flaunt what she's got. Not everyone can make the beach look this effortlessly relaxing, but this French bulldog is pulling it off brilliantly.
Or Just Fake It
If you're like the majority of the American population and don't get your act together in time to have that beach body by the time the sun comes out, don't worry. This dog in Oregon figured out how to make it work for her.
She didn't put in all that extra effort to get her body ready. She just went to the beach, and with the help of her owner, achieved an attractive mermaid body. This dog is pretty good at sitting still!
I Don't Want To Beach
Ok, the beach isn't for everyone. There's a lot of sand, a lot of sun, and everything gets really sticky once the salt water hits. Clearly, this woman is not down for a beach day. The least her husband could do is to bring an umbrella for her, so she gets a little bit of shade. But no.
She was willing to compromise, and go to the beach for him (when she clearly doesn't enjoy it.) Let's hope he buys her lunch and a nice cold drink after.
When You See It...
At first glance you think, ok, that girl actually has quite a good tan if she is from Ireland and hasn't seen the sun in months. But then you read the bottom text and your eyes start searching...
Oh. Dear. God. Yes, that is a girl laying down behind her. Only you couldn't very well see her, because this girl is as pale as a ghost! We're hoping that she limits her sun time on day one otherwise she's going to turn out to be very, very red.
Safety First
"Good thing we brought these cage things, honey. These are sure to keep those nasty sharks away from us!" That's probably what Bob said to Marla, but he wasn't correct. We're not sure where this couple acquired these bird-cage-like things, but we know one thing is for sure, it's not going to protect them from sharks.
If they're in Florida right now, they know that shark attacks are a real issue to be aware of. But these contraptions look more like something that will accidentally drown these swimmers than save them!
Chain Effect
It's bad enough when one thing goes wrong, but when a domino effect starts happening, it starts to hurt. We've all had a case of the Monday's when nothing seems to be going our way, but this guy REALLY had a bad Monday.
Not only did he lose control and crash his nice truck on the way to the beach but his boat on the trailer behind him follow suit and piggy backed right up on that smashed truck. Thankfully, it appears that no one was hurt in the accident. Not the day at the beach they were hoping for!
Thirsty?
So ya had a little bit to drink at the beach, did ya? This guy can't hide anything because his chest tells the entire story. Either this is a wine bottle or a liquor bottle, because it's definitely too large to be beer.
This guy was going big, and then he passed out. He happened to fall asleep with the bottle still in his hand, perfectly centered on his stomach. Well, at least he prevented some portion of his stomach from getting burned!
What Is This?
A piece of history just washed up on the shore of this beach. This is almost better than a time capsule, because it just appeared out of nowhere. There's a good chance that most of the kids on the beach wouldn't be able to even identify what this is.
The cassette player had it's glory days, but those days have long since passed. There's really no reason to hold onto these anymore... so where did it come from? Why? We have so many unanswered questions...
Did Someone Lose Their Cow?
We're not really sure how this cow ended up on the beach, but they're here. They're either stunned by the feeling of the waves rolling in, or they're lost in the beauty of the moment. Can you remember your first time at the beach?
That's probably what this cow is feeling and they will never forget this precious moment. Having a cow run away from the farm to spend a day at the beach sounds like a Disney movie waiting to happen.
Your Turn First!
Why is it that whenever someone comes up with the idea to bury someone on the beach, they never want it to be them? This poor sucker thought going to the beach with three beautiful girls would be the time of his life... but he was wrong.
You can tell by the look in his face that he isn't having the enjoyable beach experience he thought he would. Instead he's going to be finding sand in strange places for weeks.
The Beach With A View
Did you even really go to the beach if there wasn't a massive fire on the pier? We're sure that this was an unexpected part of their beach day, and a bit ironic considering that it's a fire sitting directly above water. The most interesting thing about this picture, however, is how nobody really seems to either care or notice.
This girl's first instinct was to take a picture of herself and the fire with the girls in the background, looking completely unfazed by it. We guess this goes to show that nothing can interrupt someone's beach day.
Be Careful What You Read In Public
It's always wise to be careful what you read in public. People tend to look to see what others are reading whether it's at a bus stop, on a train, or even at the beach. This woman should have checked to make sure of what her book's cover looked like before pressing it up against her face.
Luckily for her, it's nothing inappropriate, but it is a little odd-looking. The way that her arm is positioned isn't doing her any favors either. This would likely scare any children that came across her.
Stop Yelling! Oh!
Let's be honest, there's a whole lot of screaming that goes down on the beach. Most of it has to do with kids having fun, and slightly overreacting when the wave rolls closer in towards them.
The water is cold, waves are scary... but then you see something like this and you realize that maybe the screaming was warranted. One of the kids was able to run away from the wave in time. The other kid got hit from behind, and now he doesn't know which way is up.
Bottoms Up!
In Hawaii they say, "Okole maluna!" which means, "bottom's up!" This dad knows allllll about that. To be fair, these beach chairs look a bit tricky. In fact, the design looks more related to that of a kite than a beach chair!
This dad just learned the hard way that you can't go cheap on the beach chairs without a few blunders. Luckily one of his kids was right in the nick of time to capture that Kodak moment.
It Never Ends Well
Many girls try to do the sexy thing at the beach, walking around showing off their beach body while trying to strike a few poses. This girl tried to look cool on the jet ski, but it appears that she had one too many drinks and couldn't quite pull it off.
Her friend captured the video of what could have been a nice shot, but instead, she falls haphazardly into very shallow water in front of a bunch of people on the shore. Fail.
Paint Me Like One Of Your French Girls
This girl did what many people are guilty of- trying to get that amazing photo that will get you all those beautiful 'likes' on Instagram and such. She found what she thought was the perfect spot on the beach to launch up into a wheelbarrow pose.
What she didn't realize, however, is that's exactly where the waves roll in, and it's probably not the best place to try to go upside down and put your head on the sand. She learned.... the hard way, but she learned.
Serious Mud Baths
For centuries, people have used different types of mud in their beauty regimens. The people in this family are clearly fans of the treatment. They look almost like they're dressed in black latex cosplay suits, but it’s actually all mud.
It’s hard to tell what the other people at the beach think about these mud suits, but the one woman looks pretty curious about it. Hey, if it works we’d try it. It’d be easy enough to rinse off in the ocean, anyway.
The Biggest Sip
We love trick photography, and the beach is a great background for funny snapshots like this one. It appears that the girl is taking a sip out of the hugest can of soda we've ever seen in our lives.
Of course, that’s not what’s really happening here but these people get bonus points for finding creative new ways to have fun at the beach. Bonus: the photo is a souvenir of this day that they get to keep forever.
The Photobomb Of A Century
If you're a fan of crazy photos like these, then you've probably seen your fair share of photobombs. Friends, family, dogs, and cats all pull of the most perfectly-timed photobombs in existence. But have you ever seen a stingray get in on the picture? We thought not.
Hopefully these ladies weren't stung. They look more disgusted than anything. And the older women to the right are nothing but amused. Perhaps they conspired with the stingray to execute the most perfectly-timed photobomb in the sea.
Is She Sleeping, Or...?
This photo is even funnier with the story. According to the Twitter poster, they let their daughter take a nap on the beach. They thought nothing of it until someone came up to them and asked if she was their daughter. That's when they realized--it didn't exactly look like she was sleeping.
To be fair, this girl was under safe supervision from her parent. But you can only imagine coming across this sight on your stroll along the beach. Most people would double-take or feel concerned at a lifeless-looking body.
This "Jump" Beach Pic Didn't Turn Out Well
This family was trying to pull off the classic "jumping" beach photo. You know the jump photo: the one you see on Instagram and Pinterest with families all jumping and unison. It would have looked cute if the mother hadn't dropped her daughter during the last second.
Arguably, this photo came out better than any "jumping" picture ever would have. Like a fine wine, it'll only grow funnier with age. This photo is one of those that the parents should show their daughters' future husband.
Yeah, That's Not Suspicious At All
A woman's son told her that he had to pee. She told him to go in the ocean, and technically he did. But the hilarious result was this picture. This is one of the more subtle beach fails on this list.
To be fair, it's not that different from peeing in the ocean secretly. It's just less decent. This son learned his lesson--hopefully. If anything, this picture will embarrass him to pee secretly in the future.
The World Isn't Flat Or Round. It's A Cube
Panoramics create longer, more detailed photos. Most people flip on the panoramic setting in beautiful spots, such as the beach. But the main problem with panoramas is that you have to keep your hand steady. Any movement from the camera-holder or passerby will screw up the end result.
This is an example of someone moving the camera at the wrong time. It looks like the world's end. Is this a beach fail, or a successful panoramic fail? That sounds like an oxymoron, but it's the best way to describe this fail.
That's One Way To Stop A Tantrum
A mother wanted a lovely picture of her two sons playing. But her youngest began throwing a tantrum last-minute. So she took the next best picture. The result is one of those hilarious yet cursed images.
You have to wonder whether the family left the words "free baby" etched in the sand. Perhaps other parents took advantage of the photo set. Maybe there's a stream of photos online about free babies at the beach. Oh, and we're legally required to say that the baby is not, in fact, free.
When You Don't Have A Selfie Stick
People will go through great lengths to capture that ideal selfie. Even if you don't have a phone, your photo skills must prevail. This woman brought her laptop to the beach so she could capture a selfie in the ocean. We're sure that'll end well.
You have to be incredibly brave to bring your laptop to the beach. That, or you may not like your laptop. Perhaps these women didn't care whether that laptop lived or died. At some point, you gotta live your life on the edge.
Boarding Too Hard
This is probably the most "dad" picture on this list. This father was helping his child boogie board, except that he pulled too hard. Whether he did it intentionally is up for debate. Either way, anyone would laugh as hard as he is in this photo.
You have to admire pictures that are this perfectly timed. What are the chances that the camera would capture the child's flailing legs? It's a work of art. Truly.
Expectations VS Reality
Posing near the ocean is harder than it looks. When people browse a magazine, they don't often consider the tide behind them. These models probably fall over dozens of times during the shoot. That's what happened to this Instagram user who tried to pull off the same pose.
This photo is both funny and a tickle of reality. The Instagram user probably visited a beach with a high tide, since model shoots may involve low tides. But, still. There's a reason why models are paid for their work.
Run! It's A Giraffe!
If you see a giraffe on the beach, run! Or, more accurately, run if you see a man in a giraffe costume. Why? We don't know, actually. The people in this photo look terrified, and we assume that there's a good reason for it.
Most people wouldn't trust a man in a giraffe suit walking along a beach. Why is there? Where did he get that giraffe suit? What possessed him to wear it to the beach? Exactly--there are no answers. He clearly can't be trusted.
"Every Girl At The Beach"
Listen it's way too funny how square these guys hit the nail on the head. There's no way they could be this accurate unless they were forced to take some of these pictures themselves for their sisters.
Just another day at the beach in middle school.
