A newly emerged, mile-long stretch of sand just off Cape Point at Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina is gaining national attention since its discovery earlier this year. Hatteras Island, as it’s been dubbed, is separated from the mainland by a 30-yard channel, and was first spotted as a “bump” back in April, according to reports.
The Outer Banks Sentinel touts the place as a “haven for sea shells,” but few seem to have assessed what we’re all thinking: how’s the surf?
Chad Koczera, a photographer and Connecticut resident who recently visited Cape Point, explained to BBC News that his encounter with the island was pure happenstance.
“My fiancee and I were driving to the point after a storm to collect shells when we spotted an area we couldn’t get to by car,” he said.
“I sent the drone up to check it out and noticed this beautiful island. We didn’t get a chance to make it on to the island because of the strong current.”
Koczera posted a photo taken by the drone on his Instagram that has since gone viral, and for the surf inclined there’s some visible evidence of waves.
Getting to the island from the tip of the point can be difficult, though, explains Dave Hallac, superintendent of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Hallac has publicly dissuaded visitors from walking or swimming to the island due to strong currents and shark and stingray sightings. He says the best way to get there is by kayak or paddleboard.
Local historian Danny Couch told BBC News the island is littered with old shipwrecks and whale bones.
The phenomenon isn’t exactly out of the ordinary for the Outer Banks. Sandbars often rise and fall seasonally.
