Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about BeachScan

How does BeachScan measure beach conditions?

BeachScan combines professional-grade weather forecasting with official bathing water classifications and its own per-beach models for tides, shade, wind shelter and water clarity, cross-checking multiple independent sources so a single provider having a bad day never decides your beach day.

Is the water quality data official?

Where it is shown, yes — the classifications come from the authorities that actually sample the water, based on regular bacterial testing at monitoring stations, and beaches are rated Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor.

Coverage follows what each country publishes: it is live across Croatia and Greece, and partial in the other markets while we work through their data. Wherever a rating is shown, you also see which station it came from and how far away that station is.

Does BeachScan show tides?

Yes. Almost 20,000 sea beaches have a tide curve: where the sea sits right now, the day's high and low water times, and how far it moves between them — plus tide times on each day of the forecast. Tides are computed from the EOT20 harmonic tide model and validated against IOC tide gauges.

What is the wind shelter score?

For each beach we trace rays out over the water in every direction, following the real coastline, to see how far the wind can run before it reaches you. Combined with today's wind, that gives a shelter score — so you can tell which cove stays calm, not just how windy the region is.

It is computed for all 19,509 beaches, across all nine countries.

Which countries does BeachScan cover?

BeachScan covers over 21,000 beaches across nine coastlines:

More coasts are coming.

What languages is BeachScan available in?

Seven: English, Croatian, German, Italian, Spanish, French and Greek. The app follows your phone's language, and beach names are kept in their local form so they match the road signs and what locals call them.

Can I add a beach that's missing, or fix something that's wrong?

Yes — and it's the fastest way the map improves. You can drop a pin on a beach we don't have, upload a photo of how a beach looks today, correct a wrong name, location, surface or amenity, report how clear the water is, and rate a beach.

A person reviews every submission before it goes live; until then it's visible only to you. Once it's approved it's there for everyone, and a suggested beach usually shows up for all users within about twenty minutes, with full conditions computed for that spot.

Is BeachScan free?

BeachScan is free to download and use. Today's conditions, tides, water quality, wind shelter, shade, official warnings and the whole map are free.

Premium adds the 7-day forecast for every beach, the 7-day water clarity outlook, and removes ads. Monthly and yearly plans come with a 7-day free trial, and there's a one-time Weekly Pass if you only need it for a trip.

How often is the data updated?

Conditions are refreshed throughout the day — the environmental pipeline re-reads weather and marine data every 20 minutes, official water quality is re-checked from the authorities' feeds a few times a day, and official weather warnings are picked up as soon as the national service issues them.

Can I use BeachScan without creating an account?

Yes. All beach conditions, weather data, water quality, and the map are available without signing in. You only need an account (via Google or Apple Sign-In) to save beaches, rate them, and access premium features.

How do I find the best beach near me?

Open BeachScan and allow location access. The app automatically shows nearby beaches sorted by distance. Use the Browse feature to filter by surface type (sand, pebble, rock), amenities (showers, parking, restaurants), and water quality. Each beach shows a real-time conditions score so you can pick the best one.

What does the beach forecast show?

The 7-day beach forecast shows predicted conditions for each day — temperature, wind speed and shelter, UV index, precipitation, tide times and water clarity. Each day gets a beach conditions score so you can plan your visit for the best day.

How do I delete my account?

Visit beachscanapp.com/delete-account, enter your account email, confirm the deletion, and all your data (profile, saved beaches, ratings) will be permanently deleted within 48 hours.