Great Guards – 2026

Interview with Jon Edelbrock, Community Services Director & Chief Lifeguard: “Roughly 1.2 million visitors came to our beach (May 1st – August 5th).” Alert lifeguards performed 631 rescues.

*On the sand: the beach was “a very nice sandy beach this year, likely due to the sand replenishment to our north in 2024 and the series of summer south angled long-interval swells causing significant fine sand depositing.”

*In the ocean: “The Mexican hurricanes didn’t have any impacts as far as the size/quality of the waves as they produced swell from too southerly of an angle.  We have had significant waves since June, on and off, from the Southern Hemisphere as it is very active down there with more swell on its way.  We have had significant humidity, heat, and warm water from the tropical storms and hurricanes which is also relative to the highly probable Super El Niño event anticipated based on the Ocean Niño Index.”

​*Stingrays: the count was a low 119 “due to lots of wave/surf activity this year creating higher energy in the inshore pushing the String rays further offshore. But their number usually increases later in August and September.”

​*Sharks: “There was one notable shark sighting near Tower 7 in Torrey Pines in July.”

*Team: “Our dynamic Community Services team makes the job, while challenging, the most fun. We take solace in spending time together, enjoying the ocean. Most of our part-time seasonal staff departs for school, other work, travel, or other activities throughout August/September and we hope to have them all back in 2027 to help with the next high-demand busy summer.

Note: The City of Del Mar Lifeguards began in 1965 with four full time guards.  (San Diego County provided lifeguard services 1941-1964.)

Currently there are six full-time lifeguards and 75 seasonal employees.