Zooplankton that drift or weakly swim are influenced by water column structure and hydrodynamics. This investigation studied zooplankton communities in the surf zone (SZ) of sandy beaches, characterized by shallow and turbid waters due to wave propagation, and the adjacent shallow subtidal (SSZ), with calmer, deeper waters. This research presents a novel approach by concurrently studying these communities in both zones. Samples were collected bimonthly for a year at Monte Hermoso, Argentina (38°59’S, 61°18’W), using a 200μm mesh zooplankton net by hand-trawl in the SZ and from a vessel in the SSZ. We analyzed species richness, Shannon and Simpson's diversity, β-diversity, taxonomic composition, and spatial variability in abundance between zones. No differences were found between zones in richness, but Shannon and Simpson's diversity werehigher in the SZ. β-diversity reflected species turnover (βsim=0.294, βnes=0.0982), with approximately 40% taxonomic dissimilarity (βsor=0.392) throughout the year. We identified 55 taxa in 15 major groups. Copepoda, Mollusca, Annelida, and Chordata accounted for over 90% of total zooplankton abundance. The results revealed abundance differences, with total abundances in SZ greater than SSZ (p<0.001; SZ=2708ind.m⁻³; SSZ=134ind.m⁻³), driven predominantly by copepods (p<0.001; r=0.96). These differences were reflected in copepod composition, with Acartia tonsa predominating in the SZ, while Paracalanus parvus dominated the SSZ. Both species exhibited similar seasonal patterns, peaking in warmer months for A. tonsa and in winter for P. parvus. In the SSZ, we registered more neritic taxa (e.g., Chaetognatha; Cnidaria, Ctenophora), whereas in the SZ we found more larval stages of benthic organisms from nearby populations (e.g., Echinodermata, Mollusca, Spionidae, Decapoda) and benthic organisms like Cumacea and Amphipoda. The coexistence of estuarine and neritic species highlights the interconnectedness of coastal habitats and provides insights for future ecological studies.