All my life I’ve lived close to saltwater beaches. In Western Washington, we have lovely beaches. They’re great for picnics, beach walks, beach combing, sandcastles building, and testing your balance with driftwood walking. The area is a paradise for boaters and photographers and anyone who enjoys an ever-changing, long-distance view of water, sky, and mountains.
Unfortunately, our beaches aren’t great for swimming. The average water temperature in July is only 50.5◦F. In January, it’s 45.5◦F. You won’t be surprised to hear that I learned to swim in lakes, not in the Pacific Ocean, the Salish Sea, or Puget Sound.
For comparison the summer water temperatures on the Jersey Shore are 72 to 75◦F. They have the Gulf Stream.
Lacking a warm ocean current, we could always move to the tropics—which was exactly what we did in 1971. The water temperature there was no problem. Manila’s average is 85.6◦F in May and 80.6◦F in February. In Vanuatu, where we moved later, it ranges from 72◦ to 82◦F. With those temperatures, we enjoyed some fun overnight beach trips and lots of swimming and snorkeling.
Either way, I love the beach.
And yet, all good things come with the possibility of a snag. For me, the only downside has been sunburns. And I’ve had plenty. No shark attacks, though, no jellyfish stings, and no run-ins with rip tides.
A few weeks ago, my sixteen-year-old grandson had been having a good time in Maui swimming and learning to surf until he stepped on a jellyfish. It was small with long tentacles, deceptively harmless looking. For a couple of days, he had a very painful foot. After that, he developed a fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, symptoms that lasted for most of the week. Fortunately, the jellyfish sting was on their last day in Hawaii.
Surprising, don’t you think, that a sting from a small jellyfish could be so serious, but I guess there are all kinds of jellyfish.
Do you like the beach? Have you had any encounters with sharks, jellyfish, or riptides? Do you get sunburned easily?
It’s funny because I love the beach, Nicki, but the sea, not so much. I love looking at it or being on a boat but I’m not very good at being in it. Which is crazy when temperatures are topping 35C. I’ve just come back from Valencia and there was a definite temptation….
For me, it depends on how warm the ocean is. I love swimming in warm water and exploring coral reefs with colorful fish. If the water is cool, I’m happy with boat rides, beach walks and beautiful views. Valencia must have some beautiful beaches.
Do you like the beach? I like to walk along the ocean on a beach but living inland like we do I haven’t done so in years.
Have you had any encounters with sharks, jellyfish, or riptides? No, thank goodness
Do you get sunburned easily? Yes, even when it’s hazy outside I still burn. Sunblock is a good friend.
Sunblock and a big hat are both good friends in the sun. I get out of the habit in the winter. I’m trying to remember now. My dermatologist tells me that it’s the sunburns you get in your teenage years that show up years later as skin cancer.
I loved the beach as a kid–the bigger the waves, the more fun. And I definitely had my share of jellyfish stings in the Atlantic. As an adult, I got to experience the wild and woolly Pacific, which is crazy rough compared to the Atlantic. But the blue lakes among the white mountains of New Hampshire are probably my favorite place to swim and kayak.
Almost all of my swimming and waterskiing in the first 20 years of my life was in lakes–a great place for swimming. The appeal of the tropical Pacific for me is its beauty. I love the turquoise water and, if I’m snorkeling, the coral and the brightly colored fish. We shouldn’t forget swimming pools. I’ve done a lot of just straight swimming in pools. So convenient.
Nicki, lovely to read about your various beach locations and the tropics looks wonderful. If I could I would move and live by the sea or ocean, just love being by the coast, on the beach. Anywhere like this. I swim in the sea off the Swedish coast, which does warm up nicely in the summer. As young I was terrified of jellyfish and would spend ages checking out for them before entering the water. I feel for your poor grandson. That sounds horrendous but yes, at least it wasn’t on the first day of the holiday. Has it put him off the beach? Hope not! Hope you’re keeping well. Annika
The jellyfish sting didn’t put my grandson off the beach. The week after he recovered, the family drove to a beach in Delaware where he worked on improving his surfing skills.
I live a five-minute drive from the beach, which is probably better than living closer, where the waterfront property is so expensive. I’m surprised that the Swedish coast is warm enough for swimming. I suppose it’s currents coming up from the south.
I rarely SIT on the beach or go in the water past my ankles, except when I’m hanging out with our great-nephew.
I love walking ON the beach for miles and miles. I do my best to avoid stepping on jellyfish because . . . OUCH!!! Your poor grandson!
Beach walks are great! You must have miles and miles of sandy beaches for your walks.
Oh my goodness! I heard how jellyfish stings can be hard! My goodness!!
Unfortunately, my grandson ran into one of the bad varieties. I still love jellyfish though–from a distance. I love their transparency and their often delicate colors.
Love the water. It lifts your cares off of your shoulders. There are jellyfish on Jersey beaches but they are usually dead and on the sand. Sounds like a bite is nasty.
Cold water is just beautiful, but lying on your back in warm water and looking up at the sky does make cares fall away.