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A Guide to Beach Etiquette
If you live in the UK, you will know that opportunities to visit the beach and actually sunbathe are limited to cheap holidays abroad. But the last thing you will want to do is spoil everyone’s precious time by behaving in a way deemed boorish by others. So make sure you follow these rules when frequenting a beach at home or aboard.
Rule 1. Ditch the Speedos
Why is only hairy men of a certain age seem to think that Speedos are still acceptable attire on the beach? Newsflash, they’re not. That laughing you hear is not the sounds of people enjoying a joke, they are laughing directly at you. And the women are appalled to their core, too.
Rule 2. Do not perform the towel shake
After a good few hours at the beach, you may discover to your horror that sand has somehow got onto your towel. So you stand up, pick up the towel and shake the sand into the faces of those around you. This is generally very annoying and such actions should not be seen on a beach. If you really need to do this, face away from the wind.
Rule 3. Do not pretend to be a shark
It may come as a shock to you, but the film Jaws was released nearly 40 years ago. And the joke where you go into the sea and pretend to be a shark is getting slightly old too. No matter how much you think so, your hand placed on your head does not look like the dorsal fin of a Great White Shark.
Rule 4. Do not throw a ball around in crowded areas.
No matter how many times you do it, this will not happen to you.
Rule 5. Do not surf
Surfers – or sea cyclists as I like to call them – can at times be a right pain in the metaphorical backside. There is nothing worse then being on a packed beach, escaping to the sea, only to find that an inconsiderate surfer is trying to surf at 2pm in the afternoon whilst children and adults alike are trying to float on rubber rings and lilos. Real surfers stick to surfing beaches and do so in the mornings and evenings – follow their lead.
Do you have any other suggestions? Let us know by leaving a comment below!
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About Ricky Durrance
Ricky is a keen traveller and writer who shares a passion for both. Ricky has travelled extensively, visiting various countries in Europe and South East Asia along with Australia, New Zealand and the USA. Ricky is a resident blogger for travel specialists Beat the Brochure, and in his spare time enjoys playing football and following Chelsea FC. Google Visit his Google + page for more information.
About Scarlett says:
July 19, 2012 at 10:57 am
LOL “don’t pretend to be a shark” – this tickled me so much!! xxx
About Ricky Durrance says:
July 19, 2012 at 11:10 am
I think everyone has done it at least once!
About Simon P says:
July 19, 2012 at 2:33 pm
Great post, mate! I’d add that you respect other people’s personal space, too; if there is room then there’s no reason to place your towel right next to somebody!
It’s something I encountered all the time in Asia – and it was mostly Europeans who’d do it. It was like they were so used to their beaches back home being crowded that they’d get a bit lonely and sit too close!
About Ricky Durrance says:
July 19, 2012 at 4:07 pm
Thanks! I agree, there is nothing worse then a space invader!
About Erica Hargreave @ Roamancing says:
July 22, 2012 at 2:24 am
I’d add:
1) Leave live beach creatures where you find them. That’s their home, and they tend not to do well in bath tubs.
2) Shells have a purpose in the beach ecosystem, and often have living creatures on them. Leave them at the beach.