Snorkelling, Rockpooling and Beach Combing

There is so much to do on the beach other than building sandcastles (though this is great fun too*). there are tonnes of beaches to visit on the island each with their own unique character, from the hidden bays below the chines, the sandy stretches at Ryde to the drift wood strewn rocky coasts. along the south of the Island. The Island is also fortunate to have an extraordinary range of marine habitats and species along its shoreline.  There are some fantastic opportunities for snorkelling or rockpooling, from the kelpy depths of Freshwater Bay to the rocky ledges at Bembridge.  Gift to Nature have produced a waterproof snorkelling guide which is available from Tourist Information Centres or direct from the Gift to Nature online shop here. It is packed with information on what you can see and where to go snorkelling or rockpooling.

*Every winter we hold a Sandman Snowman event at the beach, a great opportunity to get out into the winter sun (normally) and get building sandcastles and life-sized sandmen.