Nude Beach Etiquette

Encountering a nude beach can be embarrassing if you are not fully prepared to deal with the etiquette expected of visitors to this type of beach.

What Is A Nude Beach?

A beach where the back strap of a bathing suit top is opened to avoid tan lines on a female sunbather is not a nude beach as long as she keeps her stomach to the sand and fastens the strap before she sits up. A beach where females take their tops off and expose their breasts is also not a nude beach. It is a topless beach or top optional beach. In the United States and elsewhere, even men had to cover their chests in the early 1900's at public beaches. Outside the United States top optional beaches are often the norm and therefore are just called beaches. What a nude beach is, is a beach where both male a female sunbathers wear no clothes at all. There may be a few sunbathers at nude beaches who just go topless (females) or wear normal bathing suits. As a rule, though, most people at a nude beach are buck naked.

Often nude beaches are indicated on tourist maps. Just as often they are not so it is a good idea to ask if a beach destination is a nude beach or if a beach has a nude section off to one side. This is a very important consideration if you have children or family along with you during your outing. Nude beaches are more numerous than you might think so it is in your best interest to find out if you would be embarrassed prior to stumbling into this situation unaware.

Etiquette

If you do decide to go to a nude beach there are some general rules of etiquette you should be aware of so you do not become the object of ridicule. A faux pas made by newbie nude beach attendee is very embarrassing. Here is what to avoid.

Cameras

Do not bring a camera to a nude beach or take a picture with your cell phone. Nude sunbathers do not want to see themselves on the internet on someone's MySpace page. Do not take any pictures unless you want your camera or cell phone tossed into the ocean by an irate sunbather. I have seen a teenager go up to a young woman and ask her if they could take a picture with her. This is just plain rude.

Single Males

It is considered a major intrusion if a single male wearing a bathing suit goes up to a blanket with a nude female and asking if he could sit with her. A single male should bring his own blanket or towel and not invade the space of another sunbather. He should be nude as well. If he goes into ocean and a single female is interested in him, she might go into the ocean also, which may or may not be a time to try to start an innocent conversation. On the other hand if the female picks up her blanket and moves further away, this is an indication that she feels intruded upon. She is saying keep your distance.

The best bet is for a male to go to the beach with a female friend. Often they will be approached by another couple and this is the norm for meeting people on a nude beach.

Hygiene

Male or female you should be very clean and odor free if you are going to go to a nude beach. This just makes sense.

Touching

Do not touch a partner on a nude beach. Especially do not kiss a partner in front of other people unless it is a goodbye peck on the cheek . A nude beach may seem to be a great for affection but it is not. This shows no consideration for other people on the beach.

Staring

This is a very impolite act which is liable to get the perpetrator into a verbal confrontation or worse.

A Last Warning For Men

A novice may find himself getting excited. He should turn over on his stomach and think thoughts which will not stimulate his libido. If this happens while he is in the ocean, he should stay there until he has calmed down. This may take a long time and the water may be very cold. This can be a painful situation especially in a rough surf.