Looking back to the
hotel from the jetty across the coralline platform
where you snorkel. Generally it is not possible to
enter the sea from the shore - you can walk in here,
but after you get to 6"-12" depth (15-30cm) the
bottom becomes rough and sharp coral rock. You can
get "reef shoes" to walk across this on (it's not
living coral mainly) but it's not for bare-feet or
the traditional sea-side holiday with kids running
in and jumping over waves.
The platform
stretches for 20-30m at a steady depth of no more
than 18" (50cm) and then drops off to 5-10m
initially.
It can be a bit of a
trek down to the sea and there are almost always a
significant number of steps and/or a long slope, so
it's not for those who have difficulty in getting
around. Most hotels have plenty of small and larger
bars, restaurants, and other eateries and always
plenty of shade.
As this part of the
world was not used for anything at all before the
hotels came, space is used extravagantly - it's not
even as if the growth of tourism has affected the
natural environment ashore to much degree as it was
just rock and sand for thousands of years and of no
use to the proverbial "man nor beast".
For those looking for
the more "traditional" lying around doing nothing
holiday there is usually a large free-form pool that
is not very deep and is surrounded by sun beds,
piped music and (horrors) an "Animation" team.
Fortunately the sea is sufficiently removed to be
its own place and atmosphere.
