Nude Beach

LegacyUser

Any guys here ever been to a nude beach that can give me an idea of what to expect? Heading away in 2 weeks and the gf has found one nearby and wants to give it a try. She has never been either and is very eager but I'm really not so sure. One side of me can kinda see the attraction of it but on the other hand I'm a bit petrified of baring all. I'm sure usual advice is nobody is gonna look etc. I find that a bit hard to believe tbh.

We're both 23, so probably not the typical old crowd - is this likely to draw attention to us or is the whole older crowd thing just an exaggeration? Beach is in a big city stateside.

Maybe a stupid question... how does it work... do you just rock up and whip off the shorts? Like do people just sunbathe naked and then put shorts on for walking around or swimming or whatever?

Wibbs

OK folks, let's keep the "jokes" to ourselves thanks.

Moonshiner52

Expect loads of weird old men to star at your gf.

lazybones32

Being nude isn't mandatory but if you want to be, you're free to do it. It feels weird at first but after 20 mins you nearly stop noticing/caring because you realise there's nothing to it really...you're just not wearing shorts. It's no different to having a shower after a game or being at a swimming pool
Now, seeing nude/topless women can be more challenging than slipping off your trunks but you'll be surprised how quickly the novelty wears off. Besides, it's not like most women at nude beaches are supermodels. But definitely bring sunglasses!
Most people don't stare and if you think they are, it's most likely your paranoia/self-consciousness magnifying the slightest, most-innocent look.

Did it in Croatia and loved it - swimming nude feels so much better and after a bit you forget you're nude.
Did it in Castletownbere on a deserted beach with gf.
Did it in the Maharees with all the lads at about 3am after a feed of drink...a spontaneous thing where, by the grace of God, none of us drowned. Also had barbecued sausages 'cooked' over turf...thank God we didn't get food poisoning either.

Pawwed Rig

Did it in an enclosed resort in Florida. We were the youngest by about 30 years. Noone there cared whether you were clothed or not. There was a security camera which was slightly worrying.

Jimbob1977

I was on a naturist beach in the South of France (Ile du Levant) with my girlfriend.

It is obligatory to be naked on this beach.... textiles are not allowed. This beach has been established over 50 years for naturists.

For about fifteen minutes, it is strange from an Irish perspective.

Then it becomes relatively normal. There were families, old people and young people. Slim people and portly people. It wasn't just the Beautiful People.

The etiquette is simple. Effectively no gawking. I think cameras would be OK if you were taking personal snaps. Taking other people's pictures would be an invasion of privacy.

In summary...

o Feels strange for a while
o Try to put any body confidence issues behind you.
o No glaring
o Enjoy!

On our trip, it rained after one hour and kept raining all day... so there was a dash for shelter.

armaghlad

lazybones32 wrote: »

But definitely bring sunglasses!

Love this lol. Never actually visited a nude beach but I imagine it's quite liberating

CarrickMcJoe

lazybones32 wrote: »

Now, seeing nude/topless women can be more challenging than slipping off your trunks but you'll be surprised how quickly the novelty wears off..

Lazybones, you certainly have a way with words

I've never gone on a nude beach, I think people would need sunglasses because of sun flashing on my snow white skin.

LegacyUser

OP here again. Thanks for the replies

Had actually raised the issue of guys staring at her and she doesn't seem to care, but it might be different in reality.

lazybones32 mentioned it's no different to having a shower after a game or being at a swimming pool - Problem is I've never been naked in those kind of situations; I'm pretty small down there and am anxious about people finding out (can't believe I've just typed that....) Although I guess on a beach on a different continent the chances of seeing someone I know is probably zero, I still think I might be uncomfortable with strangers seeing it. It's weird because I'm normally keen to get my top off at beach/pool situations because I keep fit and am happy with my body, but this is a whole other twist on the normal situation.

Hadn't thought about if nudity is obligatory, was kind of thinking I could wait a while before potentially joining in, but might that look a bit weird/creepy?

Has anyone else younger done it? I'm still concerned about being a really obvious much younger couple. Also just occurred to me that I might need to put sunscreen on parts of my body that would never normally see the sun!!

Jimbob1977

Hi,

23 years of age is just fine. You've been able to vote and drink for five years

I think you'll find a broad range of ages, from twenty to sixty.


If you already know the name of the beach, a quick Google should return the etiquette and rules. It could be clothing optional, instead of obligatory. Then you can move at your own pace. Which country are you visiting?

In terms of 'feelings of inadequacy'.... it's always the first thought. But you get all shapes and sizes. Irish women tend to have more reservations as they are very body conscious.... like showering in their swimwear.

Take my word, you will see a typical cross-section of humanity. If you like it, embrace it. If you don't.... it's a good story.

Stealthfins

There's been a nudist area in Kilkee for year's.
For some reason quite a lot of people seem to include that area in their George's head walk.

Moonshiner52

Op, why are you going along with this if you're not comfortable with it?

RDM_83 again

Moonshiner52 wrote: »

Op, why are you going along with this if you're not comfortable with it?

To be honest this needs to be reinforced, maybe it would be a good thing if doing it helps you with some body confidence issues but I can't speak for that.
To be honest I don't get the public nudity appeal myself, either it is something different exhilarating and exciting because of the social taboo's and/or removal of inhibitions or its normal, it can't really be both at the same time.
Are swim suits really that constricting to someone enjoyment?

Fair enough if people like it but I don't think anybody should feel pressured to do something because of the expectations of others or attempted "open mindedness"

Only have experience of a mixed beach and the crowd tended towards older, bit different but chanced upon a nude cycle protest last year and the demographic appeared far more heavy towards old men than the usual group cycles/protests (which are equal gender and trend heavily towards 20-30 year olds) the pictures I saw in the media after definitely presented a different image

LegacyUser

OP here - thanks again for replies.

As suggested I googled the beach, it's in USA and is clothing optional which I think works out for the better.

To those asking why I'm going along with it. Two reasons I suppose - first my gf has always wanted to try it and I'm an obliging guy !

Second is to get over my insecurity of being naked in front of others. I know there's plenty of guys that feel the same, but I don't think that necessarily means it's the right mindset. As I said, I'm already confident with the majority of my body so I just need the nudge for the last step. As silly as it may sound, I'd love to be able to shower/get changed at the gym like many other guys do without any fears - even just from a practicality point of view. This might be a good chance to just do it with no chance of seeing anybody I know.

I also like being naked whenever I can (in private), so sunbathing and swimming naked seems like a cool thing to try, just a pity there has to be hundreds of others there to witness it!

LegacyUser

Hey OP, are you talking about Haulover Beach just outside Miami by any chance. If so I've been there and I found it a great experience. Myself and my wife who was initially a little reluctant really enjoyed the beach. We visited another two times before we left.
Undress to your own comfort level and see how you feel. It all becomes very natural and relaxing in a short period of time.

On Haulover Beach in particular the have beach 'ambassadors' that help keep the beach clean but they also ensure that no lewd behaviour happens on the beach and make sure nobody is hassled by undesirables.

lazybones32

a_bit_nervous wrote: »

Second is to get over my insecurity of being naked in front of others. I know there's plenty of guys that feel the same, but I don't think that necessarily means it's the right mindset....

I also like being naked whenever I can (in private), so sunbathing and swimming naked seems like a cool thing to try, just a pity there has to be hundreds of others there to witness it!

I was nervous the first few times in the showers after games but it's one of those things that you have to live with the discomfort until it doesn't bother you. You have to go through it rather than never feeling the fear in the first place.
Before long, you'll be walking the Wild Atlantic Way in only sandals, a hat and a backpack:)

jezzer

what happens when you get "excited"? do they throw you out?

LegacyUser

OP here again - an update if anyone is interested.

Holiday has been and gone and we visited the beach as expected. Beach itself was really nice and busy. Probably 90% of people were fully naked and I was pretty surprised by the age profile - much younger that I thought. Lots of groups of friends and couples, people in their 20s/30s. Plenty of older too of course.

I left the shorts on at first just until I could see what it was all about. It didn't take long for me to realise that there were guys of literally all different sizes and in reality nobody was going to pay much attention to my shortcomings. I took the plunge, lost the shorts and lay on my front for the first while. It's amazing how the confidence builds. Towards the end we walked alongside the water and I didn't care who could see me.

In general the vibe was great. We both loved it and ended up going back twice more. Lovely feeling free in the sun/sea and the atmosphere in general was really chilled. I'd really recommend it to anyone.

The Sidewards Man

jezzer wrote: »

what happens when you get "excited"? do they throw you out?

Bury it in the sand.

murpho999

jezzer wrote: »

what happens when you get "excited"? do they throw you out?

Been to these type of beaches before and you just won't get 'excited' as you say as it's not a very sexual situation.

Irish people are really immature about these sort of things and don't realise it's just about people feeling natural and free and nothing sexual at all.

After a while you just don't notice that people are naked at all.

jezzer

a_bit_nervous wrote: »

OP here again - an update if anyone is interested.

Holiday has been and gone and we visited the beach as expected. Beach itself was really nice and busy. Probably 90% of people were fully naked and I was pretty surprised by the age profile - much younger that I thought. Lots of groups of friends and couples, people in their 20s/30s. Plenty of older too of course.

I left the shorts on at first just until I could see what it was all about. It didn't take long for me to realise that there were guys of literally all different sizes and in reality nobody was going to pay much attention to my shortcomings. I took the plunge, lost the shorts and lay on my front for the first while. It's amazing how the confidence builds. Towards the end we walked alongside the water and I didn't care who could see me.

In general the vibe was great. We both loved it and ended up going back twice more. Lovely feeling free in the sun/sea and the atmosphere in general was really chilled. I'd really recommend it to anyone.

was this in ireland?

Wibbs

murpho999 wrote: »

Irish people are really immature about these sort of things and don't realise it's just about people feeling natural and free and nothing sexual at all.

Oh sure, though I'd take some issue with the idea of people being "immature" just because they may feel uncomfortable and I'd take more issue with the idea of it somehow being natural.

Nakedness is a separate state for every human culture so far described and it is very deeply engrained. There is clothed and there is naked and naked is seen as a private and/or sexual thing in adults. There are Amazonian tribes where the women only wear a thin leather belt around their waste that covers nothing and would likely get them arrested in an average Western city, but they see themselves as fully "dressed" and all that means. Remove that thin belt and then their state changes to "naked" and all that means.

Nudity, Naturism is more a Western affectation and fashion popularised in the late 19th century in Europe. I suppose it might be lumped in with the general societal response to the pace of rapid technological change and the change in widespread religious faith, a way of a return to a wholly imagined Eden where we were "pure" and "innocent" and "naked". That imagined Eden has deep roots in the European psyche and it really kicked off in the industrial revolution as an escape from the belching factories(you see it in the Celtic revival and other cultural revival stuff, Art Nouveau and the like. All about the gilded nature and the gilded past). Naturism was very much a part of that.

Now don't get me wrong, if this is something folks get pleasure and contentment from I say knock yourselves out and fair play. Just try to avoid the "oh well you must be immature if you don't get it" stuff.

jezzer

but surely you get a lot of lads going there just for a perv?