TL;DR: Sun, sand, and sea can be bad for our health

• Sand is disgusting. It’s abrasive, itchy, and it gets absolutely everywhere. Not only a sensory nightmare, studies also suggest that sand threaten a hygiene risk. Scientists in Hawaii have found that sand can become contaminated with fecal bacteria caused by sewage spills in the ocean. The microbes and bacteria from these spills get trapped in sand, and survive far longer than those in water, posing health risks for unsuspecting sunbathers. Not only is sand a likely vehicle for poo, some sand is poo. The idolised white sand beaches found along the coastlines of the Caribbean and Hawaii are actually composed of parrotfish excretion. So maybe think again before building that sandcastle!

• Many people go to beaches to sunbathe. There are many health benefits of sunbathing – most notably, when exposed to sunlight, our bodies transform cholesterol into vitamin D, a vital vitamin that keeps our bones strong. However, without adequate protection (in the form of SPF) sunlight can damage our skin cells, leading to diseases like melonama that can ultimately cause skin cancer. At the beach, sunbathers spend multiple hours in the sun, often without sufficient SPF for the sake of developing an impressive tan. A public health case study of a Belgian beach found that only 42.2% of participants applied an SPF of 15 or higher before or during their day at the beach, and 22.8% of all participants did not use any sun-preventative measures at all.

• Many coastlines are plagued by smacks* of jellyfish. One study estimates that 150 million people are stung by jellyfish each year. Jellyfish stings are always painful, and some are even deadly! Certain species of box jellyfish are lethal to humans, and can stop a human heart from beating within five minutes of entering the bloodstream. In order to prevent the multiple jellyfish-related deaths that they cause each year, Angel Yanagihara is testing their venom, hoping to find an antidote.

*even the collective noun for jellyfish sounds painful!

Beach holidays may not be for everyone, but one could certainly do worse than waves and sun and wind.

• My own personal love is cold-weather holidays; to me there's nothing better than the deep cold and snow and skating under icy black starry skies. However, beach holidays are not the worst for me, and they have their own perks that I love.

• Waves, even if you don't surf*, can be epic to swim in. Waves provide, at least for me, an incredible adrenaline rush and a full-body immersion into the broadness of reality---windy days and wavy waters can make you feel so alive! Though they can be dangerous, and rip currents are a hazard to be wary of, the waves of the ocean are quite a beautiful marvel.

• It's great that there's the potential for relaxation on the beach, too, so that you can have the adrenaline of the ocean and the calmness of the beach all at once. As well, some waters will be calm and soothing themselves, so there's plenty of variability in the "beach holiday".

*Research shows surfers achieve higher levels of "ocean literacy", which is important for environmental awareness and sustainability.

Being at the beach has many physical and mental health benefits

• Time spent in the sun, with SPF protection of course, allows you to soak up Vitamin D which helps boost your immune system, and is important for the growth and development of bones and teeth.
• Many residents in countries including the UK lack Vitamin D due to the lack of sun, so taking a beach holiday abroad during the winter could be especially beneficial.
• Being in sun and nature also releases serotonin, improving mental health.
• The fresh air and salty sea water also have many health benefits.
• Beach holidays can be as active or relaxing as you like, with many sport opportunities such as walking, sea swimming and volleyball as well as lounging on the sand.
• They can even be educational, and a great place for children (or any age) to learn about coastal ecosystems first hand.
• Not all beaches have sand! There are pebble and slate beaches too.
• It is a low cost or even free activity that can occupy families for several days.