Staff Answer
Jun 25, 2026 - 11:36 AM
The sun exposure is stronger when you are on the water compared to just sitting on the beach. You are getting reflection from the water plus direct sunlight from above, so it builds up fast, even if it does not feel intense in the moment. I have seen plenty of visitors feel fine during the trip and then realize later that they were out in it for several hours with very little shade break. When you are swimming, boating, and walking around sandbars, it is easy to forget to reapply sunscreen regularly. The tricky part is that wind can make it feel cooler than it actually is, so people do not always notice how much sun they are taking in. Once you treat it like a long exposure day instead of a quick outing, it becomes much easier to stay comfortable from start to finish.
