Standing in the middle of the ocean is one of those things you don’t realize you want to experience until you actually get to experience it. And all you need is a boat and a sandbar – no Jesus skills required. One place where you can have this experience is in Tobago. Most people go to Tobago to visit its beaches and justifiably so as the island has some fantastic oceanscapes. But there are other amazing water-related things to experience there, one of them being standing in the middle of the ocean at Nylon Pool.

How to Get There

You can get to Nylon Pool one of two ways. The first is via Pigeon Point Heritage Park but you have to pay to enter the grounds. The second way is via Store Bay which is free to access. Both areas have various available facilities such as food/drinks, gear to rent (i.e. lounge chairs and umbrellas), and changing rooms. However, Pigeon Point is larger and has more of everything.

My experience was with Store Bay. We just wandered up to the water one morning and guys approached us to offer a tour out to Nylon Pool and Buccoo Reef. After bargaining them down from the tourist price, we hopped into a boat with about seven other people. Well, more liked waded out to a boat. The tour hadn’t even started yet and we were wet already!

Another available option for those who want to visit Nylon Pool is to hire a private boat – your lodgings should be able to put you in contact with someone.

What to Expect

The trip is a glass bottom boat tour. There is some shade provided by the boat but remember that the sun is much stronger out over the water. Cover up and keep reapplying strong sun screen or else you will burn.

On the way to Nylon Pool is Buccoo Reef. Here, we had an opportunity to snorkel. It was pretty neat to see the coral (though it didn’t seem to be in the greatest health when I visited) and the colorful tropical fish that live out here. At the time, I did not have much experience snorkeling (I still don’t) so when I was out there, I could not shake the feeling that there was something (i.e. a shark) stalking me from behind! If snorkeling is not your thing, you’ll still be able to see the coral and fish due to the glass bottomed nature of the boat.

Nylon Pool, though, was the highlight of this tour. We saw it as we approached, the waters turning from oceanic deep blue to turquoise clear water. This area is essentially a sandbar and is pretty shallow despite being in the middle of the ocean. Here, the water is beautifully warm and goes up waist-to-chest deep on the average sized person.

Standing in Nylon Pool was really a neat experience. On one visit, we were lucky: we saw a stingray! It swam close enough for us to touch it. We have also been lucky enough to visit at quieter times as I’ve heard that party boats do come out here with their music – fun for some but not for me. Though I guess a dance party on a sandbar in the middle of the ocean can be kinda cool…

So, if you’re ever in Tobago, take the time to visit Nylon Pool. It is a unique experience and yet another way to indulge in Tobago’s fantastic waters!

Monday Escapes