Vancouver waters are a combination of clear ocean water and muddy water from the Fraser River.

There are outdoor heated pools at Second Beach and Kitsilano Beach. The Kits Pool features the Kits Showboat which hosts free amateur summer evening shows. The various beaches have distinct personalities. Kits is a favourite for sunsets and beach party romance.

My first construction job was doing first and labouring on the construction of a great stone wall at Sunset Beach. (Just a few years later the Parks Board covered the whole thing up except for the few inches. Good planning).
I once caught this view of a sailboat stuck on the rocks across from the Planetarium.
The strong tides and currents also caught this fishing boat at the end of Spanish Banks.

Walking from Spanish Banks one comes to Towers Beach below UBC. Further along, between cliff-side forest and the mouth of the Fraser River is Vancouver's most famous beach. Wreck Beach is a clothing optional nudist area. (You won't see much nude naughty bits here. Taking telephoto close-ups are discouraged).

Another unique beach in the area is White Rock near the US border. This is another tidal area perfect for sandcastle building. They had massivly attended contests in the eighties until drunken evening parties drove the event out of town.