Swimming and Diving in the Western Pomerania Lagoon Area National Park

Swimming, building castles, kite flying, diving

The wide, natural Baltic Sea beaches made of white sand are trademarks of the national park and are as popular as they are famous. Bathers and water sports enthusiasts share a small piece of paradise with rare and endangered plants and animals. In the national park, the protection of nature has priority and we humans are guests. Some beaches are reserved just for nature, while others allow paddling, swimming and diving - naturally while respecting the rare dune plants, shy water birds, sensitive seagrass meadows and more.

wilder Weststrand, vom Wasser aus mit Wald im Hintergrund — The picturesque Weststrand beach tempts you for a swim and, outside the Core Zones, you can take a dip any time.
The picturesque Weststrand beach tempts you for a swim and, outside the Core Zones, you can take a dip any time.

Strandburg in Form einer Schildkröte — Castles and sand art are permitted. Tree branches, whether from the beach or from the adjacent forests, remain on the ...
Castles and sand art are permitted. Tree branches, whether from the beach or from the adjacent forests, remain on the natural beach...

Fisch unter Wasser — The underwater world of the national park is also protected. Divers are allowed to admire it but must be respectful.
The underwater world of the national park is also protected. Divers are allowed to admire it but must be respectful.

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Where can I swim and enjoy the beach?

So that the dream beach does not turn into a nightmare for the animals and because the undisturbed development of nature in the national park has priority, particularly sensitive beach areas are fully out of bounds to people. The Core Zones of the national park may only be entered in a certain places and only when keeping to the paths. A visit to the beach within the Care and Development Zone is allowed as long as nature is respected.

What do I need to be aware of?

In order not to destroy the sensitive dune vegetation by stepping on it, please stay on the marked beach crossings.

Rubbish should be placed back into bags as it quickly becomes a danger to animals.

As the name implies, sandcastles on the beach should made of sand and not material from the forest, such as branches or other parts of trees. As dead wood, these are an important habitat for many rare insect species.

Beach debris is best left lying around so it can also delight the next visitor. Here, too, the principle "don't bring anything in - don't take anything out" applies.

⇒ Here's more about collecting berries, mushrooms, flotsam

Kite flying

... is not allowed in the national park. The noise of the ascent and descent, but also flying in the sky, disturbs many animals.

Diving

... is allowed outside the Core Zones. To ensure that the nature of the national park is also well protected underwater, keep a sufficient distance from the seabed, do not disturb animals and do not take animals, plants or parts of them with you. The banks also need protection - so please only use the bathing areas to get in and out of the water. Divers traveling by boat should follow the advice on boating in the national park.

Insider tip

Our national park rangers offer, among other things, guided walks on the beach with interesting facts and stories about the coastal dynamics and the beach's residents.