We had just finished snorkeling off the coast of Pigeon Point at Buccoo Reef against a strong current and I was tired, sitting on the flat top of the boat, my back to the wood railing. The breeze was coming through and I could see the dark clouds rolling over the tops of the hills on the island, but the air was warm and I felt comfortable without my shirt and the breeze against my skin.

I prefer not to wear a life jacket when I snorkel – I like to dive under and get a closer look – and the half-hour swim in the moving waters had both relaxed and exerted me, seeing the eels and the rainbow fish. I was very intrigued by our next destination, a place people refer to as “the fountain of youth.” According to the locals, it carries powers that benefit sex and marriage. For men, it can help them get… bigger. Women lose ten years of age with a single swim. Couples who kiss under the water will guarantee themselves a lasting marriage.

Nylon Pool is essentially an extraordinarily large sandbar where the water is only two to three feet deep at its max – some places it will barely cover your ankles. You can see in the photos that you are a significant swim from the coast when standing in the pool, about a mile offshore, giving you a different kind of perspective on the coast.

I unfortunately have not yet reaped the supposed benefits of taking a dip in Nylon, but I can tell you it certainly has its healing qualities. The views, for one, and the sand that makes it up. A solution you would pay mucho dinero for in a beauty salon I was getting for free, digging into the earth and pulling up a heavy, almost muddy handful of the smooth, coral-based sand. People were rubbing it all over themselves, myself included, and you really could feel the difference – the exfoliation – when you washed it off with the salt water. When I say people were putting it all over themselves, I’m serious – one man had his whole head covered.

It’s a cool place to hang out for a half hour or so, shoot the shit and maybe have a beer. Some of the tour boats have booze on board, but double check when you make your reservation and bring your own if they don’t (I bought an extra at lunch and drank one on the ride out to Buccoo Reef… it’s totally allowed). Another way to go would be to rent a kayak and paddle out yourself – a good option for the active and/or budget travelers.

The dark clouds I mentioned resulted in a bit of a rain shower, producing an incredible rainbow over the island. Sometimes, you just get lucky.

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