The entire beach inside of the Pacific Spirit Regional Park is frequently referred to as Wreck Beach. However, the portion of Wreck Beach in the sandy area located on the north side of North Arm Breakwater that is at the base of Trail 6 is what most people think of Wreck Beach.
At Wreck Beach, beach goers can visit Acadia Beach. This section is mainly rocky with some sandy areas; thus there are fewer beach goers. During the smelt season, naturalists (nudists) share the area with fully clothed individuals and families who come to the area to fish.
The beach offers many different activities including sun bathing, volley ball, board games, jogging, body painting, dancing, and the all-nude beach casino. There is also plenty of music and lots of food.
Although the idea behind nudism is to unclothe to commune with nature and be closer to our natural state, there are people who visit nude beaches to view others. At Wreck Beach, regular beach goers will remove their clothing and join those who are nude rather than just observe them. Because of the beach's proximity to the University of British Columbia, many students visit it. Most of them are not nudists. There have been observations that some percentage of those who visit the beach are voyeurs whose sole purpose for being at the beach is to leer at naturalists.
Surely this is disturbing to those who practice nudism as a way of life, or who enjoy the opportunity to be free and unclothed. However, at Wreck Beach clothing is optional and open to the public. Therefore it is more likely to attract voyeurs and others with less than pure thoughts in their minds.
Wreck Beach is not just for adults. Families with children and teenagers often visit the beach. However, when visiting the beach individuals and families should take proper precautions.
When making a visit to Wreck Beach, proper beach etiquette is essential for creating an atmosphere that is safe and comfortable for everyone. Rules of etiquette include the following:
Do not stray from designated trails. To preserve the beauty of the place, do not walk along cliff faces and any other environmentally - fragile areas.
Obey parking regulations and "clothing mandatory" signs. If you do not park in proper areas, your vehicle will be towed. Also, it is important to respect the fact that people, who are within the clothing mandatory portion of the beach, might be offended by nudity.
Leave with what you came with. Respect the environment by taking out whatever you bring into the area.
At Wreck Beach, clothing is optional. This allows naturalists to express themselves and commune with nature. However, voyeurs and others who are only interested in gawking at nude beach goers pose a problem. Therefore, a visit to Wreck Beach should be undertaken with caution.