After sailing on a small yacht for hours at a time, you get pretty jittery. This is why swim stops were one of my favorite parts of the trip! (Although I did really enjoy the amount of reading time I had on my hands.) We had one or two swim stops a day, and the captain did an amazing job at finding the best spots! The water was completely clear, and it was so salty that I was buoyant without having to tread water. There was only one day that the water was too cold for me, which was nice.
There were also several things that the yacht offered that entertained everybody. They provided pool noodles that you could use, and our yacht had an island that you could relax on in the water. There were also paddle boards and kayaks, which I quickly found out were not for me. After getting stuck out on the reef several times, I decided I'd settle for snorkeling around or diving off the dock. My favorite thing to do during swim stops, though, was to go to the top of the boat, climb over the railing, and jump off into the water. I don't know how high it was exactly, but I loved the thrill! There were several times that I almost slipped off, which was hilarious after the fact. It is true when they say that your life flashes before your eyes. The only time that I regret jumping was the last stop. Right as I hit the water, I swallowed a bunch of water, which was incredibly salty. We now joke that I swallowed half the Adriatic Ocean. Afterward, I had to swim around the boat and walk up to the dining area to ask for a Sprite because I felt sick from swallowing so much water. I definitely will not forget that!
Needless to say, whether you are a paddle board, kayaking, thrill, or chill type of person, you will enjoy the swim stops! Just, please, keep your mouth closed and do not swallow the water.