In short
- Nylon Pool is a waist-deep sandbar in the ocean.
- No Man's Land is a sandy spit attached to the mainland.
- Standard boat tours include time at both spots.
In this article
Many visitors confuse the Nylon Pool with No Man's Land when booking a Buccoo Reef tour. Both are popular stops on a standard glass-bottom boat trip, but they offer completely different experiences. Knowing the difference helps you pack and plan for your day on the water.
What is the Nylon Pool?
The Nylon Pool is an offshore sandbar located in the middle of the Caribbean Sea.
It sits about a mile off the coast of southwest Tobago. The water here is around 1 meter (3.2 feet) deep. You can stand up and walk around in the warm, clear water. There is no dry land at the Nylon Pool.
What is No Man's Land?
No Man's Land is an uninhabited sandy spit bordering the Bon Accord Lagoon.
Unlike the Nylon Pool, No Man's Land offers dry, white sand where you can walk, sit, and relax. Many full-day tours use this spot for beach BBQs and serving rum punch. There are no permanent facilities here. You must bring everything you need and carry your trash out.
How do the experiences compare?
Nylon Pool is strictly for swimming and wading, while No Man's Land is for relaxing on a beach.
At the Nylon Pool, you hop off the boat directly into waist-deep water. At No Man's Land, the boat pulls up to the shore, and you step onto a sandy beach. Both locations lack restrooms and shade structures.
Do boat tours visit both locations?
Yes, most standard glass-bottom boat tours include stops at both the Nylon Pool and No Man's Land.
A typical itinerary lasts 2 to 2.5 hours. It stops first at the Buccoo Reef Coral Gardens for snorkeling. Next, the boat spends 30 to 45 minutes at the Nylon Pool. Finally, it visits No Man's Land for another 1 to 2 hours before returning to shore.
Which location is better for non-swimmers?
Both locations are safe and accessible for non-swimmers.
The Nylon Pool is calm and shallow enough for adults to stand comfortably. Boats carry life jackets for extra buoyancy if needed. No Man's Land has a gentle sloping beach. This makes it easy to stay entirely on dry land or simply wade near the edge.
What should you pack for these stops?
Pack a swimsuit, a towel, and reef-safe sunscreen for both locations.
You will need a waterproof bag for your phone when taking photos at the Nylon Pool. At No Man's Land, bring cash for tour tips or potential beach snacks. Water shoes are optional but helpful if you encounter coral fragments in the sand.
Questions travellers ask
Can you walk from Nylon Pool to No Man's Land?
No. The Nylon Pool is located about a mile offshore from the mainland. You must take a boat to travel between the two locations.
Are there bathrooms at No Man's Land?
No. No Man's Land is an uninhabited sandy spit with no permanent facilities. Plan to use the restrooms at your departure point before boarding the boat.
Does the sand at Nylon Pool make you look younger?
Local legend claims that rubbing the coral sand on your skin will reverse your age by ten years. It acts as a natural exfoliant, but the age-reversing claims are just a popular myth.
