On any beautiful dive vacation, it's nice to take some time to just relax on the shore. Our readers picked these beaches as the best spots for sun, sand and surf in the world.

These rankings are part of our 2017 World's Best Platinum Awards, a readers survey. For more on the survey and method, click here.

The Top 3

Seven Mile Beach | Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

This gently sloping stretch of white sand is beloved not just for its beauty, but because it’s the launching point for a host of activities that doesn’t start and end with diving. Paddleboarders can float overtop southern stingrays and enjoy endless visibility down to the reefs. Speed geeks can zip across the water with a banana-boat ride. And parasailing gives high flyers an aerial view of the entire coast.
Of course, doing nothing but simply enjoying the feeling of soft sand underfoot, the sound of small waves lapping at the shore and a view of turquoise and cobalt all the way to the horizon deserves a bit of time too.
And come day’s end, linger on and celebrate with a sundowner at the Calico Jack’s or Tiki Beach bars to stretch out that tropical-island, feet-on-the-beach feeling for just a little bit longer.

Kaanapali Beach | Maui, Hawaii

With its wide, flat stretch of golden sand, and ample restaurants, bars and luxury hotels, this beach is one where anyone on holiday could easily pass a day — or week. It is swimmer-friendly, and also welcomes paddleboarders and surfers.

Tulum | Riviera Maya, Mexico

This sleepy fishing village has become a favorite beach town among backpackers and budget travelers thanks to its slow pace of life and surplus of eateries dishing up cheap tacos, fresh coconuts and gourmet popsicles. The beach itself is worth a visit alone.