Punat Bay is one of the calmest stretches of water on Krk Island, and that makes it a reliable spot for swimming even when the open coast is rough. The main beach runs along the town waterfront and is pebbly underfoot, with clear water that warms quickly in early summer and stays warm well into September. The gentle slope and lack of waves makes it a favourite with families travelling with small children.
Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are available for hire from a rental outfit near the marina during the main season. Paddling out toward Košljun Island — taking your own line rather than riding the taxi boat — gives a completely different perspective on the bay and the monastery walls rising from the trees. The water is shallow enough in much of the bay to feel safe for beginners.
Windsurfing and kiteboarding are less prominent here than on the more exposed beaches further along the island, though the afternoon thermal breeze that runs through the bay in summer provides enough wind for relaxed sailing. A diving school operates from the marina and runs beginner courses as well as guided dives to the rocky seabed and underwater features around the mouth of the bay.