Amantea has a long sandy beach running south from the centre of town for several kilometres. The closer stretches near the harbour have lidos with sun loungers, parasols, and beach bars for hire; further south, beyond the river mouth, the beach grows wider and more open, mostly free public sand mixed with the occasional pebble.
The water shelves gently — fine for kids — and the colour is the bright clear blue of the Tyrrhenian. North of town, the coast is more dramatic, with rocky coves accessible from the old SS18 highway. The Coreca Reefs just south are the best snorkelling option in the area. Sea conditions are calmest from June to September; outside the summer season the wind off the Tyrrhenian can be strong.