The journey through Israel’s most beautiful beaches reaches Tel Shikmona in Haifa, home to a famous natural rock 'jacuzzi' that draws photographers, influencers and nature loversAssaf Kamar|The hot June sun dominates the sky and aside from one bizarre, strange and unexpected rainy day, it seems the Israeli summer is already here. The beloved Mediterranean is inviting us for a soothing swim and refreshing dip. To find the perfect beach, we asked Shelly Goldschmidt, a veteran travel blogger to recommend a secret, wild beach with an intimate element that would turn a swim into a magical, pastoral memory.“The natural jacuzzi at Tel Shikmona Beach in Haifa,” she answered without hesitation.9 View gallery The natural jacuzzi at Tel Shikmona Beach in Haifa (Photo: Assaf Kamar)On a pleasant morning, we arranged to meet in the parking lot of the Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research Institute. Goldschmidt leads us to a brief lookout point atop the intriguing archaeological tel with a romantic view, where an affectionate couple on a picturesque bench watches us in surprise. We descend to the rocky shoreline. At the edge of the large rock formation sits a round, symmetrical rock pool with perfectly colored water.“I’m very excited,” says Shelly. “This is the first time we’re doing a live broadcast from a beach and not from some secret spring.”9 View gallery The beach here is truly pristine, in the most natural state possible (Photo: Assaf Kamar)What made you branch out from freshwater springs and recommend a dip at Tel Shikmona Beach?“I think this amazing symmetrical pool reminds me very much of a spring. In general, I really love this beach, it’s simply stunning. Up above there’s an amazing promenade with food trucks and great food stands. The beach here is truly pristine, in the most natural state possible, with lots of beautiful sea creatures living in the tiny pools between the rocks — fish, crabs, snails, octopuses, sea turtles and various mollusks. And then there’s Tel Shikmona’s famous pool. It’s a perfectly symmetrical circular carving.”9 View gallery At the edge of the large rock formation sits a round, symmetrical rock pool with perfectly colored water (Photo: Assaf Kamar)One of the main reasons we drove all the way to Haifa’s enchanting Tel Shikmona Beach was the famous jacuzzi carved here by the ancients. Lovers of adventure and nature comforts like to sit inside the unique pool and soak peacefully and happily. This is also a good moment to tell that Shikmona Beach is an undeclared beach without lifeguard services, and swimming outside the rock pools is forbidden and extremely dangerous.The hot June sun beats down on our heads. Goldschmidt, a devoted immersion enthusiast, wants to wrap up the live broadcast and run into the cool, refreshing water, but I ask for more details about the remarkable natural jacuzzi.9 View gallery A brief lookout point atop the intriguing archaeological tel with a romantic view (Photo: Assaf Kamar)“Lots of travel bloggers and nature photographers love shooting here. Because the beach is so romantic, intimate and has an incredible view, many couples also come here to propose with the sea as a backdrop. True, there are no lifeguards here, and with all the rocks in the water this isn’t an ideal swimming beach, but anyone who comes to sit in Shikmona’s jacuzzi or in the other small pools between the rocks can enjoy a safe dip. Inside the pool there’s no current and the waves don’t splash into your eyes. It’s simply great fun.”Rotem Sadeh, a marine ranger with the marine ranger, almost missed our live broadcast to the ynet studio. Early in the morning he was called into the field to rescue a nesting site containing 28 turtle eggs discovered on the beach. Now, still out of breath from the morning’s rush, he tells us about the fascinating history of the Tel Shikmona archaeological site.9 View gallery Veteran ynet photographer Avihu Shapira (Photo: Assaf Kamar)“Tel Shikmona has the longest continuous settlement sequence in Haifa’s history. It begins in the 15th century BCE, during the biblical period. In the 8th century BCE, Tel Shikmona left its historical mark across the Mediterranean basin through the production of purple dye. The prestigious reddish dye was extracted from a predatory sea snail called murex. They raised and boiled them in these pools to produce the luxury dye. In ancient times, purple dye was used to color fabrics and buildings and also for dyeing prayer shawls with the blue tekhelet thread.”Alongside the ancient dye industry, Tel Shikmona has yielded remains of impressive mosaics depicting animals, ancient structures, unique archaeological finds with numerous Hebrew inscriptions and a rare grave of a senior Hyksos warrior. The University of Haifa, the Haifa Municipality, the Nature and Parks Authority, the Israel Antiquities Authority and the nearby oceanographic institute have joined forces to develop the archaeological site. Soon, it will be open free of charge to the public, who will be able to explore Tel Shikmona’s long and fascinating history.The live broadcast finally comes to an end and we take off our shirts, preparing to jump into the water, but piles of sunflower seed shells, bits of plastic and bottle caps irritate us. Goldschmidt asks the public to keep Shikmona Beach clean.9 View gallery Up above there’s an amazing promenade with food trucks (Photo: Assaf Kamar)“It’s a very ugly phenomenon. People dirty our nature, don’t bring garbage bags and don’t collect their trash. So friends, before you pack a towel, make sure you put a garbage bag in your backpack. The litter visitors leave behind seriously harms the experience for others and physically harms the wildlife living here. The trash causes choking and unnecessary deaths.”Attila Somfalvi, our political commentator who grew up in Haifa and knows the magical beach well, takes the broadcast back to the ynet studio with obvious envy, and the moment we had been waiting for finally arrives — we jump into the beautiful rock pool.9 View gallery 'The beach is so romantic, intimate and has an incredible view' (Photo: Assaf Kamar)The water in Tel Shikmona’s natural jacuzzi is cool, crystal clear and exactly the right temperature for a long stay and an enjoyable immersion in nature. Tiny crabs and silver-colored fish dart between our legs, while large waves crashing against the lagoon and rocks feed fresh water into the circular pool in a thin, pleasantly gentle stream. In short, pure delight.The beach is almost completely empty, but one of the regular visitors to Tel Shikmona’s pampering jacuzzi, who arrived for her regular morning dip, spots the ynet camera and is far from pleased.9 View gallery 'This is the first time we’re doing a live broadcast from a beach and not from some secret spring' (Photo: Amir Dror)“It’s a shame you came to film our jacuzzi. Now all of Israel will come flooding here and dirty the place. Really a shame.”Veteran ynet photographer Avihu Shapira tries to calm the worried local and personally promises her that the regular readers of the series on intimate immersions in nature are “educated people, classy people who won’t litter.”9 View gallery Large waves crashing against the lagoon and rocks feed fresh water into the circular pool in a thin, pleasantly gentle stream (Photo: Avihu Shapira)I also join the regular visitors’ plea to keep Shikmona Beach clean and recommend arriving with sandals, since the rocks in the area can cut the feet of anyone who isn’t careful.How to get there: Visitors coming from Tel Aviv should enter Haifa via the Highway 2, which becomes Haganah Boulevard. At Allenby Interchange, turn right and make a U-turn southward via the National Maritime Museum toward the seafront and Papa Square. Continue south along Hubert Humphrey Street beside the charming promenade until you reach the distinctive building of the Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research Institute and park there — or simply type “Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research Institute” into Waze.Warning: Tel Shikmona Beach is an undeclared beach with no lifeguard services. Bathing is permitted only in the rock pools. Entering the rock pools without swimming knowledge is dangerous. Bathing is entirely at visitors’ own risk.