What Some Navy SEALs Actually Do on Vacation (It's Not What You'd Expect)
How do Navy SEALs like to spend their vacations? Here's a quick answer:
- Adventure activities - scuba diving, spearfishing, free-diving, skydiving, and surfing
- Nature and solitude - off-grid wilderness trips, beach walks, and stargazing in remote locations
- Family reconnection - coastal retreats, shared outdoor challenges, and Memorial Day traditions like the Murph workout
- Luxury experiences - liveaboard dive trips and once-in-a-lifetime travel to destinations like the Bahamas
- Pure recovery - sleep, good nutrition, and mobility work to physically and mentally reset
The catch? SEALs don't get as much vacation as you might think — and getting approved leave is even harder than earning it.
Navy SEALs accrue the same 30 days of paid leave per year as every other active-duty service member — 2.5 days per month. But because of relentless deployment cycles and operational demands, many SEALs never actually use their full leave. Post-deployment rest periods typically run just 10–14 days, and even those are often spent recovering rather than traveling.
When they do get time off, how they spend it says a lot about who they are.
I'm Larry Fowler, BUD/S class 89, publisher of USMilitary.com since 2007, and through years of covering military careers, VA benefits, and the realities of special operations life, I've developed a deep understanding of how Navy SEALs like to spend their vacations — from the leave policies that shape their options to the real-world stories behind their downtime.
Simple guide to How Do Navy SEALs Like To Spend Their Vacations:
- A Day In The Life Of A Navy SEAL Operator
- How Navy SEALs Can Be Perfect Husbands and Amazing Role Models
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How Do Navy SEALs Like To Spend Their Vacations: The Reality of Special Ops Leave
To understand How Do Navy SEALs Like To Spend Their Vacations, we first have to look at the massive gap between what they are promised on paper and what they can actually take.
Like all active-duty U.S. military personnel, Navy SEALs accrue 2.5 days of paid leave per month, which adds up to 30 days of vacation time annually. However, their high operational tempo and intensive inter-deployment training cycles mean their schedule is rarely their own.
Unused leave can accumulate up to a strict 60-day cap. Because SEALs are constantly training or deploying, they frequently hit this ceiling, risking losing their hard-earned time off. When a team returns from a grueling 6-to-12-month deployment, they are typically granted a post-deployment rest and recuperation (R&R) period of 10 to 14 days. But even this window is highly unpredictable, and sudden mission requirements can cut it short or delay it entirely.
To navigate these constraints, many operators rely on "block leave"—designated periods when an entire command takes leave simultaneously—or they split their vacation time into smaller, highly flexible 5-day increments. This allows them to quickly adapt to shifting operational windows without losing their flights or reservations.
To illustrate how this works, we've broken down the difference between standard military leave policies and the actual operational reality for special operators:
| Leave Feature | Standard Active-Duty Policy | Navy SEAL Operational Reality |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Accrual | 30 Days (2.5 days per month) | 30 Days (Often accumulates to the 60-day cap) |
| How It's Scheduled | Planned months in advance with leadership | Highly fragmented; planned around unpredictable training windows |
| Post-Deployment R&R | Varies by unit and branch | Typically 10–14 days, often used strictly for physical recovery |
| Leave Approval | Standard administrative routing | Subject to sudden cancellation due to rapid-response missions |
| Common Practice | Taking 2–3 week block vacations | Taking short, highly flexible trips or "block leave" with the unit |
For a deeper dive into how these leave regulations are governed, you can read Do Navy Seals Get Vacation? Uncovering Their Leave Policies | CyNavy.
5 Ways Navy SEALs Spend Their Time Off
When we look at how these elite maritime warriors spend their hard-won free time, we see a fascinating mix of high-octane thrills, deep wilderness solitude, and intentional family reconnection. They don't just "turn off" their training; instead, they channel their unique mindset into their recreation.
1. High-Adrenaline Adventure and Extreme Sports
It is no secret that Navy SEALs are wired for high-intensity environments. The rigorous selection process of Navy SEAL Training weeds out anyone who cannot thrive under pressure. When they go on vacation, many operators find it difficult to transition directly to a sedentary beach chair. Instead, they seek out "active decompression" through extreme sports.
Activities like skydiving, deep-sea scuba diving, and spearfishing are incredibly popular among off-duty SEALs. These sports allow them to enjoy the thrill of risk mitigation and the familiar feeling of being a tactical athlete, but without the life-or-death consequences of a combat mission. For me, personally, downhill snow skiing ranks high. The need for speed always fulfills the adrenline habit.
However, these high-risk hobbies carry real dangers. The special operations community has tragically lost exceptional operators during off-duty adventures. For example, Lt. Mark Weiss, a highly decorated officer who transitioned from enlisted sailor to officer, lost his life during a spearfishing vacation in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Similarly, Cmdr. Seth Stone, another legendary operator, died in an off-duty skydiving accident in California.
These events are a sobering reminder that the very traits that make these men elite warriors—their love for the edge and their comfort in extreme environments—often dictate how they choose to spend their personal time. To learn more about the deep-rooted maritime heritage of these operators, visit the SEAL History: The Story of Naval Special Warfare.
2. Seeking Solitude in the Deep Wilderness
On the opposite end of the spectrum, many SEALs use their vacations to escape the noise, the crowds, and the constant digital connectivity of modern life. After months of living in close, high-stress quarters with their teams, solitude becomes a rare and precious commodity.
One of the most famous regions for off-grid decompression is Baja California, Mexico. In remote coastal stretches like the East Cape, Zacatitos, and the pristine wilderness bordering the Sea of Cortez, operators can completely disappear.
In these quiet landscapes, a vacation consists of simple, meditative rhythms:
- Surfing: Paddling out into secluded breaks where the only focus is the next wave.
- Free-diving: Descending below the ocean's thermocline in complete silence, where operators have described the surreal experience of hearing distant whale songs.
- Stargazing: Sitting on a roof deck in the desert, looking at a sky completely free of light pollution, gaining a sense of cosmic perspective that helps quiet the mind.
This immersion in nature is not just a luxury; for many operators, it is a psychological necessity to process the heavy demands of their careers. You can read a beautiful first-person account of this search for peace in Desert Meets Sea: A Navy SEAL Finds Solitude in Baja's... | SOFREP.
3. Reconnecting and Rebuilding Family Bonds
The families of Navy SEALs bear an incredible burden. Long deployments, sudden schedule changes, and pre-deployment anxiety can strain even the strongest relationships. When leave is approved, many operators dedicate 100% of their time to rebuilding those family bonds.
We often see SEAL families planning vacations to quiet, beautiful coastal locations where they can focus entirely on one another. Destinations like Sea Island, Georgia, offer the perfect backdrop for slow, intentional days filled with bike rides under massive oak trees, fishing, and long beach walks. For an idea of what a slow-paced family week looks like, check out A Family Week at Sea Island - A Healthy Slice of Life.
Even during these relaxing trips, military traditions often weave their way into family time. It is common for operators and their families to perform a modified "Murph" workout on Memorial Day—consisting of a run, push-ups, squats, and pull-ups—to honor fallen brothers like Lt. Michael P. Murphy. You can read more about the birthplace and heritage of these heroes in 2020 Florida family trip - part 7: birthplace of the Navy SEALs.
How Do Navy SEALs Like To Spend Their Vacations with Family?
When SEALs vacation with their children, they often skip the standard theme parks in favor of shared, challenging outdoor experiences. From the Navy SEAL Ethos, these fathers believe that building true confidence in children comes from overcoming real-world obstacles.
Former operators, like Brandon Webb, have shared how they applied their military mental training to parenting. Instead of shielding their children from discomfort, they use outdoor adventures—like ocean swims, backpacking, or learning survival skills—to teach self-reliance. They teach their kids how to visualize success, reframe negative self-talk, and handle the natural consequences of their choices.
This style of parenting focuses on leading from the front. By showing their children how to navigate challenging environments with a positive, resilient attitude, they build a foundation of trust that lasts long after the vacation ends. To explore this unique approach to raising confident kids, read I left the Navy SEALs to have more time with my 3 kids. What I learned in the military helped me raise confident kids. | Fin Street News.
4. Luxury Liveaboards and Once-in-a-Lifetime Honeymoons
Sometimes, the transition from military operations to civilian life requires a complete break from land-based stress. For milestone vacations, such as a honeymoon or retirement trip, many SEALs choose the ultimate maritime escape: a luxury liveaboard scuba diving vacation.
A prime example is retired SEAL Team Six member Don Mann, who chose a luxury liveaboard dive trip in the Bahamas for his honeymoon. Spending six days aboard a professional dive vessel in the Exuma Cays, he completed 26 dives, exploring pristine marine sanctuaries and crystal-clear waters with visibility exceeding 100 feet.
These trips offer the perfect balance for a retired or active operator:
- Five-star service and gourmet meals that require zero planning or effort.
- An intense focus on the ocean, allowing them to spend hours underwater, which is a natural comfort zone for anyone who has undergone maritime special operations training.
- Complete disconnection from the outside world, with no cell service or emails to interrupt their peace.
This blend of luxury and adventure represents the ultimate way to celebrate a career milestone. To read more about Don Mann's honeymoon adventure, check out SEAL Team Six to Honeymoon Bliss: Don Mann’s Adventure of a Lifetime. If you are interested in the career paths that lead to these elite units, you can explore U.S. Navy SEAL Careers.
How Do Navy SEALs Like To Spend Their Vacations for Pure Recovery?
While adventure is great, active-duty operators are also tactical athletes who must maintain their bodies like high-performance machines. During shorter holiday leave windows, their primary vacation goal is often pure physical and mental recovery.
During Navy SEAL BUD/S Training, candidates learn the extreme importance of recovery. On leave, active-duty operators know that 80% of their recovery will come from two basic things: excellent sleep and clean nutrition.
While it is tempting to indulge in heavy drinking during time off, experienced operators avoid back-to-back benders, as excessive alcohol severely impairs muscle recovery and disrupts sleep cycles. Instead, they treat their vacation as a structured "maintenance phase."
Here is a list of tactical recovery best practices that SEALs use during their leave:
- Prioritize Sleep: Aiming for 8 to 9 hours of high-quality sleep to repair central nervous system fatigue.
- Active Mobility: Replacing heavy lifting with foam rolling, yoga, and dedicated joint mobility sessions to heal worn-down shoulders and knees.
- Cardiovascular Maintenance: Swapping intense workouts for relaxed, steady-state rucking, swimming, or biking to keep the heart conditioned without adding joint stress.
- Hydration and Nutrition: Flooding the body with clean, nutrient-dense home cooking to offset months of field rations (MREs) and dining facility food.
Frequently Asked Questions About Navy SEAL Vacations
We get a lot of questions about how leave and time off work for special operations forces. Here are some of the most common inquiries:
Do Navy SEALs get more vacation time than other military branches?
No. Navy SEALs are subject to the same standard military leave policies as all other active-duty members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Space Force. They accrue 2.5 days of leave per month, totaling 30 days per year. The major difference is that their high operational tempo and intense training cycles make it much harder to actually schedule and take that leave compared to non-combat support roles.
Can Navy SEALs take a vacation during active deployments?
No. Vacation leave is never granted during active combat deployments. SEALs must wait until their deployment cycle is complete and they have returned to their home station. Once home, they are granted a brief post-deployment stand-down (usually 10 to 14 days) before their next training cycle begins.
How do SEAL families cope with unpredictable leave schedules?
Military families are incredibly resilient, but managing the unpredictability of special operations schedules requires deliberate effort. Many families utilize military-provided Family Support Programs, which offer counseling, child and youth activities, and recreational support. Additionally, families learn to plan highly flexible vacations, purchase travel insurance, and focus on high-quality, short-duration trips rather than long, rigid vacations that are easily disrupted by sudden command tasking.
Conclusion
Whether they are diving 100 feet deep in the Bahamas, surfing a secluded break in Baja, or simply enjoying a quiet morning coffee with their kids, Navy SEALs bring the same dedication to their downtime that they bring to their missions. They balance the need for high-adrenaline stimulation with an equal need for deep, restorative recovery and family reconnection.
At USMilitary.com, we are proud to serve as a central hub of information for our nation's military members, veterans, and their families. From comparing career paths to navigating VA disability ratings and securing home loans, we are here to support you through every phase of your military journey.
If you want to learn more about the incredible history, training, and lifestyle of these elite maritime operators, be sure to explore our Navy SEALs Complete Guide. For those looking to build the mental resilience required of elite warriors, we also highly recommend reading Dare to Live Greatly, a powerful guide to faith, courage, and overcoming life's toughest obstacles.
To explore all of our military resources, visit us today at USMilitary.com.
