Grotto Beach, Hermanus, is 1 of 3 Blue Flags beaches on the Cape Whale Coast. To achieve Blue Flag status beaches have to comply with a number of standards. Grotto Beach goes beyond the norm. The shore is accessible to persons with disabilities through the availability of amphibious wheelchairs. The Ford Motor Company generously donated a number of chairs to The Wildlife and Environmental Society of South Africa (WESSA) who in turn distributed them to different Blue Flag beaches. The additional amphibious wheelchair goes a long way to making the coastline more universally accessible as was proved recently during Paralympian Monique Kalkman’s visit to Hermanus. Monique took some time out to put the floating chair to the test in the waters of the Walker Bay and came back with a happy smile.