It might be "just grass", but a lot of people don't care to swim in it.
I don't mind snorkeling over it...but if I have to wade through it or stand in it....I don't care for it either. I prefer to SEE what I'm stepping on....for a lot of reasons.
1)We do have stingrays here and even the small baby ones like to play in the grass.
2)Ever step on a conch shell barefoot??? Nuff said.
3)The sand that turtle grass grows in is NOT very solid...it IS mushy...and you sink most of the time.
4)(and this be the biggest reason) Do you have any idea how many people here like to throw crap in the water?...including bottles????...including old wood?....maybe with nails? Have you seen the debris on the beaches that washes in over the reef thanks to the careless cargo ships that like to dump garbage overboard??
Hate to put a damper on things but I like nice clean sand to step on. This is why a lot of resorts have cleared out spots to swim...for folks like me and others who feel the same way.
JMHO