Your subject in both shots is in shadow which makes your background brighter which is detracting. Honestly, I prefer the first shot. I don't think the lighting is good, but the repeated parallel lines of the background bring out the aesthetically pleasing, curvy lines of the subject without being distracting since it's not brighter. I like the depth of field in the first shot. The more I look at it the more I like the background, good pick.
Try the shots again in good lighting. And, I would crank up the color to vivid! It's the beach! I wanna see it bright and colorful!
The black and white is boring.