Scared to swim alone

Impossible to answer this question if you don’t say where you are. If you are in mainland Europe, check the water quality regularly but I would swim depending on currents. If you are in Australia absolutely not 🤣

I love sea swimming and live by the coast, we get a lot of under currents and rip tides though, so I wouldn't sea swim alone until the lifeguards come on duty. I am a strong swimmer but one current you didn't expect, cramp etc and you're in trouble if there's not someone to help. I have joined a lovely sea swim group though it's really fun and very casual so no pressure to go every week. I tend to do it once a week or so, but they meet 5 times a week, almost all women.

So many people drown every year, including strong swimmers. Don't do it.
The currents can catch you out.

My husband is a great swimmer, and when he was a strong young man he tried to swim across a channel of water to a small beach island (in the UK). Cut a long story short, the current was deceptive and he got into trouble. Very ordinary weather conditions, no warning signs, just everyday circumstances.

Honestly he could have died.

I'm not sure op has a pool

I think if others are on the beach and you wear a brightly coloured hat and tow float you’d be fine because you’d be doubly visible. Also, if you were to struggle, you can tuck the float under your chest and hold it to you and rest. We have to do this in the lakes we go to, so it makes even more sense to take the same precautions in the sea.

Ex useme , you wasn't dashed on the rocks but he was, madame if you broke it he and did not call life guard lite for him he would've died so early so say to him you're lucky you didn't die if it wasn't for me and if he didn't say ily come look for me ok

I swim with a brilliant flotation vest and never go out of my depth. It’s bright orange so people could see me if I am in trouble. I know the float to live rule. We have had deaths in our sea but I’m sensible with the conditions.
vest inflatable and from Amazon about 25£ . But still stay within your depth if alone

No. I am a strong swimmer but you need someone to notice if you get into trouble. You could have a cramp or a jellyfish sting or any kind of medical emergency that means you might need pulling from the water. I'd swim alone in a pool because that feels more of a known entity and easier to self rescue from if needed.

Driving is way more dangerous than swimming, yet everyone continues to do it

Depends on the beach...some are quite safe, just be aware of the tide, and some beaches are very unsafe. You need to know what kind of beach you are at and what to look for. If you are unsure, swim groups of the right level are good to learn from experienced swimmers in that particular area. And always use a swim buoy. A bright swim hat is good too.

There have been tragedies on busy beaches so having crowds of people there isn't an indicator of safety.

And for people who say it's just not worth the risk..surely you could say that about using a road to get to any of your hobbies.

Agree. They should be jailed!

It's only a fine - fixed rate i think. Those are factored into our costs. The shareholders will still make a profit, the company wont get ahut down or anything. Fines are not really a problem for the rich, only for the poor.

This is what I've done on my own a couple of times over the summer in between going with my (adult) daughter.

I know there's no drop off where we go and always go about an hour before high tide so I'm near the beach and the water is coming into the shore.

Can you recognise a rip? If not, educate yourself about the sea where you are planning on swimming. I live in a large surfing area and rips are so dangerous, however the kids who surf and paddle learn young.

Is would nerve swim alone on an unknown beach. I have on my home beach where I grew up and I can spot the weird look of a riptide. I do not go out of my depth in the sea and I’m an experienced sea swimmer.

I think it depends enormously on the beach. Some are going to be pretty safe in normal weather and I would swim alone. Others really are not. You need some local knowledge.

Yes, exactly my thoughts! Always went swimming in the sea as kids, in all sorts of different places, never experienced a near-drowning or even getting scared, really. I've actually felt neglectful that my kids haven't done it much (pools instead). But now I'm wondering if we were just very, very lucky or my parents knew to only let us swim in very safe seas?! (Doubt that very much, they were quite the opposite of careful parents in general.)

At a beach I know and within my depth in calm conditions I’m happy to go for a dip and a parallel shore swim alone. Ideally get someone e to buddy you just in case. I generally don’t though as you can swim in waist high water do what can really go wrong.

My mum goes swimming in the sea too far out im always nervous of this.. I dont like the sea i find it intimidating so im not the one to give you confidence.. dont go if no one else is about that would be silly .
Have a coffee a read a walk stay on solid ground x

I live in the SW & swim alone in the sea most mornings as do hundreds of others down here. It’s fine. Just be sensible.

I swam off the south coast last year and found myself in a current taking me in an easterly direction . I was ok , I went round a rocky outcrop and then swam in and walked back, but it's made me realise that a smooth sea can be deceptive.

There was another chap in the sea but he stayed in the shallower area. Now I check things like where others are in terms of how far out, etc.

It’s up to you to weigh the risks. What are the currents like? Will you be swimming within your depth for standing, or out of it?

Personally I would swim alone, with a tow float, within my depth, if I knew there weren’t any concerns about dangerous currents or riptides. But if I didn’t know those things, I wouldn’t.

This is one that would depend very much on the individual beach and local conditions for me.

I would want to be very familiar with the beach in question before swimming alone, and also be following safety advice that pp’s have given such as swimming parallel to the shore, staying within your depth and so on.

And also, re water quality, get one of those apps that tells you if there’s been a sewage discharge into the sea locally. I’ve got the Surfers Against Sewage app on my phone.

I take my horses to the beach all year round. In winter there’s always people out swimming alone - no life guards on duty at this beach.

Most are wearing wet suits so I assume they’re like professional wild swimmers or similar. I think they’re not wired up right, but each to their own.

Can you not look at social media ? Find a Bluetits group ?
there are groups all over the country !