Scared to swim alone

I live very close to the beach and regularly swim alone, I know the waters well and check conditions, tide times, jellyfish etc before going in. Was joined by an inquisitive seal recently which was a bit scary and exited at speed. There are loads of beaches around me with no lifeguards, ever, and people swim there all the time. Obviously not playing down recent very sad events over the summer, though.

Yes I absolutely would and do but only if I know the beach and swimming conditions there (some beaches are safer than others), the tides and when the weather is calm. I don't swim out of my depth alone though (exceptin the Med).

I do it all the time, but I am trained as an advanced driver (a long time ago) and I feel I know when to be careful. I usually go when it’s calm and don’t go significantly out of my depth. They’ll definitely be a group you can join though and they usually go around 9ish.

I have suddenly been dragged under, swept off my feet in shallow water (ankle deep) - so being able to stand down is not always enough.

The ocean can be very unpredictable, even on familiar beaches.

Not scared of it but good not to be complacent.

YANBU

This question is to you and the vast majority who say no:

So if you’re on holiday in Greece, Spain etc in a popular swimming resort area you wouldn’t swim unless there was a lifeguard on the beach? Or is this a UK-specific thing?

Shocked at all the ‘never ever’ responses and it’s making me rethink my attitude towards swimming in the sea! We’ve always swum and snorkelled on holiday, but I’m also an experienced diver and wouldn’t go into the sea if I didn’t know the waters there well enough/wasn’t sure. But if I have checked tides, whether it has a drop-off, the weather etc I would just swim 🫣 Am I taking a huge risk?!

Of course it isn’t !! We have blue flag beaches which are monitored closely. For other beaches you are better to find swimming groups ( even if you don’t swim with them) as they will monitor the water quality. It’s also easy to find online which areas allow sewage dumps and which do not.

Only if the lifeguard was on, but in general would prefer to have someone with me for safety, even if they are not swimming.

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.

I could but I've grown up by the sea and my local beach is relatively safe. There are surrounding beaches with more dangerous currents and I've grown up knowing it's more dangerous to swim in those places so information like that is key really.
And I wear water shoes in case of weaver fish.

Do NOT swim alone. It’s very unsafe.

I love swimming in the sea and in pools, but would never go swimming alone in the sea if there were no lifeguards around, even though I ensure I never go out of my depth. A family of 3 have just drowned swimming off the south coast. Life is too precious to take unnecessary risks and think how your family would feel if they lost you.

I’ve only ever walked out then swum back but do remember a day when the water was completely flat, not even a ripple on the surface but despite my best efforts I just couldn’t make any progress and had eventually to give up and walk back - having had a really good swim in the meantime 😂😂😂. There was a very strong current flowing out but there was no indication at all apart from the fact that I couldn’t beat it. If I’d been out of my depth I’d have been in real trouble. And even if there are other people around, you cannot guarantee they’ll be watching you so I’d say always go with someone so you have eyes on each other then enjoy your swim.

Previous to last year I’d have said yea go for it.
I’m a strong swimmer, my boyfriend can’t swim.
I went swimming in the sea on my own on holiday, the conditions changed and I was sucked under and it was horrendous i genuinely couldn’t find the surface and felt I was drowning, my boyfriend had to wade in and drag me out of the water.
later i discovered three people drowned in that same area on the same day

Absolutely in Cornwall.

I live here and South West Water regularly discharge sewage throughout the year, even Summer.

The info is quite easily accessible online if you’re interested, and makes quite horrifying reading.

Don't swim out from the shore so you are getting further from land, you are keeping the same distance between you and land

Dear late father was a good swimmer and having never lived near the coast was very happy to swim in the sea. He drummed it into me and my siblings that you never go so deep.you can't put your feet on the bottom, always swim parallel to the shore , don't swim on an outgoing tide and if in doubt don't go in.

If the beach is not prone to rips and you stay in or close to your depth I’d not be concerned.
I do it a lot but take orange inflatable if few people about.
Swimming with others is fine but doing it alone is great.

Quite surprised at all the No responses. I have a healthy fear of the sea and I'm not a great swimmer but I always swim alone, but I never go in deeper than my hips and not if there are big breakers or an outgoing tide. I'm always amazed at the surfers and paddle boarders who go far out, gives me the willies.

So I'm Australian and water safety, especially at the beach is very prevalent here.

You should never swim alone. Especially in the ocean. Cramps, currents, exhaustion, sharks, can all happen. There are several mysteries (including a Prime Minister) who went swimming alone and they've never been seen again. Granted, our beaches are a bit more dang, but the same advice goes for pools.

I prefer smaller quieter beaches without life guards

I always swim alone in the sea. Only once did I nearly drown. Rest of the time it was absolutely fine.

I swim alone but only when the tide is coming in not out, and I swim in my depth parallel to the shore . And trail a neon float.