Scared to swim alone

I do. But, I have been sea swimming since childhood. I am a strong swimmer and former lifeguard. I usually swim at beaches I know (mostly Bournemouth/Boscombe, Southsea/Eastney, sometimes Weymouth.) I don't often go deeper than waist/chest level (especially now the rafts have gone from Greenhill. 😞)

Swim parallel to the shore. Learn how to read the waves, recognise rips etc. If the waves are too strong or the current too fierce, don't risk it, and get out.

Find out the tide times - it changes the nature of the water. High water and low water swims can feel very different in some places.

I look to see if there are others about - if no one else is in the water, I probably wouldn't, as I'd assume there's a reason for it.

If you're hoping to go regularly, get to know the beach - is it sand or pebble underfoot? Is it the same under the water? Quite a few south coast beaches are pebbly, but once you're out in the water, it's more sandy underfoot - but there could also be rocks etc. Does it shelf suddenly or is it a gentle gradient? Also, there are weever fish about currently- wear swimming shoes.

You can check water quality, water temperature, tides, weather forecast all online.

If there are lifeguards, swim there.

Find out if there's a swimming group, join in.

You shouldn’t swim in open water without a life jacket on. Any lifeguard will tell you that. You hire a pedallo at the beach you wear a life jacket. But people go swimming in the sea without one. Doesn’t matter how good a swimmer you are you have to take precautions.

Btw people replying here who don’t live on the coast may not realise that lifeguards only operate on a few beaches and only in peak summer months, whereas people here swim daily in the sea. We are lucky to have a marine lake which is a safer option, but just saying don’t swim doesn’t take into account that they have been swimming since before lifeguards were on beaches and happily swim (crazy if you ask me!) all winter

Only swim in open water with others and it’s highly recommended to tie a buoy to you and drag it along for visibility too. It’s not the lack of lifeguards it’s always be part of a group ideally with someone on the shore

I have been swimming in the sea regularly for over 20 years. I used to go with a group of friends but they now have mobility or health problems so I usually go alone.

I am well aware of the dangers of the sea and I only go in alone on a beach I know well, when the weather is fair and the sea is not rough. I swim out a few strokes, check I can easily swim back to shore (currents, drag, etc). There is a lifeboat station but there are no lifeguards unless they happen to be out in the boat on a training exercise. There are usually dog walkers or other swimmers around.

You must check the tides and weather, know your beach, and use your common sense. Do not go in a rough sea, and do not stay in longer than you can cope with. You can't always three times a week or whatever, you have to be guided by the sea and weather. And then enjoy it, it's a lovely thing to do.

I’m a strong swimmer and very rarely sea swim alone. If I do, it’s when the sea is flat calm, it’s warm and I know the area well. I swim with a float for safety and visibility.

It’s just nicer to swim with other people, as well as safer. I have a WhatsApp group with a bunch of swimming friends and usually there’s someone free at the same time and up for a swim.

I swim at a remote beach and occasionally swim by myself. However, I swim very regularly and am always mindful of the conditions. I don't go beyond my depth if I'm by myself, and am more confident on an incoming tide. You need to risk assess every swim.

I'm also a member of my local Bluetits group, and so always post a swim the day before I go, or try to join a swim that others have posted.

Personally I'd wait until the lifeguards are there if possible.

I assume you might be on your own but it is unlikely that the entire beach will be empty so there would be people to help if you got in trouble.

I live in a seaside town and go swimming on my own all the time. The beach is quiet but never completely empty.

I just make sure I don't go too far but I am a good swimmer and have been in a water since I was a toddler.

We don't have lifeguards ever on our beach but there is an RNLI base.

Frankly if you swim only where your feet can touch the sand/pebbles and don't swim in rough sea I don't see the issue.

I’m a cross channel swimmer, I spent hundreds of hours swimming in the sea as part of the training. Never, ever alone. There were either other swimmers with me, or someone observing from the beach.

I wouldn’t swim alone. A quick dip (not an actual swim) maybe but after hearing of yet more drownings this week I wouldn’t go beyond waist level.

If it is stormy and wavy, don't go in at all, no matter how many people are with you!

NetCurtainNelly I think due to recent hot weather .The sea is free and tempting to families .Terrible tragedy yesterday. Anyway in answer to OP question No I would not swim alone .See if there is a group you can join, or at least wait until lifeguards are on duty,and let them know.

*also Im born and raised by the sea. I agree with a previous poster who say it’s the locals like me who are aware how dangerous the sea can be. I would of course, swim in the sea without a lifeguard- but not on my own, only when with others.
Im so lucky that I can often pop down to the beach on my lunch break etc for a quick swim on my own; when I do this I go to a more popular beach (rather than where the locals tend to go when we want to avoid tourists!) with lifeguards on.
It’s the tourists who visit once a year that are more blasé, and don’t appreciate the risks, or think that if they stay in their depth they’ll be fine etc.

I'd swim alone, and do. But it does depend on the beach. Most beaches I go to don't have lifeguards.

Okay. But I wasn't talking about swimming with others. I was saying that people who grew up by the sea are not likely to be the ones saying it's never safe to swim in the sea.

'My octopus teacher' is basically a whole documentray about a man swimming in his own every day. He is still alive

Just back from Cornwall and was swimming every morning before breakfast (and lifeguards). As long as you are sensible, don’t go deep and stay near the shore you will be fine. Wear a float if you want. If it is stormy and very wavy, obviously don’t go alone

I would (and do!) only swim alone in the sea if in a lifeguarded section with them working. Otherwise I wouldn’t ever risk it.

also, calm looking water can be more dangerous than obvious waves due to riptides! If caught in a riptide don't fight against it- let it pull you out until it stops and then swim horizontally away from the rip until clear before then making your way back to the shore. Please research how to spot them and what to do it caught in one!

I'd say that doing it properly includes making sure you have someone with you, even if they're not swimming, or making sure you only swim when there are other people around you.

3 people (sadly dead) pulled out of the sea yesterday in Essex, I wouldn't swim alone. Don't rely on passersby to rescue, they may not even notice if you're in distress. Even if I saw you in distress, I would not be able to go in and rescue you.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2gmjd36pvo

Yes I absolutely swim on my own, don’t go out of my depth though. Usually there are loads of other people swimming, most of them further out than me.

Yes I see your point about tourists, but my point was that I don't think you'd get many locals saying it's never safe to swim in the sea. You just learn how to do it properly - which involves having a healthy respect for it.

So there aren't necessarily more cases then, we are just hearing about them more

There's been a lot of deaths where people have drowned in rivers too.

I rarely swim at life guarded beaches