To not understand how people go paddleboarding and take their mobile phones?

[curiousitygotthebetterofme]

It’s summer, a lot of people on my social media seem to do a lot of paddleboarding.

quite often, I’d have the odd friend who uploads a beautiful photo of the sea from her paddleboard.

I genuinely don’t understand this, what if you fell in? Your mobile phone would go in with you and get damaged? It’d be lovely to take pics but surely you’d be better leaving your phone on land?

Phone goes in a waterproof case i would've thought. Always recommended to take it with you in case you run into trouble

Waterproof pouch. There is currently a coastguard/RNLI advert encouraging people to take their phones with them in a waterproof pouch if doing anything like this. A teenage boy was recently rescued because he was able to call the coastguard. He would likely have drowned otherwise.

You use a waterproof pouch, on a lanyard that's tied to you.

They sell poches which claim to be waterproof to 20m, but I've only ever used them on the surface. You can take pretty decent pix through them, but they're snaps for the memories rather than good pix

Examples of waterproof pouches

kbv.org.au/best-waterproof-phone-pouch-for-snorkeling/#:~:text=%206%20Pack%20Universal%20Waterproof%20Phone%20Pouch%2C%20Large,and%20dirt%2C%20provide%20full%20protection%20for...%20More%20

Important to tie them on so contents don't get swept away if you have a tumble

Ok that does make sense! I feel a bit stupid now even asking, but it did intrigue me!

even with a waterproof pouch, I’d still be absolutely terrified of breaking my phone in the water!

Many modern phones are waterproof now anyway, are you sure yours isn't? In fact atg least the last 3 I have had over 5+ years have all been waterproof so can drop in Bath etc

iPhones have been water resistant for a few generations now, too -- that plus a waterproof case is fairly good insurance.

Go pro cameras are everywhere

There's an amazing video from the rnli of this, from his initial call to the rescue, its so scary to think what would have happened without the waterproof pouch!

@MichelleScarn - yes I saw that! Got the message across very well.

If uou are worried about an expensive phone, you can always take a burner style phone instead.

I have the iPhone 13 pro max so I absolutely couldn’t risk it being destroyed in the water.

im keen to take up paddle boarding but obviously it would be a good idea to take your phone with you

Gosh that video was very moving.

It would be fine, it can survive being underwater for 30 minutes so a waterproof pouch or lanyard for it would make it super waterproof

Most phones are now waterproof. I droped my old Iphone XR into a portaloo and it survived. Plus of course a waterproof pouch.

I have the same phone and wouldn't dream of going paddle boarding without my phone. I keep it in a waterproof case attached to a lanyard that is held around my neck. The only way that thing is going in the water is if I do, and I either jump out and back on my board, or there's a problem and I need my phone to call for help. It's not going to get wet in a proper waterproof case but even if it does, it is designed to be able to cope with getting wet.

Please do not attempt paddle boarding with no phone.

Phone goes in a waterproof case i would've thought. Always recommended to take it with you in case you run into trouble

Exactly this, where practically possible you are encouraged to take your phone so you can call the RNLI if either yourself or another water user get into trouble.

That video has made me cry, I have a 17 year old called Alfie. The RNLI are amazing

You’re placing too much importance on a material item that can be replaced. If you can’t contact the coastguard you can’t be replaced. It’s waterproof anyway, I dropped my iPhone in the pool helping my DD out and it was absolutely fine.

I have an iPhone 13 pro and have taken under water photos with it - definitely waterproof!

I swim in open water and it just goes in my tow float, or in a waterproof pouch on a lanyard down the front of my wetsuit.

I think I would watch some of those Saving Lives at Sea programmes before I took up paddle boarding. That and sea kayaking seem to be the two main reasons the lifeboats get called out!

I guess we only see the ones where people do get called out and maybe they're just the most popular sports but it certainly made me think about where I would be prepared to do sea sports and what precautions I would take (GPS beacon possibly?).

I've had one near drowning incident when swimming in the sea, we were young and stupid and I trusted my friend instead of checking the map myself. Ended up swimming across an estuary and I really thought I might die. Managed to get my shit together and force myself to keep swimming so I didn't but it really really reminded me how powerful the sea is. I then went in another time with waves that were maybe 5 ft, didn't go out of my depth even but I made a decision about 2 minutes in that I wasn't safe. They were so strong I was being pushed underwater as I tried to get out and that was no fun either. That was just a scare really, but I think the sea can be a pretty dangerous place and people sometimes don't give it enough respect - I'd much rather risk my phone than my life but I guess you could get a cheap phone/insurance.

I don't understand why people take their mobile phones to bed, the cinema, theatre, restaurant, to cross the road or for a walk in the park.

That's a different subject on it's own, but I don't see what's to understand. Many people use their phones as an alarm clock and would generally have them with them when they are out of the house, wherever they are. I use my phone to make most of my payments and to take pictures so in all those circumstances, I would have my phone with me and as I don't use it an inappropriate times, there's nothing wrong with that.

I think I can swim but it’s been years since I’ve been in the water so I’m terrified of drowning or something but I’d always wear a life jacket.