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?

You wouldn't be risking it, your iphone is waterproof for up to 30mins submerged!

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

iPhones have been largely water resistant since the iPhone 7.

Waterproof case obviously, and a good but inexpensive phone.

And if you aren't sure if you are a swimmer then get to the pool and build up your swimming strength first.

Plenty of inland places you can learn to paddleboard, including lessons.

This. You don't want to be overconfident in the water because no matter how strong a swimmer you are the sea is stronger, but getting in the pool would seem like the bare minimum in terms of being safe to me.

Get in the pool, get to the point you can swim a kilometre crawl without stopping and then get in the sea and practice being in the water in whatever you'd wear to paddle board. I find swimming in a wetsuit much harder work than a swimming costume because I don't have full shoulder rotation. Others find it easier because it increases bouyancy.

I hope not to derail your post OP, but can anyone recommend a waterproof phone lanyard case? I've just bought a PB and have a buoyancy aid, but my phone is samsung and not waterproof. I plan to paddle shoreline only just now.

Interesting thread!

I have pouch for keys and phone as I body board with with the kids and there is no where to leave valuables.

RNLI sell waterproof phone cases on on their website.

As long as my phone won’t be damaged I’m for it!

Thanks for sharing. Wow that’s powerful.

Wow that's emotional!

I know someone who lost a phone in a pouch at sea that got dug up by a metal detectorist months later. The detectorist managed to find the owner and returned the phone. Worked perfectly.

There have been a lot of people going nuts on here today. Jumping to conclusions at the first judgement and getting really angry when people might point out they are being a bit quick to judge. The heat is getting to everyone today!

I am quite into my rowing, coach as well as compete and it makes me so angry when I see people who have quite clearly done no research just launch into the river without checking conditions, wearing a lifejacket, carrying a mobile phone or informing anyone of what they are doing. When I see parents taking their kids out in some micky mouse blow up kayak or paddleboard, again without safety gear, and just bumble about in commercial traffic with zero idea of what navigation patterns there may be, what arches of bridges to use etc. Have had to intervene a few times when folk have got stuck on pontoons or capsized.

My personal bugbear at the moment is 'free swimmers', the sensible ones join an organised club, venture out with a florescent swim cap and float bag with them and stay close to the banks. The dickheads go out at dusk with no lights or reflective gear and risk getting run over.

There is an RNLI station near me and they are brilliant, some of the stories they tell of muppet behaviour make your jaw drop.

I have my phone in a folding case, but I think none of these phone pouches can handle a 'fat' phone... can they? Which product do you use & can it handle a phone in a fat case?

It's really my car keys I'm scared to lose, though.

Waterproof pouch. Its recommended to take your phone so you can call for help if necessary.

Phones are one thing, a friend of mine and her BF go camping by paddle board, tent, clothes, food, everything they need either balanced on the front of the board in a dry bag, or in a rucksack that they wear, and off they go round to a bay you can only get to by sea. The level of confidence they must have in not falling off / capsizing amazes me.

I have my phone in a folding case, but I think none of these phone pouches can handle a 'fat' phone... can they? Which product do you use & can it handle a phone in a fat case
I use my fold case for say to day use but put it in a waterproof case with lanyard for watersports

I’ve got the iPhone 13 pro max and Apple say it’s water resistant for 30 minutes up to 6 metres

I’ve dropped it in water several times and it’s been fine.

I have a waterproof pouch for it if I’m paddle boarding or something like that.

Definitely build up your swimming confidence OP. It’s good to have a reasonable amount of stamina for paddling. I used to windsurf and so had a baseline knowledge of tides/wind and avoiding other water users but it’s so, so easy to be caught out/weather changes from what was forecast when you last checked before heading out and suddenly you need to paddle a lot harder to get yourself back to shore. Find a good instructor when you’re starting out - check their qualifications. I have a friend in the RNLI who is frequently rescuing paddle boarders. Also attach your contact details to your board, so if you’ve abandoned it/been rescued by a friend and left it floating in a shipping lane you can be contacted to check you are alive!

DH kayaks and sea fishes - he always takes his phone and pops it in a waterproof pouch around his neck. The only time it's ever been damaged is when he left it on the roof of the car and it fell off when he was driving home 😂

I took mine on several water slides on holiday in the water proof pouch. It was absolutely fine.

I have a really good pouch, can take decent pics through it and I've fallen off wearing it more than once.

The water resistance apple state is in laboratory conditions with distilled water, and water damage is still not covered by the warranty. Use a pouch, don’t rely on the ratings.

And make sure you tie the pouch on, don't just sling it round your neck. Things get swept away and sink remarkably effectively even in calm water.

Tie your sunglasses on too, or use one of those close fitting straps that goes round the back of your head so they don't budge even if you have a tumble. You can buy fisherman's ones which float, but it's still easier if they're attached and you can just pull them back