Scared to swim alone

[Dontwantsummertoendreally]

Is anyone else?

We live near the beach. I’m starting a new job mid September, so I have a couple of weeks to myself at the start of September when Dc are back at school.
Very excited and decided to make the most of it and do some things I really enjoy.
These include going to the cinema alone, coffee at the beach, reading at the beach and morning swims in the sea.
I do this when we all go to a beach as a family. Dh sometimes comes in, but if not, is still there on the sand.
Lifeguards don’t start until 10, there will probably be some people around, but not many.
Would you swim out in the sea alone? Am I being a big baby?!
Did all these things when younger, without even thinking about it.

I swim alone in lakes all the time. I've got a tow float and am a pretty confident swimmer. The sea is obviously different due to tide/currents so just swim when the life guards are there.

As for water quality, the Sufers Against Sewage app is really useful for water quality information.

I haven't since I was a child, but I'd be really surprised if most people living in the UK didn't swim in the sea at least a few times as children.
People who live in landlocked countries, OK, but people who live within a few hours of the coast??

I never literally swam in the sea as a kid, even though I paddled and jumped around in the waves plenty on the annual seaside holiday. Go to any beach and you'll see very few kids actually swimming.

My DC were born and brought up near the sea here- DC1 is an absolute water baby and would properly swim from a young age. DC2 refuses point blank, he will only swim in a pool.

"I never literally swam in the sea as a kid, even though I paddled and jumped around in the waves plenty on the annual seaside holiday. Go to any beach and you'll see very few kids actually swimming."

The small ones maybe, but once you're 10-12. After that I avoided the beach for a while, but if I ever went back it would be alone. Even if I went with a friend, I'd want to alternate swimming so one can stay with our things. I obviously wouldn't go further than very shallow water where I can still easily walk.

Just stay where you can stand and you’ll be fine. If you have half a brain and know the beaches then you’ll be grand.

I love swimming. I don’t do it alone.

I swim alone but not in the sea, in a safe reservoir that’s 5ft deep the whole way across with no pipes/drains/weird stuff
if I go river swimming or sea then I don’t go alone

I used to bodyboard alone on a rural beach without a lifeguard. No phone signal, 3 miles to beach, usually at low tide with tide coming in. I was usually not more than knee deep. I wouldn't do it now. I have been caught in a rip current on a beach with a lifeguard. They didn't notice. Luckily I was dump in shallow water, it was very scary.

All the ladies I've met who sea swim are lovely. Try and find some.

Indeed. I am quite surprised at this thread.

I was born in a sea side town, live in a seaside town and I know that many people of all ages swim all year round in our town, often early in the morning when very few people are likely to be on the beach.

I see swimmers all the time swimming further away on their own along the shore when I go to the beach.

It is strange to me that so many people seem to be terrified of the sea!

Of course you need to take basic precaution like not swimming in really rough water, if you have had alcohol or feel unwell and stick to where your feet can touch the bottom if you are not a confident swimmer, but beyond that, it just sounds really over the top worrying.

I haven’t read the whole thread. Just wanted to add that a friend who lives in Devon has had to stop sea swimming. She has an App on her phone which tells her when there is too much sewage in the water. Which seems to be all the time!

Yes everywhere. Even Cornwall. Plus all lakes and rivers. It’s revolting.

That’s disgraceful

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.

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

I prefer smaller quieter beaches without life guards

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.

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.

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.

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.

But parallel to the shore as opposed to what?

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

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.

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

How are they allowed to do it?!

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.