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Are we allowed to swim anywhere now?

35 replies

notevenat20 · 20/05/2020 20:26

I am really really missing swimming. I know all the pools are shut but are we allowed to swim in lakes or rivers? If so, does anyone know any that are currently accessible within a million miles of Bath?

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 21/05/2020 13:20

Sorry, its the outdoor swimming society - I always get it wrong!

ByTheStarryNight · 21/05/2020 13:22

It's a really bad idea to try open water swimming for the first time now. The emergency services don't need the extra work.

There are some organised venues where triathletes and such do their training. These are starting to open up again, on an appointment basis, for serious head down front crawl swim training.

At the coast, there are no lifeguards at the moment.

Normal practice in my area, where we have lots of beautiful rivers, is:
Join a local Facebook swimming page. Search your local river + swimming, see what comes up. Ask on there for advice on locations, local hazards.
Never go alone, always go with someone more experienced if you are inexperienced. This is more difficult now with social distancing.
Learn about cold water safety.
Learn about algae, Weils disease, underwater hazards, safe entry and exit points, warming up afterwards.
Learn how to do your own risk assessment. It's your own judgement whether something is safe or not in the end.

But mainly, don't try your first wild swim until the current crisis is over.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 21/05/2020 13:29

Our not quite local lake park place has opened one lake to swimmers who are members. No new swimmers can join this year, which is a pity as I was going to be introduced to it later in the summer.

notevenat20 · 21/05/2020 13:35

Sidge Is that safe/clean these days? I heard some horror stories last year.

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NameChange2PostThis · 21/05/2020 13:51

OP you could follow Swim England on Twitter. Their advice has been (to experienced, fit club Swimmers) to not open swim unless experienced in that sport - and even if you are to ensure you have someone on shore watching you . Open water swimming is really dangerous especially if you don’t know what you are doing. And the emergency services have enough on their plate right now.

notevenat20 · 21/05/2020 14:09

NameChange2PostThis OK so that really means no swimming at all for anyone it seems? Which is very sad.

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Kokeshi123 · 21/05/2020 14:28

I have a new swimmer and really hope that she does not forget how to swim as a result of this.

Am wondering if prolonged closures of swimming pools will have a long term impact in terms of a greater number of kids not learning to swim.

Sidge · 21/05/2020 16:22

@notevenat20 it looked fine when I was walking by there a few weeks ago. Very clean and a handful of swimmers.

I didn’t go in though!

Lumene · 21/05/2020 16:24

Slow swimming is particularly lovely for the emphasis on enjoying the water and cake.

Sounds like my kind of swimming.

notevenat20 · 21/05/2020 16:25

Sidge That's good news. This was the story I was thinking about www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/dog-poo-blamed-e-coli-1785307 .

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