Lake and river swimming?

[WillowTheWhisp]

There are still a few outdoor swimming clubs but they are gradually diminishing. On TV at the mo there's a couple of interviews with groups who enjoy swimming in rivers but Health and Safety regulations have meant the removal of a diving board which had been there for generations (All properly constructed, not just a plank sticking out of the bank.)

The presenter called these swimmers eccentric but one of them considered swimming in rivers to be natural and swimming in chlorine to be crazy.

What do you think?

Provided it's a well known safe location and people go there in groups then I can see the appeal. Unfortunately the law is a bit vague and there may well be a 'right to roam' but not necessarily a 'right to swim'.

[SPUGGIE J]

If its safe I dont see why not. Some might argue that it isn't safe because there are no trained accredited life savers around if anyone gets in trouble. Yet on the other side of the coin is that we have water sports were being able to swim is a must even with a bouyancy aide. There is also a big difference between swimming in warm chlorinated water, fresh water and sea water. I have swum in the sea rivers lakes even the canal and yet those who only used the local pool have struggled because of the diference in the waters density. I like fishing for trout so that sometimes means being in the river walking up or down it with all the risks involved. It is a back to basics way of swimming that one day could save a life.

Personally I think the whole health and safety thing is pushed into are faces way too much and is a hinderance. These people are being forced out of a leisure persuit they enjoy because of the cotton wool brigade are on their high horse.

The whole carry on stinks of control freak syndrome on the part of some!!

[WillowTheWhisp]

The more I think about it the more sense it makes because if someone falls in a river or canal it could help them be able to survive (not counting weed and stuff) because as you say it's a whole different thing to swimming in a warm chlorinated pool.