5 Tips for Planning a Sea Swim
Whether you’re a first timer, or a seasoned swimmer, planning your sea swim can be vital. It’s important to know how to read the water before you head down to the beach. I often get messages from people on whether they should head out. I usually tell them if in doubt don’t head out, but it’s often more complicated than that and it’s sometimes hard to tell when fear or lack of knowledge get in the way. Here are my top tips that will help you plan your sea swims.
Know what your tides mean in relation to your swim
There are two high and two low tides every day. It’s important to know that the tidal current (the direction that the tide is flowing) is usually going parallel to shore, rather than in or out. Tides are usually 6 hours each time. The speed of the current will move the fastest in the third and fourth hours, and slows down to ‘slack’ water just before the tide turns.
What is slack water?
It’s the period of time when there is no movement or currents in the water for around 30-45 minutes either side of high tide. Although this isn’t always the case in certain coastal areas, so check local knowledge before you head out.
The speed of tidal flow is dependent on two tides. Spring and Neap. Spring tides happen at full moon and new moon for 7 days and neap tides happen in between these. Spring tides have greater range between high and low water and stronger currents than neap. This is useful to know as you’ll be able to predict how the tides will impact your swim.
2. Get your gear ready
There’s nothing more annoying than turning up to the beach without one of your key pieces of kit. I often hear swimmers complaining about only bringing one neoprene glove or forgetting their goggles. Prepare early and, especially in winter, remember your warm clothes, wooly hat, and warm drink. Don’t forget the post-swim cake either.
3. Check a sea app
Magicseaweed is a good one, although it’s a surfing app it ’s one I use and recommend to other swimmer. I always explain how to use the app in my coaching sessions so that each client can learn to read the forecast accurately. It’s important to know how to read these apps so you know what to expect and how to keep safe before you head down to the beach.
4. Know the local knowledge
Even the most experienced swimmer isn’t going to know areas which they’ve never been to. For example if you got to a new beach where you’d never been before at high tide, wouldn’t know if there were any rocks below the surface, or if the beach has jellyfish or rip tides, unless a local told you. If you can contact local swimmers or wild swim group before you go, you’d gain a lot more knowledge beforehand. Also local water-sports clubs and fisherman often have a wealth of local knowledge.
5. Check the winds
One of the biggest factors that impact my swim plans is the wind. I’ll want to know if it’s going to be a choppy swim or a calm swim in flat seas even before I head out of the door. This again can be checked on an app like Magicseaweed. Wind creates choppy seas. The stronger the winds the choppier it is. Check before you go and when you get down to the beach also check visual clues. The wind impacts waves. Ask yourself: How are the waves breaking and what is the wave height? If you judge it to be swimmable, be careful before you enter and always know your exit point before you go in.
There are plenty more tips and I’d always recommend speaking to a coach having an intro lesson if you’re unsure about how to plan a swim. Someone with experience of the sea can almost know my second nature what to expect, and the more you go sea swimming, the more you’ll know. If you’d like to get in contact you can message me HERE