Here are ways to observe what is going on on Brighton and Hove beaches and things to look for when you go for a swim.
In order to swim safe take the time to get to know your swim spot. If you are swimming away from home do your research and/or ask local swimmers and ask to join a local group.
Get to know the topography of your beach at all states of tide and wind direction. Here are ways to observe what is going on on Brighton and Hove beaches and things to look for when you go for a swim. Some observations will apply to all beaches but some are very specific to B & H.
Brighton and Hove’s beaches are sandy to the west and chalk reef to the east with a shingle sea defence above them. It shelves steeply at high tide and flattens out at low tide. The depth of the water will change at different tide times from being out of your depth within a few steps at spring high tide to shallow enough to stand at the swim area buoys at a spring low tide. The shingle will move after strong winds and is always higher making the water shallower on the west of the groynes due to long shore drift.
There are numerous submerged structures at high water that are identified by red buoys around the West Pier and red lampshades at the end of outflow pipes. But many of our concrete groynes are not marked or visible at high water. They really hurt if you accidentally swim over one and can of course pose a real risk if you don’t know they’re there.
Our prevailing wind is an onshore South Westerly which creates local waves. If you haven’t checked the wind speed or direction before your swim you can look for wind direction clues. Look for lifeguard or building flags or seagulls that always face the wind to keep their feathers flat.
A northerly or easterly wind locally is offshore and the sea will be or look relatively flat but it can be deceptively dangerous and can push you out to sea. Lifeguard posts will fly an orange flag.
If you haven’t checked the tide times before your swim you can look for tide state clues. Wet shingle on a dry day indicates the tide is going out as the sea must have recently covered it. Sea craft at anchor with the bow facing east indicates the tide is going out as it faces the oncoming tidal flow. Visible dry green gutweed on groynes indicates the tide is coming in. Really sharp dry seaweed in the strand line high up the beach will be spring tide high water mark and indicate we’re on a neap tide cycle because the sea hasn’t reached it for a while.
If you want to know which way the current is flowing look at other water users, are they drifting in a particular direction. B&H currents flow towards the west when the tide is going out and towards the east when it is coming in. If you are not sure throw a bit of seaweed in and see which way it travels. You will also see how strong it is flowing. If the sea is submerging the end of the groynes in Hove it is roughly mid tide when the tidal flow current will be at its strongest.
The best advice is always swim at a lifeguarded beach if you can. Ask them for advice or read their information boards. Their job is to keep you safe and will welcome questions and conversation. They also appreciate being bought hot drinks or ice cream
This blog contains specific details of the Brighton and Hove Lifeguard and Seafront Service for the summer of 2022 AND more general tips and links to useful resources for swimming in the sea in the summer.
Seabirds’ operate as a Community Interest Company that aims to encourage all local residents, of all swim abilities to join us in the sea. Our aim is to create a community space for people to enjoy the water and provide a way for swimmers to manage their mental health and wellbeing. The summer is great time to start as the lifeguard service is available and we have already seen lots of new Salties joining our flock. So as a warm welcome to warmer seas here is an informative blog featuring the iconic ‘Brighton Buoys’ and our summer season lifeguard service.
Normal Operating Lifeguard Service
The ‘SWIM AREA’ buoys arrive in early May ready for the lifeguard season to start on Brighton and Hove’s beaches over the May Half Term. Brighton and Hove normally has 11 lifeguarded beaches covering 14km of seafront from Saltdean to Hove Lagoon. The swim area buoys mark out an area that is safe to swim in if the yellow and red flags are flying and a lifeguard is on duty. They are not there for swimmers to swim round although many use them as markers to swim too and roughly measure the distance of their swim. If you were to see a bird’s eye view of them you would see they are never parallel and move around quite a bit in bad weather so it is a very rough measurement.
The season runs from May to September with the outer posts of Saltdean, Rottingdean and Ovingdean opening from July to September, as the schools break up. There can be between 2-4 lifeguards per post depending on how busy that particular beach is. The more popular touristy beaches by the Palace Pier have more lifeguards. All the beach lifeguards are supported by a lifeguarded boat that patrols daily and the Seafront staff and co-ordinators (the staff on the quad bikes).
Buoy Formation
These buoys are not to be confused with the boat lane buoys. These too are yellow but a different shape. However, from a distance, and as the swim area buoys are in a parallel line alongside the boat buoys, it is hard to see the difference. These buoys look like the picture below and are there to indicate where boats can approach to and from the shore. If you don’t want to get hit by a boat – don’t swim in these lanes. The boat lane buoys line up with yellow posts on the beach as per the picture below. This one to the west of King Alfred is by the boat winches and normally has kayaks locked to it. So if you can’t see the shape of the buoy from the shore – look for a post. The boat lanes are very close in proximity to some of the lifeguard posts most notably at King Alfred and Hove Lawns (D5) so please be mindful when you swim there as jet skis and small craft are allowed to launch and land there.
The most common rescue the lifeguards perform is retrieving swimmers from the Swim Area buoys. Swimmers head out for the buoys and when they get there can be too tired to swim back, not realise they made it there on a tidal current or offshore wind and don’t have the ability to get back, or get there and realise how far they are from shore and freeze both in temperature and ability to move. If you want to know more about swimming safely, improve your swimming confidence and technique or join us for a guided swim to enable you to swim safely this summer you can BOOK HERE
We understand, that for some swimmers having goals and targets gives you something to strive towards but this must be done safely. If you wish to increase your time in the water, build up to it slowly and stay close to the shore so you can exit quickly. Another way to measure your swim distance is to move parallel to the shore and count the groynes. These are roughly 100 metres apart and allow you to stay in shallower water and closer to a safe exit point. If you wish to swim to the buoys consider going at slack tide on a spring low with no wind. Don’t forget to wear a tow float and a bright coloured hat, preferably orange or pink.
The positions the lifeguards patrol are:
Duke’s Mound, BN2 1EN – 10:30am to 5:30pm
East of Brighton Palace Pier, BN2 1PS – 10am to 6pm
Central Brighton, West Street, BN1 2FN – 10am to 6pm
West Pier, BN1 2LN – 10am to 6pm
Hove Lawns Café, BN3 2FR – 10am to 6pm
King Alfred, BN3 2WW – 10am to 6pm
Extended positions for the summer holiday starting late July:
Rottingdean, BN2 7HR – 11:30am to 5:30pm
Saltdean, BN2 8SQ – 11:30am to 5:30pm
They are normally happy for you to leave your bags and belongings with them while you swim. And, they are happy to answer any of your questions or give you advice before you get in the water.
They will have boards close to their posts indicating tide times and sea conditions. There will be increased water patrols on boards and the boat and the new additions of towers dotted along our beaches have made watching beach and sea users much easier. They raise flags at their posts so it is easy to identify where they are and the safe swimming zone. A red and yellow flag indicates a safe swimming area. An orange flag indicates the wind is offshore and therefore inflatables should not be used. A Red Flag means it is dangerous to enter the water – this can be for many reasons and if you are unsure go and speak to the lifeguards on duty.
As RNLI Ambassadors we help share key messages about swimming in the sea safely. Below are their top 4 tips for using the beach safely and advice on what to do in an emergency.
Four Key Beach Safety Tips
Choose a lifeguarded beach. Swim between the red and yellow flags.
Don’t use inflatables in the sea. You can easily be blown out to sea with no way of getting back to shore.
Take a phone. In an emergency, dial 999 for the Coastguard.
If you’re in trouble in the water, remember #FloatToLive Lean back and use your arms and legs to help you float.
What to do in an emergency
STEP 1: Call for help. Keep an eye on the casualty, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
STEP 2: Talk. Talk to the casualty, encourage them to keep calm and float. Reassure them that you are getting help.
STEP 3: Reach. Try to reach them from the shore using any lifesaving equipment available. Do not go in the water yourself.
STEP 4: Throw. Throw a line to the casualty and pull them towards the shore if possible.
The seafront has a number of webcams to get an idea of the sea conditions before you leave home. They can change quickly though so be prepared to change you plans.
Water quality is measured by various organisation around Brighton and Hove. Surfers Against Sewage have a Safer Seas app that provides warnings if the water quality is low.
Seafront Office are happy to give advice. They cannot give you individual advice on whether it is safe for you to swim but can provide answers to general queries around water quality, sea temperature events etc. Their contact details are; 01273 292716.
The Royal Life Saving Society has great resources and go into more detail about using the beach safely and what to do in an emergency.
Part of the joy of swimming in the sea year round is getting to know your swim spot, your limits, your abilities and your swim buddies intimately. Do this the right way and you will be able to make sound judgements about whether it is safe to swim in the sea.
Swimming in cold water and outside of the ‘bathing season’ is very different to summer swimming. Lower air temperatures, storms are more likely, no lifeguards on the beach. It’s no longer just a case of grab your cossie and head out the door. People asking each other if it’s ok to swim. We get asked a lot, both online and on the beach, ‘is it safe to go in?’ And our answer is we don’t know.
We’re not saying that to be unhelpful, unkind, smug or territorial. It’s just that we don’t know. In most cases we have never met the person asking before. So we have no idea of their swim ability and more importantly experience of sea swimming at that particular location. We also have no insight into their physical and mental health at the time of asking and time of potential swimming.
Part of the joy of swimming in the sea year round is getting to know your swim spot, your limits, your abilities and your swim buddies intimately. By going in regularly at different tide states, tidal flows and temperatures you will begin to get to know yourself and what you are capable of and comfortable with. Do this gradually and safely, there is no rush, the sea is not going anywhere.
In addition to reviewing weather forecasts, sea conditions, tides before you swim you need to review yourself and your swim buddies. This is only possible by being honest and realistic about your capabilities and relying only on yourself to make decisions about whether it is safe to swim. Trusting your swim buddies to make the right decision for only themselves too. The decisions may be different for all of you. And that’s OK. Many times I have chosen not to swim in challenging conditions because I do not want to influence my swimming buddies by going in. Many times I have chosen a more sheltered spot because the forecast predicted unsuitable sea conditions where I normally swim. Many times I have just waited for a different day.
Whenever we swim somewhere new, we research the local conditions, tide times by asking locals. Whenever we swim in our usual spot we review for topographical changes each time we arrive. Whenever we swim anywhere we check our swim kit, swim buddies, forecasts before we leave the house, conditions when we arrive at the beach, entry and exit points, for hazards and most importantly how we are feeling. This ‘checklist’ is by no means exhaustive but demonstrates the need for safe choices being based on careful consideration and sound sea knowledge.
In the winter you can’t always swim on a wim. There is a degree of planning involved before you even leave the house. You need to know what the weather, the waves and the tides are doing. Find the apps or websites that work for you. When making decisions affecting your swim don’t rely on a single source of information. Check a few, make sure they are all saying the same thing, build a picture of what the conditions will look like based on the forecast information.
But remember nothing beats actually getting to the beach and checking again. Forecasts are exactly that, forecasts. Someone’s best predictions based on a multitude of factors. What is going on locally, in reality, can be different or you may have read the forecast wrong. It happens. Be prepared to abandon or adapt your swim plans when you arrive at your swim spot based on what is actually before you.
Webcams are looking at the water from a high vantage point which can distort our ability to assess wave and swell height. Even standing on a beach doesn’t really provide an insight into just how big a wave looks. When you are in the water, can’t touch the seabed, your head is in a trough and a two foot wave is bearing down on you it seems huge. If you are cold and tired it can look like a mountain. When only your head is above water, it’s all about perspective. And this can cause panic!
The wave seems bigger when you are in the water
This is particularly important when you are planning your entry and exit points. When you enter cold water your breath will be robbed. On flat calm you can enter gradually. This is also true of shallow waters. Rough high water swims mean you are going to get wet quick. Timing your entry is everything and fast immersion is inevitable.
But more importantly you need to plan your exit.
Waiting for a break in the waves to get in when you are standing on dry land and you are warm and full of anticipation energy is a completely different experience to getting out of the sea. You will be cold. You will be tired. It may not be the same spot you got in. You may not be in your depth and able to plant your feet on the sea bed and will be treading water for a while. You need to look out to sea and back to shore alternately and you assess when it’s good to get out. You may need to go back past the break line a few times until it’s safe to get out which can zap you of energy. You need to time it so the energy of the wave carries you in without dumping you unceremoniously on the shore. Can you do all of this? If you can’t don’t go in.
You need to check your swim spot and yourself before you go in. Have a good look around and look at yourself. When else do you get to stand still and just take stock? Hardly ever right? So embrace it and take advantage of this quiet time to give yourself an ‘MOT’ and connect with your surroundings.
Looking outward, what is the state of the beach? What is the state of the sea? Are there any structures likes harbour walls, groynes, rocks, piers? Are there any other water users like swimmers, fishermen, kite surfers, surfers, paddle boarders, the much maligned jet skiers? Is there slippery seaweed, flotsam, run off, litter? Looking inward, what state are you in. Did you sleep well last night? When did you last eat? How is your mental health? Do you have any injuries? And keep looking outward and inward through your swim and be be prepared to alter it so you stay safe.
Always be prepared to abandon your swim, before or during your dip.
Find a swim buddy or group to enjoy your sea swims with. They are not your lifeguards, your safety cover or your spotters. They are your company, your confidants, your community. My ‘swim wife’ knows me in a way my husband doesn’t, she is more aware of my abilities in the sea than he is, the signs that I’ve stayed in a tad too long, or if I’m procrastinating on the shoreline for longer than usual. Yes in an emergency they may be able to get help. But don’t rely on them to do that. The idea of swimming with others in the colder months is to build an intimate trust between each other. These are the the people that may spot the signs of cold water incapacitation in you and kindly but firmly tell you to exit the water. These are the people that help you get dressed when the after drop hits. These are the people who loan you a spare brightly coloured swim hat to keep your head warm and you seen. These are the people that support your safe swim decisions and share your winter swimming experience with. These people are not there to tell you whether it’s safe to swim. Only you can do that.
What you wear into the water is entirely up to you and there are adaptations you can make to your normal attire depending on the entry/exit point water temperature, and type of swim you plan to do. For example, I am a year round skin swimmer. Most of the time I don’t wear boots or gloves just a cossie and a brightly coloured hat. My feet have adapted to the shifting shingle of my local swim spot and my hands seem to manage without gloves. Many of my peers who have the same experience as me always wear something on their feet and hands. It’s just personal choice. And my choices are based on my knowing my limits and keeping my safety at the forefront of my decisions. In the coldest months I’m dipping for a few minutes no more so I’m just in my cossie but keep myself seen with a brightly coloured hat.
I wear a brightly coloured hat all year round! Be safe be seen – no one can help you if they can’t see you. It needs to be pink like a fishing float marker, yellow like a swim buoy, or orange like a lifeboat – colours chosen for the purpose of being seen at sea. Blue, white, black just cannot be seen even in relatively flat seas. If there are waves I occasionally put neoprene boots on so I can place my feet on the seabed and time my entry and exit with a modicum of certainty or run like Billy O away from a breaking wave. If I am swimming at a new spot I most definitely put something on my feet as it’s unfamiliar territory. If I’m coaching in autumn, winter and spring, I will wear a water sports wetsuit so I remain warm whilst I am responsible for others and myself. If I’m swimming any kind of distance I may chose to wear a swimming wetsuit, and always a tow float so I can be seen and stay warm. Different swims and different conditions warrant different decisions.
Photo Credit Julia Claxton
You still gain the cold water benefits when wearing a wetsuit and if that’s what is needed for you to be able to get in the sea, put one on. There’s no room for purists when it comes to safe sea swimming.
What you wear after your swim requires the same consideration. Nothing tight fitting and lots of loose layers. Buttons can bog off along with bras and tights and knickers are unnecessary. Have your clothes ready in the order you are going to put them on. I pity the person that tries to put on an inside out pair of trousers in the wind and rain. When you get out of the sea you need to be able to get into your clothes quickly.
A few hacks include;
Keep your dry attire in an insulated shopping bag with a hot water bottle.
Invest in a haramaki – it can be worn as a bra substitute or a core warmer and you can tuck another hot water bottle inside it – be careful not to burn yourself!
Do the zip half way up on your swim robe before you go into the sea so you can simply step into when you get out and not rely on numb fingers to do it up.
Bring two woolly bobble hats – one to wear in the water and a dry one to put on when you get out
So to answer the question is it safe to swim in the sea? The answer is not a simple yes or no. Find your own sweet spot, somewhere between being safe and being spirited. You’ll know it when you find it. It’s all part of the adventure. And if anyone asks you if it’s safe to swim you know what to say!
Be kind but be firm that you cannot make that decision for others, only yourself. Look after each other – but most of all look after yourself! You are not responsible for anyone else’s swim decisions and they are not responsible for yours.
Author: Seabirds CIC
The “Pass the Salt” Seabirds Blogs include; Stories from the Sea, Advice for safe swimming, Swim kit recommendations and Wellbeing and Water reflections. Use the category menu on the home page to search for many more ……. happy reading and happy swimming.If you enjoyed this blog and/or others and have shared them please consider donating the cost of a hot drink or slice of cake to our Community Fundusing the buttons below. The Community fund pays for swimming lessons, swim kit, transport etc for people in our local area that would benefit the most from sea swimming as a way to manage their wellbeing, but are under-represented in the outdoor swimming community. THANK YOU!
The first question a fellow open water swimmers asks you is, skins or suit? Most people are a mixture of the two. Here is our guide to neoprene accessories, how they work, and how to look after them!
Are you skins or suit is pretty much the first question fellow outdoor swimmers will ask you. And my answer is both. I have been swimming in the sea, year round, for 10 years. The first 6 in a very thick 5mm wetsuit, gloves, boots and hood and skins for 4 years, the last one forgoing boots and gloves too. I choose what to wear depending on my swim. I have a 5mm watersports wetsuit for teaching children in, when I can be in the water for up to 2 hours in the middle of winter. I even wear my swimming wetsuit when I am coaching in the summer a lot of the time so I am warm and prepared to deal with emergencies should they arise. I also wear it when I swim alone for long distances, again for the same reason, I want to be safe. But most of the time I swim in skins. And it isn’t because of the faff. After decades of putting wetsuits on and taking them off I’m pretty quick at it and I have plenty of space to dry them. It’s just because now I associate my wetsuit with work or a work out and I associate skins with fun!
IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT YOU WEAR AS ALONG AS YOU GET IN
Wetsuits
Wetsuits work by trapping a thin layer of water between your body and the suit, that your body warms up, so you need to get wet! Wetsuit wearers tend to gasp when the water finally trickles from the neck down the back. So you see, it does not protect you from cold water shock and you still get that initial ‘getting in’ screeching feeling, but you will be kept warmer over all by the neoprene. Neoprene is made of small closed cells that are filled with air which provide insulation against cold water by trapping heat in. The thing that they do need to be is tight. It will loosen a wee bit in the water, as it expands, but it does need to be close fitting without constricting the movement of your swim. Can you wave your arms about and do some squats is a good way to test it out for size. Too big and it will just fill-up with too much water to warm up, so pretty much pointless. If your core is kept warm by a wetsuit, a noticeable difference will be you hands, feet and head stay warmer for longer and so you may be able to swim head in and without the faff of socks and gloves as temperatures decline.
So what type of wetsuit? Oh and there are so many. So work out what kind of swimming you want it for and how you deal with cold temperatures. So you can opt for a swimming wetsuit or a watersports wetsuit. A swimming wetsuit is specifically designed for front crawl, lots of shoulder and arm flexibility, a smooth surface and it makes your bum buoyant to achieve correct body position. They can rip and tear easily so you need to be very careful when putting it on and it can make your neck and shoulders ache if you are wearing it to do head up breaststroke as you are fighting against a floating derriere. (There are also tri-suits which are specifically design for triathlons and transitions ). A watersports wetsuit is more robust but much less flexible making front crawl a lot of hard work. It is perfect for bobbing and head up chatting swimming though.
How thick should my wetsuit be? The thicker the suit’s neoprene, the warmer the suit will be because it has more heat-trapping insulation. However it is a trade off so the thicker the neoprene the less flexible and more constricting your suit will be. The normal range of thickness for swimming outdoors in the UK goes from 2mm in the summer to 5mm in the winter. The thickness various across the suit as it is thicker on the torso to aid with body position and keeping the core warm and thinner on the limbs for freedom of movement. You can of course opt for sleeveless, shortie, vest, cossie, zip up jacket, leggings….the list is endless. All aimed at keeping your core warm the difference is simply down to personal choice.
Neoprene vest and costumes are good options for keeping your core warm and still skin swim
Accessories
Gloves Many skin swimmers opt for neoprene accessories, like gloves when temperatures really begin to drop. Some swimmers suffer from Raynaud’s Syndrome, Cold water Urticaria and chilblains. For them gloves are a game changer and allow them to continue enjoying cold water swims. Indeed it allows most skin swimmers to continue as the hands feel the cold strongly and after a prolonged period in the water warm blood is redirected away from them to keep your core warm making them colder still. Much like your choice of wetsuit or neoprene core warmer the right gloves for you will depend on what kind of swimmer you are or swim you plan to do. If you wish to continue head in front crawl throughout the year then you need a thinner glove with good flexibility so you can continue to feel the water and adjust your stroke accordingly. It you plan on a head out breast stroke you may be happier with a thicker choice. What ever you choose the advantage of wearing gloves is that you are able to get dressed and warm quicker after your swim than someone with numb lobster claws.
Thick gloves for winter dippingFlexible gloves for front crawlGloves vary in thickness and therefore flexibility
Socks/Boots/Shoes These are all slightly different and again should be selected for the swim you want to do or the swimmer you are. The purpose of neoprene shoes is to protect the sole of your foot but not keep your feet warm. The purpose of the neoprene sock is to keep your feet warm but not protect the soles of your feet. The purpose of a neoprene boot is to do both. Both the shoe and the boot will affect your ability to swim as they will make your feet too buoyant but a good sock should allow you to swim normally regardless of which stroke you are doing. Again they need to be tight fitting or they will end up full of water some have additional fasteners to keep them flush to your skin. The boots can be awful to get on and off but there are some that have zips to make it easier. All offer some form of protection, for example, allowing you to enter and exit the water safely if it is a steep shingle beach and stopping shar objects from cutting your feet. So some form of neoprene on your feet is a good option for swimming year round!
SHOE – protects sole SOCK – keeps feet warmBOOT – protects sole and keeps feet warmChoose shoes, socks or boots!
Hats/Headbands/Caps It is a bit of an old wives tale that your body loses a lot of its heat out through the head. However as normally the only bit of your body that experiences the sea temperature, air temperature and wind chill while swimming outdoors it is a good idea to keep it warm. Again there are few options for swimmers to chose from. Whatever you wear cover your ears, they definitely need protecting from the cold water and ear infections and swimmers ear can keep you out of the water for long periods of time, so cover them up with some neoprene. Like gloves and socks, choose the thickness that is right for you. If you wish to continue front crawl swimming into the winter months, or handstands, the heat tech cap is the one for you.
Keep those ears warm!
Aftercare Neoprene is not cheap, and it goes through more stress than normal fabric, constantly being submerged in water, which in my case is salty. It is held together by a mixture of glue and stitching which don’t take kindly to be roughly treated. So look after it. Turn them inside out if you can and give them a rinse in fresh clean water. I put my watersports wetsuit on a gently rinse cycle in the washing machine, my swimming wetsuit I do not, it’s too fragile. If they really pong you can add a bit of specialist gentle detergent. To dry them, inside out again if possible, remembering to turn them the right way when they are dry to the touch and allow them to dry again. Outside in the wind is always best. Don’t use a coat hanger on your wetsuit – it will stretch and damage the shoulders. Radiators can be used but they can damage the seals and glue! Gloves and boots should be dried allowing the evaporating water to escape – so not upside down or they will remain wet. You can use newspaper or kitchen towel to absorb the stubborn moisture from the finger and toe area but remove it after a short amount of time, remaining in there wet and damp just hinders the drying!
So the choice is yours! Wear whatever you want as long as you swim safe and have fun! You can always strip back to just a cossie just as you are about to exit the water if you want to feel the water on your skin. And look after your kit so your kit continues to look after you.
Different Folks, Different Strokes. Post swim smiles are still the same!
The “Pass the Salt” Seabirds Blogs include; Stories from the Sea, Advice for safe swimming, Swim kit recommendations and Wellbeing and Water reflections. Use the category menu on the home page to search for many more ……. happy reading and happy swimming.
This blog forms part of a series of Outdoor Swimming Advice blogs written by a qualified Surf Lifeguard and Open Water Swimming coach who has been swimming in the sea year round since 2012. They are written to encourage others to swim safe and share the swim love. If you have read and shared this blog we invite you to donate the cost of a post swim hot drink or slice of cake to the Seabirds Community Swim Fund. All profits from our online wild swim shop are also donated to the Seabirds Community Swim fund. This way you can buy your wild swim kit to keep you warm and donate.
The Seabird’s Community Swim Fund raises money to pay for swim kit and lessons for non-swimmers with a focus on fulfilling Seabirds’ commitment to the Black Swimming Association’s DIPER charter – where Seabirds “stand with the BSA to create a swim buddy system in which we partner non-swimmers and swimmers for the purpose of exchanging aquatic information, support, education and resources to enable more ethnically diverse communities to get in the water.” So far donations have enabled us to fund swimming lessons, kit and transport for a number of Brighton and Hove adults and children who are under represented in the Outdoor Swimming Community. Many of whom have gone on to join us swimming in the sea to improve their wellbeing!
The Magic Seaweed app was designed for surfers. However the information it contains on tides, swells, waves and wind can also be used by sea swimmers. This blog explains how to read and understand the MSW forecast app. Safe swim choices are based on sound sea knowledge. Swim the Salty Seabird Way!
This is a brilliant blog by Brighton and Hove Sea Swimmer Freyja. Everyone has a different favourite forecasting app that they use to see if it is safe to swim. The most commonly used app is Magic Seaweed that was designed for surfers see what swell was approaching but it can be used to look at sea swimming conditions too!
Magic Seaweed (MSW) surf report provides a seven day forecast of sea conditions. Here’s a guide to understanding the data so you can get a better idea of what to expect before heading down to the beach.
Surf
This is the first column in blue. In Brighton and Hove, this is essentially the height of the shore break (or the white bits that can knock you over). This will give you an idea of how difficult it will be to enter and exit the water. MSW is designed for surfers so the measurement used is that of the surfable wave rather than the total wave height. For us sea swimmers it might be worth adding a little extra on to this measurement.
It is worth noting that the value given is the average height. 1 wave in 23 is likely to be twice the average height and one in 1,175 is three times the average height. Therefore, it is worth taking this as a rough guideline and always be on the lookout for larger waves when getting in and out.
In terms of height of the shore break, my rule of thumb is anything above waist height is capable of knocking me over.
Swell
Swell – listed in the second column – is the height of the waves once you are past the shore break. A big swell can be a lot of fun as you bounce around above and below your swimming buddies.
The next column gives an indication of the wavelength, or the time between the crest of each wave in seconds. The longer the time, the gentler and more undulating the waves will feel. Conversely, shorter times between each crest means the waves will come more frequently and you may be more likely to get a mouthful of sea water.
The black arrow to the right is an indication of the direction the swell is travelling. If you are doing a point to point swim, this is worth bearing in mind – if the swell is travelling in the same direction as you, it will feel like it is pushing you along. If you are swimming into the swell you will again, be more likely to get lung-fulls of sea water.
Wind
Wind is the main factor influencing how rough the sea is going to be. The stronger the wind is and the longer it has blown for, the larger the swell is likely to be.
The right-hand number column denotes wind speed. The larger number being the steady wind speed, and the small number being the gust speed. The arrow shows the direction the wind is travelling in. In Brighton and Hove the prevailing wind is South Westerly.
It is worth considering that MSW doesn’t factor in local sea breezes. Sea breezes are caused as the land changes temperature faster than the sea. For example, in the morning the sun heats up the land quicker than the sea. This triggers the air on the land to rise up and and cooler air is drawn in from the sea to replace it. Sea breezes are generally onshore in the afternoon (as the land heats up and air rushes in from the sea) and offshore in the morning (where the land falls below sea temperature overnight and air moves from land to sea). You might therefore expect the wind to be slightly stronger in the afternoon than denoted on MSW.
Tidal Information
Magic Seaweed also shows the times and heights of the high and low tides. In Brighton and Hove, low tides generally vary between 1 and 2.5 meters and high tides between 5 and 6.5 meters above chart datum. The difference between the two is the tidal range. The tidal range has an effect on currents – the larger the tidal range, generally the stronger the currents will be. The tidal range during spring tide in Brighton is around 6 metres.
In a nutshell
The first column is the height of the shore break and gives you an idea of how difficult it is to enter and exit.
The second column is the height of the swell and tells you how bouncy it will be once you are in and past the shore break.
The third section tells you wind speed and direction – or the best direction to swim in to avoid getting a mouth full of sea water.
The box below informs you of the times of high and low tides and the tidal range. From this, you can have a go at working out the direction and strength of the current.
Once again thank you for Freya for producing an easy to understand blog that allows us to make safe swim choices!
This blog forms part of a series of Outdoor Swimming Advice blogs written by a qualified Surf Lifeguard and Open Water Swimming coach who has been swimming in the sea year round since 2012. They are written to encourage others to swim safe and share the swim love. If you have read and shared this blog we invite you to donate the cost of a post swim hot drink or slice of cake to the Seabirds Community Swim Fund. All profits from our online wild swim shop are also donated to the Seabirds Community Swim fund. This way you can buy your wild swim kit to keep you warm and donate.
The Seabird’s Community Swim Fund raises money to pay for swim kit and lessons for non-swimmers with a focus on fulfilling Seabirds’ commitment to the Black Swimming Association’s DIPER charter – where Seabirds “stand with the BSA to create a swim buddy system in which we partner non-swimmers and swimmers for the purpose of exchanging aquatic information, support, education and resources to enable more ethnically diverse communities to get in the water.” So far donations have enabled us to fund swimming lessons, kit and transport for a number of Brighton and Hove adults and children who are under represented in the Outdoor Swimming Community. Many of whom have gone on to join us swimming in the sea to improve their wellbeing!
The “Pass the Salt” Seabirds Blogs include; Stories from the Sea, Advice for safe swimming, Swim kit recommendations and Wellbeing and Water reflections. Use the category menu on the home page to search for many more ……. happy reading and happy swimming.
A webinar facilitated by Open Water Swimming Coach Kath Ferguson. An Introduction to Winter Sea swimming.
Seabird’s have produced as series of informative webinars to provide advice for cold water sea swimmers. Much of the content can be applied to other bodies of water and warmer temperatures. This is the first in the series. The YouTube link is at the bottom of the page.
If you enjoyed the webinar consider paying what you can afford / think it worth using this PayPal link: DONATE . Or you can purchase a Lunar Chart or Brighton and Hove Swimming Map. 100% of profit will be donated.
100% of the donation proceeds will go to the Seabird’s Women, Wellbeing and Water project. The project’s aim is to provide a way for local people to manage their wellbeing by using sea swimming and friendship. To give participants the skills, confidence and self-belief they need to enjoy sea swimming, no matter what additional challenges they face. We recognise that everyone person is different and each responds to challenges differently. But we believe that with the right assistance and support everyone can enjoy swimming in the sea.
Your donation will cover the costs of the project including; participant transport, childcare, neoprene accessories, refreshments and safety equipment. It will also be put towards the cost of paying swim coaches, administrators and lifeguards.
We really appreciate your support and encourage you to donate if you can so we can continue to provide free information and run our wellbeing project. It’s entirely up to you how much you donate, but £5 would seems like a fair amount to us. It’s a little more than the cost of a pint of beer or a glass of wine to each of you and if everybody who can afford to donate that amount does means we can reach more people and introduce them to swimming in the sea as a way of managing their mental health and wellbeing. THANK YOU
The summer season is here in Brighton and Hove. The Swim Area Buoys and lifeguards have returned to our beaches but there have been a lot of changes to their service. This blog explains the 2020 Lifeguard Service and advice on swimming safely through the summer.
The much anticipated arrival of the iconic yellow ‘SWIM AREA’ buoys is finally here. They are safely anchored off Brighton and Hove’s beaches but they aren’t quite the same………
As a group, we try to encourage all local residents of all swim abilities to join us in the sea. Our aim is to create a community space for people to enjoy the water and provide a way for swimmers to manage their mental health and wellbeing. The summer is great time to start and as we re-opened the group to new members this week we have already seen lots of new Salties joining our flock. So as a warm welcome to warmer seas we’d like to share the story of our swims, the iconic Brighton Buoys and our summer season lifeguard service. Particularly as C19 has meant significant changes to the Seafront service and we want our flock to swim safely.
As the waters warm, our numbers inevitably grow. This year we are unable to share our swims with more than 5 other Salties. The beauty of the bigger regular swims is you will find someone that meets your swim needs. They swim the same stroke as you, the same speed as you, the same distance as you and eats the same cake as you. Some of us will swim out and round the buoys, some won’t. Some will paddle, some will float, some will swim for long distances. Whatever works for you. But in the spirit of inclusivity we swim at the speed and to the distance of our most relaxed swimmer if we meet as a group, and we ask our swimmers to be mindful of this as new Salties join us.
Normally the SWIM AREA buoys would arrive in early May ready for the lifeguard season to start on Brighton and Hove’s beaches over the May Half Term. Due to C19 there has been a delay. Brighton and Hove normally has 14 lifeguarded beaches and the swim area buoys mark out an area that is safe to swim in if the yellow and red flags are flying and a lifeguard is on duty. They are not there for swimmers to swim round although many use them as markers to swim too and roughly measure the distance of their swim. If you were to see a bird’s eye view of them you would see they are never parallel and move around quite a bit in bad weather so it is a very rough measurement .
The season normally runs from May to September with the outer posts of Saltdean, Rottingdean, Ovingdean and Hove Lagoon opening from July to September, as the schools break up. There can be between 1-3 lifeguards per post depending on how busy that particular beach is. The more popular touristy beaches by the Palace Pier have more lifeguards. All the beach lifeguards are supported by a lifeguarded boat that patrols daily and the Seafront staff and co-ordinators (the staff on the quad bikes).
This year, the most noticeable change is the late arrival of the SWIM AREA buoys and their position in the water. They are not in sets of 5 in front of lifeguard posts (Pic 1). Instead they are dotted along the shoreline, roughly (and only roughly see pic 2) parallel with each other from the Palace Pier to Hove Lagoon. There are no buoys east of the Palace Pier. Instead of indicating lifeguard posts the buoys are to prevent jet skis and boats from coming to close to shore to protect water users.
Swim Area Buoys
2020 summer buoys
These buoys are not to be confused with the boat lane buoys. These too are yellow but a different shape. However, from a distance, and now the buoys are in a parallel line alongside the boat buoys, it is hard to see the difference. These buoys look like the picture below and are there to indicate where boats can approach to and from the shore. If you don’t want to get hit by a boat – don’t swim in these lanes. The boat lane buoys line up with yellow posts on the beach as per the picture below. This one to the west of King Alfred is by the boat winches and normally has kayaks locked to it. So if you can’t see the shape of the buoy from the shore – look for a post.
As there are no inner buoys yet this year and a limited lifeguard service the Sea Front Office have requested that swimmers do not swim out to the buoys to reduce the number of rescues they have to perform and the risk to their lives from the sea and C19 infection from swimmers. This is the most common rescue they perform. Swimmers head out for the buoys and when they get there can be too tired to swim back, not realise they made it there on a tidal current or offshore wind and don’t have the ability to get back, or get there and realise how far they are from shore and freeze both in temperature and ability to move.
We’ve had a few ‘hold your breath’ moments within our flock. Last summer, on the first day of the lifeguard seasons a new Salty asked another swimmer if they thought she’d be able to swim out to the buoy. The other swimmer, innocently replied yes and so a group set out on her maiden voyage. When the new swimmer got to the buoy it was clear this wasn’t the right decision, the lifeguard was attracted and a board rescue ensued. The lesson here is you need to take responsibility for your own assessment of the conditions and your capability. If you are asking someone else the question can I swim that far, or for that long etc the answer is no. We’ve also had a new swimmer not only to the group but to Brighton join a group swimming around the West Pier. The swimming group had made it clear on the swim invitation that is wasn’t a usual group dip of handstand performing, cake and a natter afterwards but a long swim around the pier. The new swimmer still joined and got into significant difficulty as she wasn’t used to the cold temperatures, the strong currents and also put the lives of the others swimmers in danger as they stayed in the water to help her back to shore.
We understand, that for some swimmers having goals and targets gives you something to strive towards but this must be done safely. If you wish to increase your time in the water, build up to it slowly and stay close to the shore so you can exit quickly. Another way to measure your swim distance is to move parallel to the shore and count the groynes. These are roughly 100 metres apart and allow you to stay in shallower water and closer to a safe exit point. If you wish to swim to the buoys consider going at slack tide on a spring low with no wind. Don’t forget to wear a tow float and a bright coloured hat, preferably orange or pink.
So as to changes to the Lifeguard Service. They start today! (Saturday 13th June) Hooray. They will operating on the beaches by King Alfred and between the Palace and West Pier only to begin with. If and when this changes we will publish updated information in the group. Opening up additional posts and putting out buoys closer to shore and to mark out swim areas are under discussion. The current lifeguard posts are larger and will have 6 lifeguards per post – 3 operating each half of the post. They will be working a reduced day from 11am-5pm. We will no longer be able to leave our bags and belongings with them as it would pose a cross contamination risk. However, they are still happy to answer any of your questions of give you advice, just be mindful to stay 2ms or they will have to put on their face masks. They will have boards close to their posts indicating tide times and sea conditions. There will be increased water patrols on boards and the boat will be joined by volunteer crew on Surf Lifesaving Club boats at the weekends.
To me the buoys mean summer, clear seas and double dip days. Yes I swim to them, round them, under them, photograph them. One of these years I’m going to clean them. But I do it when the conditions are right, I am in the right frame of mind and I have the energy. Sometimes I don’t know if all the buoys are aligned to mean a swim to them is an option until I get to the beach, see who else is there and see if the sea is playing ball. I’m quite happy to change my plans to perfecting my handstands, searching for crabs on the sea bottom or just floating. The sea is most definitely my mistress and dictates my swim!
However you decide to swim with, however long you stay in, wherever you swim to and from, do it safely and have a wonderful summer of sea swims
The seafront has a number of webcams to get an idea of the sea conditions before you leave home. They can change quickly though so be prepared to change you plans.
How to swim in cold water safely – this blog focuses on mitigating the risks of swimming in cold water. Even in the summer the sea can be cold!
Water quality is measured by various organisation around Brighton and Hove. Surfers Against Sewage have a Safer Seas app that provides warnings if the water quality is low.
Seafront Office are happy to give advice. They cannot give you individual advice on whether it is safe for you to swim but can provide answers to general queries around water quality, sea temperature events etc. Their contact details are; 01273 292716.
Statement from Brighton and Hove City Council regarding the service in the seafront.
Never has a debate more divided the outdoor swimming community since Skins Vs Suits! So should you be swimming in the outdoors right now?
That really is the question. And the question that is dividing the once aligned community of wild, open and outdoor swimmers. This is hopefully a balanced view, if there is such a thing…..
Being an outdoor swimmer opens you up to a large friendly wild swimming community. I swim with the Salty Seabirds in Brighton and Hove because they are my safe harbour in stormy seas. Always kind, willing to help and support each other. Swimmers I have never met, and never will, virtually share their swimming lives with each other on a daily basis. Again the positive affirmations and generosity keeps your spirits lifted. This has continued throughout the Covid19 crisis but not even this robust and buoyant community is coming out of this unscathed.
We don’t have a governing body – we outdoor swimmers, swim wild and free – that is the point. The group I swim with have rejected clubs rules, constitutions and committees in favour of fluid freedom. However – we do stress that everyone swims and their own risk and precautions should be taken – those being irresponsible are removed from the group so there are group rules of a kind.
The answer to the question to swim or not to swim, is all about personal perspective, personal experience (not the swimming kind) and personal need. And therefore, the only person that can answer the question is you! When the government guidelines in England prevented people from travelling to exercise/go outdoors for an hour it was a very easy decision to make. If it’s not on your doorstep you can’t do it.
Cue the ‘haves’ and ‘have not’ division. All over the Outdoor Swimming Society images of huge paddling pools (sometimes in huge gardens attached to huge houses) popped up. Instead of asking about places to swim the most asked question switched to the type and size of paddling pool to get. So much so that the poor group admins had to restrict the number of posts on the subject.
As the English restrictions were relaxed cue the ‘wild’ and ‘open’ division. Those that dip in any river, pond, cove or muddy puddles could now jump in their car and seek out spots to get wet. Those that swim for fitness and train for events were still being denied access to commercial open water swimming venues. And the no swimming rules have remained in Scotland, Wales and NI.
Nothing has been so hotly debated since the days of the skin Vs suits discussion. I swim in the sea because I love the expanse of it, the never ending horizon, how it changes every minute of every day. I love swimming with my flock, faffing, chatting and eating cake. I admire the creative ingenuity of those able to rig up resistance bungees to provide them with personal endless pools. I have enjoyed watching people get into cold baths and showers. I have particularly liked the imaginative buckets of cold water being thrown about all over social media. But none of this does it for me. My personal perspective, experience and need means it’s the sea or nothing for me.
Now, as we approach a sunny bank holiday in England and you are allowed to travel, meet a friend albeit 2 metres apart it is not quite so cut and dry. Under normal circumstances this would be the first weekend of the lifeguard season for seaside resorts up and down the country. But this year it is not. Last weekend Coastguard rescue teams from around the UK were called out 194 times to incidents including inflatables drifting offshore, crashed and broken down jetskis and pleasure boats, people injured while out walking or cycling along the coast, paddleboarders, kayakers, windsurfers and kite surfers who found themselves in difficulty and people cut off by the tide or stuck in mud. As I write this the coastguard helicopter is flying over Brighton looking for lost children. More people in the water definitely increasing the probability of accidents and emergencies which will inevitability put the NHS resources under strain and voluntary RNLI crew at risk.
Beautiful locations are normally so popular and picturesque because they are rural and remote. What this means is they will naturally have lower incidents of Covid19 and they do not have the infrastructure to deal with a huge increase of visitors at a time when the emergency services are stretched to the limit. People are being asked to stay away from the Lake District = and the coasts of Cornwall to protect these communities. Popular tourists resorts like Brighton are also under threat. Just a quick hop down the A23 from London and you can be on the beach in an hour. Up until now Brighton and Hove has had one of the lowest rates of Covid19 cases. We’d like to keep it that way!
For those of us that make a living from teaching people to swim or open water coaching the personal need to get in the water may be financial. However, how are we meant to perform a rescue under social distancing regulations. The risk assessments we normally use are redundant. I specialise in working with people with confidence , mental health and wellbeing issues. I have to be closer than 2 metres with my swimmers to provide them with the very necessary reassurance they need. So my personal perspective is to postpone all of the confidence tasters and wellbeing sessions until all restrictions are removed. We have also felt a uncomfortable promoting our wild swim shop when not everyone is allowed to swim and not everyone should be swimming.
People who no longer have access to their local pool, or have always wanted to try wild swimming and the change in weather and working circumstances has made this possible now are keen to experience outdoor swimming. We receive lots of request asking for advice on how to start, what to wear, where to go etc. We gently advise them that this isn’t the best time to start swimming outdoors. You can’t miss something you have never experienced and the sea will always be there when this is all over. We’d also like to be able to personally welcome them into our group and show them the ropes For us running a community group we cannot provide the support/guidance etc they require without actually being with them and as voluntary admins we don’t have the time or resources to do it and are not prepared to ask those in the group to either. So, our Salty Seabird community group remains closed for the foreseeable future. People have begun to swim again, in pairs based on their personal perspective, experience and need.
We are very visible here on Brighton and Hove’s beaches and have monkey see, monkey do concerns. Many of us are experienced year round swimmers but know that anyone regardless of swim ability and local knowledge can get into difficulty. Those that choose to swim try to be discreet and respectful of others that choose not to.
We have a trauma surgeon in our group that works in a busy A&E department – if anyone needs a bloody swim outdoors it is her. But she hasn’t and she isn’t going to until the rest of the UK allows swimming, and she evaluates the impact of the bank holiday and the more relaxed lockdown regime on the Covid figures at the hospital. This is based on her perspective and experience overriding her need. (We will of course provide her with a guard of honour when she enter the water when she returns to the flock.)
We also have some swimmers in our group that suffer severely with their mental health and they believe that as a direct consequence of their lack of access to cold water they have suffered relapses in some cases resulting in admission to hospital. They feel that a quick low tide dip is less likely to result in a stay on the ward that not doing so would.
So the choice is yours. What is your perspective, experience and need? If you do chose to get in the water, do it safely. If you chose to wait, the sea will be there with open arms when you do.
Been seen in bright colours
Use a tow float
Wear Goggles to see hazards
Social Distancing Safe Swimming!
Never swim alone – but during these times it needs to be just one other!
Always wear a brightly coloured hat and tow float to be seen.
Adhere to social distancing requirements throughout your swim, including arrival, changing and post swim.
Let someone in your household know where you are, what you are doing and expected time to return.
It is your responsibility that you are sufficiently fit and healthy to swim and that you know your limits, have you eaten, are you hydrated, what is your state of mind?
In terms of sea swimming, there are no RNLI lifeguards (Council Lifeguards in Brighton and Hove) operating presently, so you need to complete your own risk assessment on the water conditions, safe exit points, water hazards.
Pass the Salt 