Katie L
Contributor
Rant incoming! I posted here previously about working with my partner on some basic water skills to make sure she felt prepared for her Open Water course. I specifically wanted to practice breathing and swimming with a mask and snorkel.
We joined the local YMCA, only to be told by a lifeguard on our second visit that masks which cover the nose are not allowed. Nose plugs, however, are allowed. None of this was posted anywhere, not in the paperwork, not on the wall, nowhere.
What are the other options? A lake or the ocean, perhaps. The ocean is a little too unpredictable, so we drove 1.5 hours to a state park where we could swim in the lake. I checked the website, no posted rules about snorkels. We get there, suit up with wetsuits, weight belts, fins…again, the lifeguard stops us to yell, “no scuba diving!” I respond that I am not, in fact, scuba diving. But sure enough, the same rule exists. This time there is a sign posted that says no snorkeling, no masks that cover your nose.
Disclaimer: I understand that this is a young person just doing their job, I don’t fault them. But I asked if there was anywhere that I could swim at my own risk? Nope.
We still wanted to do some swimming/finning, so we left on our wetsuits and weight belts and did some 7-ft “free diving” (lol) without masks. THAT IS NOT SAFER!! The other option would be for us to find an out-of-the-way spot at the lake with no designated swimming or lifeguard, which is also not safer!
I understand how some swimmers might panic when their mask fills with water and increase drowning risk in that way, but as someone who grew up in lakes, pools, etc, I find it absolutely infuriating how difficult it apparently is for so many kids and adults to have a chance to learn how to swim with a mask. If I knew someone with a private lake or pool, I’d go there, or if I had an upcoming camping trip where I could swim at a campsite, or if I had a boat I could take out and swim from that, I’d do that, but none of those options are available. Public pools in my area have even more rules.
Swimming with a mask and snorkel is only unsafe if you don’t have the chance to learn to use it. I NEVER felt unsafe using them as a child, in fact, it made me capable of being more comfortable in the water.
When did they start banning masks everywhere? Am I going insane or is this relatively new?
We joined the local YMCA, only to be told by a lifeguard on our second visit that masks which cover the nose are not allowed. Nose plugs, however, are allowed. None of this was posted anywhere, not in the paperwork, not on the wall, nowhere.
What are the other options? A lake or the ocean, perhaps. The ocean is a little too unpredictable, so we drove 1.5 hours to a state park where we could swim in the lake. I checked the website, no posted rules about snorkels. We get there, suit up with wetsuits, weight belts, fins…again, the lifeguard stops us to yell, “no scuba diving!” I respond that I am not, in fact, scuba diving. But sure enough, the same rule exists. This time there is a sign posted that says no snorkeling, no masks that cover your nose.
Disclaimer: I understand that this is a young person just doing their job, I don’t fault them. But I asked if there was anywhere that I could swim at my own risk? Nope.
We still wanted to do some swimming/finning, so we left on our wetsuits and weight belts and did some 7-ft “free diving” (lol) without masks. THAT IS NOT SAFER!! The other option would be for us to find an out-of-the-way spot at the lake with no designated swimming or lifeguard, which is also not safer!
I understand how some swimmers might panic when their mask fills with water and increase drowning risk in that way, but as someone who grew up in lakes, pools, etc, I find it absolutely infuriating how difficult it apparently is for so many kids and adults to have a chance to learn how to swim with a mask. If I knew someone with a private lake or pool, I’d go there, or if I had an upcoming camping trip where I could swim at a campsite, or if I had a boat I could take out and swim from that, I’d do that, but none of those options are available. Public pools in my area have even more rules.
Swimming with a mask and snorkel is only unsafe if you don’t have the chance to learn to use it. I NEVER felt unsafe using them as a child, in fact, it made me capable of being more comfortable in the water.
When did they start banning masks everywhere? Am I going insane or is this relatively new?
