Post Session Information
I hope you enjoyed your swim. Here is a bit more information about weather conditions to help you swim safely.
If you have any questions, do ask.
Risk Assessment
Before you swim in any area you should assess the conditions and make a decision on whether or not it is safe to swim. These notes are principally for Poole Bay and other factors come into play if swimming in rivers and lakes.
Things you should consider are:
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Sea Temperature
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Your Health
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Who are you swimming with
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Safety cover
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What equipment do you have?
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Tide conditions
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Air Temperature
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Wind strength and direction
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Other water users
Sea Temperature
The sea temperature in our area varies between 6ËšC and around 19ËšC. Hypothermia becomes a big issue in sea temperatures below 15ËšC but you should always be aware of the current temperature and how your body responds to the cold.
We run cold water acclimatisation courses in the autumn and discuss cold water shock and hypothermia in detail then. In the meantime, if you have any questions, do ask.
Your Health
How are you feeling today? Are you anxious? Have you slept well? Have you eaten? All of these things can impact how your body responds to the cold water. You may have swum for 20 minutes a few days ago but today, any of these areas could mean you’ll feel cold after 10 minutes. Don’t stay in the water if you get cold, it is not a competition. Enjoy the water for the time you’re in and don’t feel the need to go further, stay in longer - it’ll be there tomorrow!
Who are you swimming with?
Never swim alone - even if you have someone beach walking as you swim, do make sure that someone is looking out for you. If you swim in a group then we recommend that you buddy up and swim with one other person so that they are aware of where you are at all times.
Safety Cover
Poole Bay is well covered by RNLI lifeguards in the summer months. These stations are approximately 1km apart but do check when each one is open and swim at a lifeguarded beach.
What Equipment do you have?
Wetsuits make you more buoyant in the water and help you stay warm. If you want to swim in ‘skins’ i.e. without a swimming costume, do make sure you acclimatise to the cold first and wear wetsuit gloves and boots/socks if necessary.
A bright swim hat and tow float are essential parts of safety equipment. They enable other swimmers, and other water users to see you. You may think the sea is calm and you can see for miles but a boat or jet skier will not be able to see you from a distance so the easier it is to see you, the better.
Tide Conditions
Tides should be checked before swimming as they can make quite an impact on your swim. The flooding (rising) tide moves Eastwards, from Poole to Bournemouth. The ebbing (falling) tide moves Westwards, from Bournemouth to Poole. However, Poole Harbour exerts a strong pull so it is recommended that swimmers do not swim past Sandbanks towards the harbour as you may get pulled in.
Poole and Bournemouth also have a double high tide. This is not due to the impact of the Isle of Wight, as is often discussed, but due to our position half way along the south coast causing us to be close to a nodal point with the resulting small tidal range. Poole Harbour and the shallow waters of the bay also impact our tidal conditions so it is recommended that you check tides carefully rather than trust to standard rules (such as the Rule of Twelfths).
Various websites and apps can help with this:
Rip Currents
Recent years have shown an increase in rip currents around Bournemouth Pier and whilst they’re not a frequent hazard it is worth learning more about them and how to get out of them.
The key signs to look for are:
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Deeper and/or darker water
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Fewer breaking waves

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Sandy coloured water extending beyond the surf zone
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Debris or seaweed

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Significant water movement
For more information: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/seasonal-advice/travel/out-and-about/understanding-rip-currents
Air Temperature
The sun is very welcome whilst you’re getting changed and can help you get warmer quicker but be careful of swimming further as the sun feels warmer.
Wind Strength and Direction
The dominant wind in Poole Bay is a westerly. The protection of the Purbecks means that the Poole end of the bay is often more sheltered from the wind and so with fewer waves. The conditions at the Bournemouth end of the bay can be more changeable.
In general: Northerly winds can often mean calmer water although if strong it can hold up the breaking water; Easterly winds can mean rougher conditions which can mean challenging conditions as the wind causes surface splash against your face. Onshore or Southerly winds can cause more choppy conditions but as we tend to swim east to west or west to east it may not feel so challenging.
If I'm checking out the weather before a session I'll look at a range of forecasts but I tend to trust most in the following:
You can also look at the local webcams, but do remember that conditions can look benign but be very different once your in:
Other Water Users
We are lucky to have a designated protected area all along the bay - this is marked by the yellow buoys.
Personal watercraft (PWC's) - e.g. Jet Ski's and powerboats can enter these areas, but there is a speed restriction of 6 knots - a fast jog. Unfortunately as with every sport, some are considerate and some aren’t so do be careful even when swimming with in the area. Keep an eye out for kite surfers, jet skiers and boat users - they won’t always see you.
If you observe a PWC behaving dangerously between the yellow buoys and the shore, alert an RNLI lifeguard or submit it to MarinePolicingTeam@dorset.PNN.police.uk. Always call 999 in an emergency - when a life is in danger.