24/06/2026
A message to teenagers ahead of summer… 🏊🌊
Just because you passed your swimming lessons years ago doesn’t mean you’re still a strong swimmer.
If you haven’t been swimming since Year 6 and you’re now 16 or 18, your body has changed. You’re taller, heavier, stronger—and swimming in open water is completely different from swimming in a warm pool.
⚠️ Cold water, currents, deep water and steep riverbanks make open water far more dangerous than people realise.
A few things to remember:
* Don’t swim in open water if you haven’t been swimming regularly in a pool.
* Never jump into rivers, lakes or quarries without knowing what’s beneath the surface.
* Never push friends into the water or hold them under as a joke.
* If you want to try open water swimming, go to a designated venue with lifeguards and safe entry and exit points.
* Getting out of a river can be much harder than getting in.
Swimming isn’t like riding a bike. If it’s been years since your last swim, build your confidence and fitness again in a swimming pool first.
One good decision could save your life—or someone else’s.
