Swim Safe

27/12/2025

Do you know what to do if you get caught in a rip? Or how to respond if you see someone else in trouble in the water?

22/12/2025

20/12/2025

Why Beginners Struggle to Float (And How to Fix It) 🏊‍♂️

Floating feels difficult for many beginners, not because their body sinks — but because their mind panics. Floating is more about relaxation than strength.
1️⃣ Tension Is the Biggest Enemy
• Tight neck, shoulders, and legs push the body down
• Relaxation lifts the body naturally
2️⃣ Fear Makes You Sink
• Panic causes sudden movements
• Sudden movements break balance
3️⃣ Wrong Head Position
• Head too high = hips sink
• Head relaxed back = body floats
4️⃣ Poor Breathing Control
• Holding breath too tightly creates tension
• Gentle breathing keeps balance
5️⃣ Too Much Movement
• Kicking and waving arms wastes energy
• Stillness helps flotation
6️⃣ Lack of Trust in Water
• Water supports your body
• Trusting the water changes everything

Coach Tip:
If you relax, you float. If you panic, you sink. Practice floating in shallow water until your body learns to trust the water.

17/12/2025

Stay safe at the river or beach this summer! The warm weather is here, and it’s the perfect time to cool off in our rivers and at the beach. But before you dive in, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure you and your whānau stay safe in the water this summer.

Watch out for hidden hazards! Floods earlier this year may have shifted debris in rivers, especially in the Motueka Valley. A lot of large objects such as trees, nets and truck wheels have already been found, so check underwater before diving in – things may not be as clear as last summer.

Our environmental officers test popular swim spots weekly for E.coli, enterococci, and toxic algae. Water quality is currently looking good, and post-flood data shows the Motueka River is back to normal.

We monitor water quality at the District’s hot spots throughout the season, from Collingwood and Tata Beach through to Kaiterieri, Māpua and Moturoa/Rabbit Island, and even the Tākaka, Motueka, Lee and Aniseed rivers.

Check the latest water quality and toxic algae results at tasman.govt.nz/swimming-water and tasman.govt.nz/toxic-algae-monitoring-results.

We are certainly spoilt for choice when it comes to swimming in our rivers lakes or beaches.

But as we head into the summer holidays, it’s worth mentioning the potential for the water quality at your favourite spot to change with the weather and/or environmental factors.

Rain is the most common reason for these changes and if we happen to get a downpour, our recommendation is to avoid entering the water for at least 36 hours, but preferably 48.

There is still a risk to swimmers, even when the sun comes out soon after the rain has abated.

We are well into our routine testing of water quality and in most cases, the results are largely excellent for most spots – Moturoa/Rabbit Island, for example, remains a perennial winner for safe swimming.

Some sites are more vulnerable to high faecal indicator bacteria than others and we have had several instances of concern in the last three weeks - there are no new locations of concern and nearly all of them have been due to rain.

Enjoy the water – safely!

17/12/2025

How to Float for Beginners 🏊‍♂️💙
فلوٹ کیسے کریں ؟🛟

Explanation:

Floating is the foundation of swimming and water safety

A relaxed body floats better than a tense one

Air in your lungs helps keep you on the surface

Balance is more important than strength

Trusting the water is the key

Steps to Float: 1️⃣ Relax your body and shoulders
2️⃣ Take a calm breath
3️⃣ Keep your head back and eyes up
4️⃣ Open your arms and legs slightly
5️⃣ Stay still and let the water support you

Coach Tip 🏊‍♂️🔥
If you panic, you sink. If you relax, you float.

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📘 ابتدائی سیکھنے والوں کے لیے فلوٹ کرنا 🏊‍♂️💙

وضاحت:

فلوٹ کرنا تیراکی کی بنیادی اور سب سے اہم مہارت ہے

جتنا جسم پرسکون ہوگا، اتنا آسانی سے فلوٹ کرے گا

پھیپھڑوں میں ہوا جسم کو اوپر رکھنے میں مدد دیتی ہے

طاقت نہیں بلکہ توازن ضروری ہے

پانی پر بھروسہ کرنا سیکھیں

فلوٹ کرنے کے مراحل: 1️⃣ جسم اور کندھوں کو ریلیکس کریں
2️⃣ آہستہ اور گہرا سانس لیں
3️⃣ سر پیچھے رکھیں اور اوپر دیکھیں
4️⃣ بازو اور ٹانگیں تھوڑی کھولیں
5️⃣ حرکت کم رکھیں اور پانی کو سہارا دینے دیں

کوچ ٹِپ 🏊‍♂️🔥
گھبراہٹ میں ڈوبتے ہیں، سکون میں فلوٹ کرتے ہیں۔

15/12/2025

13/12/2025

Pull → Kick → Glide — or is it Kick → Pull?
Which sequence feels more natural, and which is the one you should actually be using?
👉 See what works: https://www.swim-teach.com/breaststroke-kick-for-beginners.html?utm_campaign=meetedgar&utm_medium=social&utm_source=meetedgar.com

12/12/2025

Make your home a safe place for littlies to have

fun and explore.

Empty paddling pools, baths, buckets and

containers as soon as you’ve finished using them.

A child can drown in water the depth of your

little finger.

Keep bathroom, toilet and laundry doors

closed.

Ensure your child can't access ponds, water

troughs, open drains, swimming pools (including

inflatable, portable or temporary pools), spas,

hot tubs or any other body of water.

We have more information about keeping

tamariki safe around water on our website

https://www.plunket.org.nz/caring-for-your-

child/safety-outdoors/water-safety/ -

water-hazards-in-and-around-the-house-and-

garden

08/12/2025

Why a High Elbow Catch Makes You Faster in Freestyle 🏊‍♂️💨

1️⃣ What Is High Elbow Catch?
It means keeping your elbow up while your hand and forearm “catch” the water. This gives you a stronger pull.

2️⃣ More Power, Less Effort
A high elbow lets you pull more water with every stroke — so you go faster without increasing effort.

3️⃣ Better Body Position
It keeps your shoulders stable and stops your hips from sinking.

4️⃣ Reduces Shoulder Injuries
Correct catch reduces pressure on your shoulder joint and keeps your stroke safer.

5️⃣ You Swim Straighter
A stable catch helps your body stay aligned, so you don’t snake side to side.

6️⃣ Improves Endurance
Efficient pulling means you waste less energy — perfect for long-distance swimmers.

7️⃣ How to Practice
• Finger drag drill
• Sculling drill
• Slow-motion freestyle focusing only on catch
• Swim with snorkel to perfect technique

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Coach Tip:
Keep your elbow high and your fingertips low — that’s the secret to a powerful catch.

05/12/2025

We're clearly all about water safety right now 🌊

01/12/2025

Tasman District Council pool rules - make sure they are safe

Now that summer's here, it’s time to think about pool safety. Whether you own a permanent, temporary, portable pool or spa pool, the message is clear: Fence first, fun follows.

Residential pools can be a serious hazard for young children. That’s why the Building Act 2004 requires all pools capable of holding 40cm or more of water to have a physical barrier that restricts access by unsupervised children under 5 years of age. This includes portable and temporary pools, even if they’re only partially filled.

Building consent is required for installing a pool fence – even if you build it yourself. These barriers must be inspected every three years by your local council.

Spa pools under 5m² may use an approved safety cover instead of a fence, but it must meet strict criteria.

Above-ground pools are exempt from a barrier if the outside face of the pool wall is at least 1.2m high and free from any features that could assist a child climbing in. Ladders, pumps or steps giving pool access will need a barrier or gate, which requires building consent. Please visit rebrand.ly/bau4p32 for more information.

You should always empty paddling pools when not in use, including overnight.

Even with compliant barriers, active adult supervision is essential. Always keep children within arm’s reach around water and avoid distractions.

For general information on all kinds of water safety, including for pools, rivers and beaches, please visit the Water Safety New Zealand website, watersafetynz.org.