Hi! New guy to the forums here, and pretty new to lap swimming too -- I've been doing it since May sometime.
More than once when I've wanted to join someone in a lane I've found it difficult to get their attention. At first I thought people just didn't want to share, but then I paid attention while I was swimming and realized that when you're looking at the bottom of the pool it is indeed easy to miss someone standing on the edge.
So what do you do? I've taken to dangling my feet deep enough that they're hard to miss, but is this obnoxious? Does anybody have pointers for getting someone's attention without annoying them when you need to share a lane?
I would always prefer to split a lane if I can. If I'm second in, I stick my feet in for a lap to send the signal I'm entering the pool. If I see someone approaching my lane, I pick a side to send the signal which side I want. At most of the pools I swim, there is a wide variety of skill levels and assuming a circle will only cause problems.
Of course, pool management by lifeguards and aquatic directors makes all the difference in the world. While on a business trip to DC, I swam at a pool in Arlington that filled up enough to necessitate circle swimming. There were placards clearly indicating which speeds belonged in which lanes. Third swimmer in always knew to stick feet in right side of lane for one pass by each swimmer, and swimmers in then knew to stop splitting and start circling.
Asking the lifeguard what's customary at that particular pool goes a long way.
I would always prefer to split a lane if I can. If I'm second in, I stick my feet in for a lap to send the signal I'm entering the pool. If I see someone approaching my lane, I pick a side to send the signal which side I want. At most of the pools I swim, there is a wide variety of skill levels and assuming a circle will only cause problems.
Of course, pool management by lifeguards and aquatic directors makes all the difference in the world. While on a business trip to DC, I swam at a pool in Arlington that filled up enough to necessitate circle swimming. There were placards clearly indicating which speeds belonged in which lanes. Third swimmer in always knew to stick feet in right side of lane for one pass by each swimmer, and swimmers in then knew to stop splitting and start circling.
Asking the lifeguard what's customary at that particular pool goes a long way.
