I wonder how you feel if you happened to be the only one or two swimming in a pool while there are four highly dutiful lifeguards watching...nothing but you, of course... for the whole time you were swimming? (assuming you were not that great a swimmer to be proud of giving a "performance").
That's what happened to me today. Needless to say I felt damn safe, especially appreciated it very much when at one point one of them poked his head to see if I was OK when I was at the end of the pool, literally under their feet :wave: (I usually thought the guards didn't pay enough attention).
On the one hand I was flattered by the heavy attention and safeguarding (today seemed to be an unusual day); on the other hand, it felt funny "performing" solo or duet to an audience of 4 :D. They did appear to be all watching the whole time, not doing other things.
What's in the guards' mind when they are watching just 1-2 swimmers in the pool? Do they judge their skills? laugh at the guy splashing water everywhere, or the other that swims like a limping shrimp? :rolleyes:
:D
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Former Member
I have been that person swimming alone many times. I just do my workout and don't think about it. I was bothered one time, though, when I forgot the no diving rule and dove in from the side to begin my workout. The lifeguard actually stopped me to tell me diving was against the rules. It was in 7 feet of water for God's sake :duel: , and I was swimming and life guarding long before this lifeguard was born!!! Who hurts themselves doing a shallow dive in 7 feet of water to begin their swim. I did not try to do any flips and no one else was in the pool:blah:. :fish2:
The lifeguard was correct in their actions. There is no diving into water depths less than 9'. One meter spring diving boards have water depth requirements of no less than 12.5' The guard was doing their job the guidelines were established by the INSURANCE CARRIERS and other GOVERNING BODIES (the organization holding the certification of the lifeguard, county, city, state, etc.), not the facility and not the lifeguard.
Thank you for not doing other tricks or flips when entering the pool - you could have been asked to leave.
As a side note, USMS guidelines for warm up state that you can only enter a lane FEET FIRST unless a dedicated sprint lane has been established.
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Former Member
I have been that person swimming alone many times. I just do my workout and don't think about it. I was bothered one time, though, when I forgot the no diving rule and dove in from the side to begin my workout. The lifeguard actually stopped me to tell me diving was against the rules. It was in 7 feet of water for God's sake :duel: , and I was swimming and life guarding long before this lifeguard was born!!! Who hurts themselves doing a shallow dive in 7 feet of water to begin their swim. I did not try to do any flips and no one else was in the pool:blah:. :fish2:
The lifeguard was correct in their actions. There is no diving into water depths less than 9'. One meter spring diving boards have water depth requirements of no less than 12.5' The guard was doing their job the guidelines were established by the INSURANCE CARRIERS and other GOVERNING BODIES (the organization holding the certification of the lifeguard, county, city, state, etc.), not the facility and not the lifeguard.
Thank you for not doing other tricks or flips when entering the pool - you could have been asked to leave.
As a side note, USMS guidelines for warm up state that you can only enter a lane FEET FIRST unless a dedicated sprint lane has been established.
