So, after reading through some threads in which it seemed like people suggested they trained in open water after dark, my question is: Do You?
Typically, a few times a year (usually when the moon is bright) I will go out at night and do a normal long swim, but I don't make a habit of it. Last October, before the water here in CT got too cold, I went for several night swims (using tinted goggles, which was a bit of a mistake) but now I am thinking of making this a more regular thing in order to train more when the tide isn't conducive to training during the day (i.e. when I'm at work). Is this just stupid?
It doesn't seem any more dangerous to swim at night than during the day (particularly with appropriate goggles:)) since I am always swimming by myself anyway. Any thoughts on this?
Former Member
Well, when I went night swimming one time in 2006, I thought about leaving my suit on the beach and going au natural, but decided not to when I thought 1) what if I come back and my suit's gone?, and 2) what if there's some unanticipated consequence and I'm discovered swimming naked?
Nightswimming deserves a quiet night.
I’m not sure all these people understand.
It’s not like years ago,
The fear of getting caught,
Of recklessness and water.
They cannot see me naked.
These things, they go away,
Replaced by everyday. (Night Swimming--R.E.M.)
Scares the crap out of me--scream like a girl when anything touches me.
Former Member
Now we're finally at that time of year when it's either swim at night or don't swim at all. This week I went swimming at night two times. The moon was bright enough so that I could see clearly. It's been so warm here in CT (70-75 F during the day) that I've been trying to swim every day I can. I wasn't worried about sharks or anything, just focused on my swimming and then got out. It was rather lonely on the beach when I was done, but all n all it was a great experience.
Former Member
I just think of music to entertain me when I swim at night, this is a favorite of mine
hk.youtube.com/watch
Former Member
Yes there are sharks in LI Sound!! If it is saltwater there are sharks in it...
Wow, looking forward to the night swimming (aka skinny dipping) down in Bonaire.
I'd be much more concerned about getting run over by a boater than ever encountering a shark.
Former Member
I don't like sharks swimming close to me. My last open water race was a little scary. I call it my last encounter.
Former Member
i've swum at night before and the only time i ever got scared was when there were waves and i got caught inside and lost my goggles and almost got swept up onto the rocks. it's hard to see the set waves coming when it's so dark.
When you swim the Catalina crossing you start a night from a cove on Catalina Island. I had never swam at night before and it was quite unreal. The only lights are the pilot boat and the light in the kayak that I was following. As I was swimming over the kelp beds, something nibbled at my feet. I turned quickly around to hit whatever was tasting me. I could see nothing so I kept swimming. This happened four or five times during the night and each time I would turn as fast as I could to hit whatever it was. The kayaker told me that it was likely a cleaning fish, cleaning my feet. Still it was not something I was expecting.
Former Member
These are the suckers I hated when swimming day or night in Lake Ontario. I have had them clinging on in multiples of up to 3 at a time.
lake champlain has those suckers as well. my friend john met two of them this year. yuck
