Why don’t Americans generally like swimming in the ocean?

[Anonymous]

I grew up near the ocean and the number one thing for us was knowing our limit. We also didn’t have a lot of beaches with lifeguards.

But it’s also about respecting the power of the ocean, rip currents, etc. Also, the shark thing a bit, given how much more common they are.

Most little kids like to wade and play in the tidal pools and dig in the sand. So it depends on your kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Immigrant here. I’ve noticed that Americans seem to prefer lounging by the pool or sitting out on chairs at the beach, rather than actually swimming in the ocean. If they do go in, it’s just for a short period or to get their feet wet. In my country, we actually go in deep and spend time swimming or just hanging out in the water. Why don’t most Americans do this too? I know most of you (middle class and above) learn to swim so what’s with the Pool/ Sun bathing preference?

Salt water bad for skin. Sharks. Jellyfish.

Huh? I grew up on the beach and found salt water to be GREAT for skin. It has great healing properties.

It dries your skin.

you are out of your.....mind. the salt in ocean water is dense with curative minerals. It has amazing properties, so good for your skin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up near the ocean and the number one thing for us was knowing our limit. We also didn’t have a lot of beaches with lifeguards.

But it’s also about respecting the power of the ocean, rip currents, etc. Also, the shark thing a bit, given how much more common they are.

Most little kids like to wade and play in the tidal pools and dig in the sand. So it depends on your kids.

The Mediterranean sea does not have rip tides like the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. I know of 2 separate incidents of someone drowning near Ocean City. Both survived but one is in a vegetative state.

[Anonymous]

I only go in bodies of water where I can see the bottom (this includes lakes, which admittedly may be irrational given the main reasoning) because as an 8 year old on Long Island sound I backed into a cluster of jelly fish I didn’t see and got stung from neck to ankle, including my sides and belly because of my “fashionable” cut out suit. I had to take endless baths in meat tenderizer and that was it for me.

[Anonymous]

In spite of my dad giving the same ocean lessons as 18:57, as a young child, I experienced the following:

- stung by jelly fish
- stepped on horseshoe crab
- knocked down by a wave and held under by the undertow while my sunburnt skin was repeatedly raked across the broken shells they call sand.

Near death experiences are traumatizing. So, yeah, not going in the ocean on the East coast.

I love snorkeling in the Caribbean though, and hanging out in crystal clear waist high water with a lovely beach bar drink is not scary at all.

[Anonymous]

because all those people going in for a short period to get their feet wet are pissing on you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Immigrant here. I’ve noticed that Americans seem to prefer lounging by the pool or sitting out on chairs at the beach, rather than actually swimming in the ocean. If they do go in, it’s just for a short period or to get their feet wet. In my country, we actually go in deep and spend time swimming or just hanging out in the water. Why don’t most Americans do this too? I know most of you (middle class and above) learn to swim so what’s with the Pool/ Sun bathing preference?

I think you are just wrong. Maybe not seen enough.

[Anonymous]

I'm a very strong swimmer - swam competitively growing up and in the winters, I still swim laps and tread water in a pool for exercise.

That said, I will only swim in the ocean when it's relatively calm. I find it very stressful to navigate rougher water or currents, even when there's a green flag and there are lifeguards on duty. It's just not relaxing or fun for me anymore.

Also, I never swim out into waves without a lifeguard. Though I'm still a strong swimmer, the Atlantic Ocean can be unpredictable. I'm happier staying in waist-high water unless there's someone there to safe me, if needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am from the mid Atlantic, no way would I ever go swimming at a local beach. Now, when I go to Florida I do go swimming, but I feel strange doing it as it was really dangerous to go swimming at the beach in NC where I grew up. Like the pp said, the US is a large country, and only a small part of it has beaches that are really safe to swim.

I grew up in SC. We swim in the ocean and I feel ok doing it because I know how to handle waves, etc. You just go out past the breakers. If a wave is about to hit you and you are deep enough,, go under it.

But I grew up hearing to never go to NC beaches because they are dangerous. The outer banks for example has cold water and dangerous rip tides. I would never vacation there.

I grew up at the beaches in NC and very few people go out beyond the breakers to swim. The people who go out and swim usually aren't from the area and don't understand rip tides. We used to think they occurred once in a while but we know they are constantly there. People drown all the time at the NC beaches because of them.

A lot depends upon what is going on under the water as the topography (right word?) of the area which can shift after storms. Major storms changed our favorite beach and added a sudden drop off near the first line of breakers. We would see sharks and dolphins swimming in that and didn't feel safe. I see more swimmers at the beaches in Cape Cod. One of the places we go to never has swells and despite the sharks people actually swim a lot there. Our beaches in NC generally have much more serious surf.

[Anonymous]

I grew up going to the beaches of Long Island where the waves are big. It taught me to have a healthy respect for the ocean. I can read the waves and know what to do with waves of any size. Most people don’t get this education. Ocean swimming is fun but I understand why people don’t want little kids in there or are scared.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up near the ocean and the number one thing for us was knowing our limit. We also didn’t have a lot of beaches with lifeguards.

But it’s also about respecting the power of the ocean, rip currents, etc. Also, the shark thing a bit, given how much more common they are.

Most little kids like to wade and play in the tidal pools and dig in the sand. So it depends on your kids.

“Sometimes that shark, he looks right into you. Right into your eyes. You know the thing about a shark, he's got...lifeless eyes, black eyes, like a doll's eye. When he comes at ya, doesn't seem to be livin'. Until he bites ya and those black eyes roll over white. And then, ah then you hear that terrible high pitch screamin' and the ocean turns red and spite of all the poundin' and the hollerin' they all come in and rip you to pieces.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up going to the beaches of Long Island where the waves are big. It taught me to have a healthy respect for the ocean. I can read the waves and know what to do with waves of any size. Most people don’t get this education. Ocean swimming is fun but I understand why people don’t want little kids in there or are scared.

+1

You can tell when someone has not much exposure to the ocean, when they freak out about marine life, etc. - or simply feel the need to post on a mom board that is 3+ hours away from the ocean itself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up near the ocean and the number one thing for us was knowing our limit. We also didn’t have a lot of beaches with lifeguards.

But it’s also about respecting the power of the ocean, rip currents, etc. Also, the shark thing a bit, given how much more common they are.

Most little kids like to wade and play in the tidal pools and dig in the sand. So it depends on your kids.

“Sometimes that shark, he looks right into you. Right into your eyes. You know the thing about a shark, he's got...lifeless eyes, black eyes, like a doll's eye. When he comes at ya, doesn't seem to be livin'. Until he bites ya and those black eyes roll over white. And then, ah then you hear that terrible high pitch screamin' and the ocean turns red and spite of all the poundin' and the hollerin' they all come in and rip you to pieces.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up near the ocean and the number one thing for us was knowing our limit. We also didn’t have a lot of beaches with lifeguards.

But it’s also about respecting the power of the ocean, rip currents, etc. Also, the shark thing a bit, given how much more common they are.

Most little kids like to wade and play in the tidal pools and dig in the sand. So it depends on your kids.

“Sometimes that shark, he looks right into you. Right into your eyes. You know the thing about a shark, he's got...lifeless eyes, black eyes, like a doll's eye. When he comes at ya, doesn't seem to be livin'. Until he bites ya and those black eyes roll over white. And then, ah then you hear that terrible high pitch screamin' and the ocean turns red and spite of all the poundin' and the hollerin' they all come in and rip you to pieces.”

[Anonymous]

Because, how would we secure our cell phones and cameras while we are in the ocean?