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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As for boomers and Gen Xers, most of us have never recovered from seeing Jaws in our youth.

This!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As for boomers and Gen Xers, most of us have never recovered from seeing Jaws in our youth.

I was going to post this is the NUMBER 1 reason. I still hear that sound track when underwater in an ocean or lake.

I swim a lot wherever I go; kids spend the entire beach trip in ocean jumping in waves and boogie boarding.

It’s not much more risky than the drive to the beach if you are on a guarded beach with adult supervision

It’s funny people complain about east coast beaches; the water is fairly warm especially in July/Aug and refreshing in our hot humid climate. I think on West coast only surfers in wet suits get in the water — LA beaches are pretty scenery not for swimming.

I’m sure warm water places like Hawaii or Florida get more people in the water too

[Anonymous]

I see plenty of people in the ocean at East coast beaches. They ride boogie boards, they hit beach balls, they float on inner tubes, they jump in the waves, etc. what more do you want?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Uhhhh. Maybe because there is better ocean swimming conditions in your country than on the east coast of the US. And what exactly is your beach sample size in making this judgement? Have you been to Hawaii or the west coast? People from the US swim in the ocean a lot in these places. I find your post quite odd.

DP here. I don’t find OP’s post odd at all. I’m also an immigrant who has noticed the same thing. In many resorts frequented by American tourists, you’ll find more people at the pool than at the beach. From talking to people, the reasons given are usually: 1. No sharks 2. No sand/critters
3. No waves/currents/riptides 4. No boats/jetskis.

So do the people from your country who are rich enough to travel to resorts all travel for the exclusive purpose of exercise? It's weird to generalize from "American tourists I met at resorts outside of the US" to "Americans" given that the former are a very small percentage of the population not in their usual environment. I'm an American who does (and enjoys!) swimming in the frigid Atlantic off pebble beaches (I think getting tossed around by the waves is fun) but I wouldn't necessarily swim in at a beach I was unfamiliar with because there are a number of very valid safety concerns about swimming in the ocean.

[Anonymous]

My 10 year old and husband got caught in a riptide and it was truly so frightening (thank Jesus they survived) I never go in past my knees. Even then something invariably bites my toe.

[Anonymous]

Most local (VA, MD, NJ) beaches aren't that clean, there is all sorts of stuff going into the water not so far away, and the surf can be really tricky. That, plus jelly fish.

Even with lifeguards, a number of tourists drown at Va Beach every year, usually very few locals drown because they know better than to go swimming at the beach.

[Anonymous]

https://www.wtkr.com/news/after-drownings-in-virginia-beach-lifeguards-caution-swimmers


Felch says that lifeguards are trained to see the signs of distress if any drownings happen. But just last weekend no one saw those signs. Two people drowned near Shore Drive, where there are no lifeguards around.

"Don't overestimate your swimming ability," said Felch.

Felch also says a lot of people like to walk on the sand bars, but those can be dangerous. Just last week, lifeguards at the Oceanfront reunited 60 kids with their families and rescued 18 swimmers.

"What will happen is you'll have a quick drop off where the sandbars ended and it's back to deep water," said Felch.


https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/boy-found-dead-after-going-swimming-in-chesapeake-baby-virginia-beach/65-4864c5b6-69a0-408b-a113-57d4d43aed6f

https://www.wptv.com/news/national/officials-child-man-drown-in-separate-incidents-at-virginia-beach

On some days, the currents are deadly if you aren't a professional swimmer.

[Anonymous]

It’s increasingly dangerous!

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1070316.page

[Anonymous]

It depends on the beach you go to. Southern Atlantic Beaches will have more swimmers than Northern Atlantic Beaches because of waves, temperature, sand texture, rocks, seaweed, etc. Maybe try another beach that's southern and geared towards tourists if you want nice swimming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which beaches have you been to in the US? What beaches have you been to outside the US?

Answer this Op. Otherwise you're stirring the pot with generalizations and bashing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I learned people pee and poop in the ocean it lost its appeal for me, especially when visiting crowded beaches with lots of families with small children. Leaky diapers, snotty noses, urine - no thanks.

PP, I have some potentially distressing news to tell you about pools….

[Anonymous]

Riptides and sharks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see plenty of people in the ocean at East coast beaches. They ride boogie boards, they hit beach balls, they float on inner tubes, they jump in the waves, etc. what more do you want?

He means legit swimming. Like for exercise, as one would swim laps in a pool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Uhhhh. Maybe because there is better ocean swimming conditions in your country than on the east coast of the US. And what exactly is your beach sample size in making this judgement? Have you been to Hawaii or the west coast? People from the US swim in the ocean a lot in these places. I find your post quite odd.

DP here. I don’t find OP’s post odd at all. I’m also an immigrant who has noticed the same thing. In many resorts frequented by American tourists, you’ll find more people at the pool than at the beach. From talking to people, the reasons given are usually: 1. No sharks 2. No sand/critters
3. No waves/currents/riptides 4. No boats/jetskis.

The odd part is that the US is a big country with lots of beaches, and it really is impossible to generalize. I responded based on my Mid-Atlantic experiences. Others have chimed in re: Hawaii and the West Coast. An island beach in Maine, beaches in Hawaii, lakeside beaches near Chicago, urban beaches in NYC, large commercial beach areas might have more differences then similarities. And when I responded earlier, I hadn’t even thought about resorts. It’s generalizing also, but maybe questions about how some Americans utilize resorts would garner more specific answers.
For example, people visiting resorts might be most likely to do activities that are more special at the resort. Resorts that cater to families might have different patterns vs resorts that market to honeymoon couples.

[Anonymous]

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.