As a teenager I'd go out up to my shoulders with my cousin, bobbing up and down and riding waves. As an adult I don't want to go deeper than my knees after seeing aerial footage of how close sharks are to the shore.
Bonus question: What is your favorite movie with a beach scene? (Mine is Top Secret!)
I'm with you. Too much scary stuff in the ocean, even if the odds are against them attacking you.
shareYes, the only way to make the odds minimal or zero is not to go deeper than knee deep. I'm glad I was more courageous as a teen though, and enjoyed the ocean for a while. My phobias all developed as an adult.
shareI've gone swimming in the ocean at beaches like Carlsbad, California. I never go out deeper than my chest, because the water's cold, and the waves can get a little intense the further you go offshore. Plus, I was always worried about the undertow. Last thing my family needed was for me to get washed out to sea while we were on vacation.
On the other hand, a fun game I liked to play was waiting for small waves to come past, and I'd jump so my head was above them.
My only real complaint about the beach at Carlsbad was all the kelp. I had to keep kicking it out of the way because it tangles around your feet while walking along on the sand.
My family also visited the beach on the shores of Lake Michigan in Wisconsin. Trouble is, that lake is even colder than the Pacific in summertime (danged thing was still retaining the cold from winter) and the sand is really, really hot, so you run into a real temperature difference when trying to go for a swim. In fact, the water in the lake was so cold, I ended up swimming with a T-shirt on over my swimsuit, and my brother and I definitely didn't go very far out into the water during that trip. Thank goodness mom had the foresight to bring a big blanket and the patio umbrella for our spot on the beach.
"On the other hand, a fun game I liked to play was waiting for small waves to come past, and I'd jump so my head was above them."
I used to love to do that, too, in my teens.
There's a bit of irony here for me. I used to live in Hawaii, loved going to the beach and swimming. I came home from such a trip one day to the traumatizing news that one of my best friends back on the mainland had drowned in a river. I had that survivor's guilt going on, constantly thinking that if I had been there, it wouldn't have happened. I eventually became a very strong swimmer, doing a mile regularly after hours in a sports complex where I worked.
My favorite beach scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUDEjulbqzk
I'm sorry about the loss of your friend. That must have been very difficult.
Castaway is a great movie with beach scenes, lots and lots of them π, and that particular scene was a triumphant one that I remember and liked.
NOT VERY FAR....I ONLY LEARNED TO SWIM IN MY LATE 20S FOR ALI'S SAKE AND DO NOT HAVE MUCH OPPORTUNITY OR INCLINATION TO SWIM NOW THAT ALI IS A TEENAGER.
shareIt is wise not to go out very far. You can experience the refreshing coolness of the ocean without being eaten by a swimming thing with fangs.
shareAs far as natural bodies of water are concerned, I only go up to my knees. I am a very poor swimmer but what bothers me is when I CANβT see whatβs underneath me or what I may be stepping on!
We used to go on family picnics in the summer to a nearby lake. The water was clean and cold from the mountains. There were fish in the water, frogs, tadpoles,,etc. There was nothing dangerous but I get creeped out when I canβt see whatβs down there.
In a pool where I can see the bottom, I will go deeper. But not too deep.
Exactly! In the oceans where I live, and the lakes, you cannot see the bottom. They are murky instead of clear. If I was in a body of water that was completely clear I might go a little deeper than my knees though I doubt I'd go deeper than my waist because if I saw something scary I'd want to be able to get back to shore quick! π
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