Staying safe on swim travels

Swimming in new places may expose you to new and unknown hazards, so take extra care, says Simon Griffiths

Being an outdoor swimmer increases your scope for great experiences and adventure when travelling. You can plunge into pools in mountain streams, swim across rivers or body surf ocean waves. But new places bring new risks.

Earlier this year, I went on a two-week hiking trip to Costa Rica. But, naturally, I had my swimming stuff with me and was looking out for swimming opportunities.

Shortly after arrival, I was on a narrow strip of land between the sea and a canal. I’d been travelling for 36 hours and would have loved a dip. But the locals told me there were sharks and dangerous currents in the ocean, and crocodiles in the canal.

Still, I was tempted. The sea was rough, but I’ve swum in similar conditions previously. The likelihood of a shark attack seemed low. There have been very few reported shark attacks in Costa Rica. Surely a quick dip wouldn’t hurt?

On the other hand, I was in a remote area. If I had got into difficulties, there was nobody to help. There may have been other factors I didn’t know about. For example, I once injured myself on hidden underwater rocks. I’m aware there are dangers you might not see.

I decided to take the locals’ advice and stay out of the water.

Later on my trip, I met the organiser of the Cruce Golfo Dulce, a 14km-swim across Costa Rica’s Golfo Dulce (or 28km for the two way), Joe Bernini. The Golfo Dulce is a large bay next to Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, famous for humped back whales and dolphins.

Joe took us to Puerto Jiminez, the finishing point of the swim. The water was flat and warm, and safe for swimming. The views were spectacular. The beaches wide and deserted.

Unfortunately, Joe hasn’t been able to host a Cruce Golfo Dulce Swim event since the pandemic and I wasn’t able to make a crossing, but I enjoyed my swims along the beaches and got a taste of what the full swim might entail. It more than made up for the frustration of not being able to swim at the beginning of the trip. Sometimes when you travel you need to be patient. It’s better to stay safe and swim another day.

The theme of this issue is swimming around the world. I love how swimming enables connections with people across the planet and creates opportunities for fantastic swimming experiences. Nurture your swimming connections and embrace the opportunities they provide. And be open to sharing your local swimming spots with visitors – to them, your spot might seem as exotic as the Golfo Dulce does to me.

But remember swimming in new places may expose you to new and unknown hazards, so take extra care.

How to stay safe when travelling

• Do your research before you go. What should you look out for?
• Speak to locals, especially those who might know something about the water.
• Consider taking part in an organised event.
• Be extra cautious with your risk assessment.
• Be aware that if you get into difficulties, help may be further away than at home.
• If in doubt, stay out.