Swimming FAQS
It’s great to see so many people interested in swimming – thank you to everyone who has come along and supported our charity!
However, due to the level of interest combined with the reduced capacity we have found it difficult to keep on top of enquiries as they come in.
We will do our best to get round to responding to your emails and messages, but in the meantime hopefully, the following will help:
| I can’t see Swim times on the website. Are you going to be releasing any more? | We have released regular swim times up until the end of September. Most of these have sold out. However, we are doing what we can to release more when we find capacity. These may be at relatively short notice, so it is worth checking back in to the website if you are looking for a space. It is not possible for us to say when these extra sessions will be released. It will vary depending on the other demands on the centre.
First and foremost we are a paddlesports venue so while we have been able to create sessions for more than 300 swimmers a week we need to ensure that we are retaining our ability to do what we were originally here for. |
| Please can you add my name to a cancellation list? | Unfortunately due to limited capacity we aren’t able to maintain a cancellation list. |
| I would like to cancel my session or change my time. Can you help? | Due to the nature of the way that we work and the limited numbers on each session we aren’t able to offer a refund if we get less than a weeks notice of cancellation (50% refund will be given to sessions cancelled with 1-2 weeks notice). We do what we can to help and support our users who have to change plans within this time, but we can’t guarantee our ability to do so. |
| Can you recommend where to get a wetsuit or what size I should buy? | We aren’t currently able to hire out wetsuits so you would need to source your own. We find Lomo to be great value, but there are many other online and in store retailers.
A wetsuit retailer would also be able to provide the best advice on what size you should order. |
| Do I need to wear a wetsuit? | In the summer months the water temperature ranges from approximately 14-20 degrees Celsius. This feels cold, especially if you aren’t used to it. Westuits aren’t compulsory, but we very much recommend them, especially if you aren’t acclimatised to swimming in cold water. |
| Why is there a lane rope up in the water? | In order for us to maximise the number of swim sessions available we have divided the space available. This means that we can provide swimming at the same time as running our popular kayak and stand-up paddle-boarding sessions. |
| I heard that you sell a swim pass – is this still available? | We introduced a swim pass, but unfortunately had to withdraw it soon after. The reason for this was that the level of demand for timeslots meant that people were buying a pass but were then unable to book a time to get in the water. To prevent this we have gone back to a system of requiring swimmers to individually book each time they want to come. |
| Where can I get changed? | Due to current government guidelines we aren’t able to open changing facilities. We recommend coming changed, using a changing robe and/or changing at your vehicle. There is also space on the decking next to the water that you are welcome to use. Please ensure that you leave the spaces in front of shipping containers clear to allow access. We recommend leaving your belongings in your vehicle and carrying your keys with you in a secure watertight case or tow float. Items can be left on the decking at your own risk, but we regret that we can’t take any responsibility for any loss or damage.
Please do not use the toilets for changing as this increases the risk of Covid-19 infection (due to greater footfall) and prevents others from using them for their intended purpose |
By Pinkston