Harbour authority warns of dangers of sea swimming
As the weather heats up and a dip in the fresh cool sea water becomes appealing, Orkney Harbour Authority (OHA) is calling on locals and tourists to take care when swimming in open water.
While most swimmers in Orkney, and across the UK, remain safe, respectful and visible when swimming, in the past there have been reports of people swimming in more dangerous stretches of water. Local to Orkney, the water around Stromness has experienced high levels of swimmers leaving local safety personnel concerned.
Orkney’s harbour master, Jim Buck, said: “At this time of the year we see an increase in shipping traffic around Scapa Flow and Stromness, alongside the strong return of cruise ships to Orkney, and this presents some very real safety issues for people swimming in these waters.
“We obviously welcome people to take full advantage of the amazing waters around the Islands and most swimmers are fully equipped with correct safety items and maintain an appropriate distance between themselves and passing vessels.
“However, in the past there have been some occasions where individuals are not swimming safely. Visibility has been an issue with some swimmers wearing black and not using floats. This is highly dangerous and not only puts themselves at risk but those operating passing boats. We are urging people to take care when out in the water.”
The RNLI’s Stromness base has a wealth of open water swimming advice and information on its website.
Laura Erskine, RNLI water safety education manager for Scotland, said: “Swimming in open water is very different to swimming in a pool. Unseen currents, cold water and waves make for a more challenging environment and can quickly tire even the strongest swimmers. Plan ahead and always swim parallel to the shore.
“Other water users can also pose a risk when open water swimming, so it is important to choose a suitable location and make yourself as visible as possible by wearing a brightly coloured swim cap and using a swim buoy.”