Are you fearful of waves at the beach?

I used to swim at Bondi Beach every weekend, all weekend and used to be the furthest out. I just loved the surf.

However on coming to live in Western Australia, I got dumped very badly once at Scarborough Beach and have been frightened ever since.

Then I saw Jaws and started to dislike the ocean for swimming, and nowadays do not go...odd how you are so brave when young, and not so as you age.

by Finy

I have an unrelenting fear of the waves and their unseen strength,ever since nearly drowning in shallow surf when I was about 7 or 8

by Jules

Oh yes I am, it makes me heart beat super fast out of fear. Also because I cannot swim..and when it is an ocean, it scares the hell out of me.

by BK

I'm completely ashamed to say I must be one of a handful of Australians that can't swim. I can barely swim 25m and have trouble floating and won't go past water that is higher than my neck. Needless to say swimming is not a strong point. Flying over open water or boating freaks me stupid with fear in the likelihood something should happen and I land in the water and can't swim to safety.

I do recall that around the age of 10 my cousins took me surfing near Second Valley in South Australia. We got dumped by a wave and I almost drowned. I believe my fear of water and waves may have stemmed from this episode.

by Annalisa Brown

How unusual -though there is another person on here who cannot swim. I thought it compulsory for everyone to have swimming lessons at school.

Unusual indeed! No one can understand how I bombed in this area when I excelled at virtually everything I put my mind to. I remember the swimming lessons at school all too well - I loathed them terribly and would usually try and feign illness. When not pretending, I was always in the lowest ranked group and just never progressed.

I see plenty of kids at school who are in the lowest group every year.

I know people who have always lived in Australia but can't swim. I mean can't swim at all. I was nervous about swimming lessons when I was at school but did learn to swim.

Gosh no!
I love them, always did.
It's ''what'' is in those waves, that is more of a concern!

by jonaja

Not fearful at all - I LOVE big waves at the beach. I can't swim but I get a lot of enjoyment from playing in the sea and dashing around over and under the waves. It gives my husband the heeby-jeebies as he's convinced I will get swept off my feet and drown, so I guess you could say HE is fearful of the waves on my behalf :)

by VerityG

I have been an avid beach goer in the past and loved body surfing...left off for years bar walking along the beach.
Stranglely just lately (when the weather is not too hot as in now autumn) I have got back to it and went twice last week! It is devine from 9-11 before ther seabreeze comes in.
Have really enjoyed it and will go again before it is too cold etc.

by Fran

I do not like waves - they terrify me. Particularly in WA - they are so strong

by AJ

No, grew up at Palm Beach & swam in surf from a very young age, my Father taught me everything about the 'surf'.
I was, apparently, funny to watch when I got 'dumped'! I'd stand up, laugh my head off, & do it again! This went on for quite some time, my parents' told me when I was older. I just had no fear at all! Just loved the surf! So lucky having a childhood like that!

by donjo

We holidayed at the beach so the while family loved the surf. I was the least competent and never learned to body surf. My Grandad was amazing - even at 80 and almost blind, he would catch a wave and barrel into shore like a dolphin.
We got dumped multiple times and though it's not pleasant no one made a fuss so we just got up and went out again - and learned how to dive under the dumpers!
We had the BEST holidays.

by lynne

I stay clear of waves and because I can't swim I also stay out of the sea.

My time at the beach (usually in winter) is restricted to walks along the sand or just at the edge of the water, jeans rolled up and shoes in hand.

by Gayle Beveridge

Yes i'm, waves are terrifying for me because i don't know how to swim

by Dalida luna

Not really, I'm quite a strong swimmer so it doesn't bother me

by Maria

Yes I can swim, but No. I don't bother going to the beach as I don't like getting sand over me!

by Miro