Beyond Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House, one of Sydney’s greatest assets are its ocean pools – an untold story about Australian culture that has cemented Sydney as a swimming destination like no other. Conceived to shield swimmers from surf waves, sdy pools (short for seaside divey) are unique to Australia’s coastline; often carved from rock or designed like giant tide pools they provide protection for swimmers while exchanging waters between ocean and harbor waters constantly awash over them – iconic examples like Bondi Icebergs Pool are just one among many of Sydney’s unique pool cultures!
Most are open to the public for a small fee and often feature swimming clubs with unique names and Victorian changing pavilions; some date back to 1903 before even the city beaches were made available for swimming.
These shallow, protected pools are part of Australia’s unique beach culture, where locals and visitors alike come to swim, play and relax in them. Furthermore, these artificial seawater pools can act as a protective haven from sharks who roam along shorelines but tend to avoid entering manmade seawater pools.
Swimming pools provide an idyllic way to escape city life’s pressures while immersing oneself in nature, yet they are not without issues, including drowning risks. Due to a Covid pandemic and construction delays at Port Macquarie’s new sea pool, and Newport’s last remaining sdy pool being shut due to finding a 2.4-metre shark inside it – leading to several closures for safety concerns in recent years – several pools have had to close for safety concerns; others are currently undergoing upgrades in order to enhance safety features further.
Bilgola residents are concerned about the possibility of shark attacks at their pool, which is surrounded by rocky reefs. A shark caught last year was relocated to Stockton Beach’s shark cage but fear remains strong among some swimmers.
Greens councillor Rochelle Flood and independent councillor Kathy Bryla of Lane Cove are lobbying the city to trial discounted pricing at its swimming pools, saying this could improve financial performance while drawing new customers in. Their argument stems from a case study in far-south NSW where free entry led to 23 per cent more visits and 241 percent increase in income from cafe sales, swimming lessons, and aquarobics classes.
Royal Life Saving Australia (RLSA) supports any initiative that reduces barriers to community pools, swimming and water safety programs, or reduces barriers altogether. “RLSA takes great pride in being Australia’s peak ocean swimming organization and supporting initiatives that make getting in the water easier,” according to R. J. Houston, general manager of capability and industry for Royal Life Saving Australia.