I'll Paddle In It, Love Being Near Or On It But Won't Swim Or Dive In The Sea!

well then, good for you. that is the spirit, just go for it! and don't you forget to have fun,too!

Hi Tigerdragon, Well I have decided to set myself a goal and by next summer I will have had training in a pool to dive and will book a holiday to somewhere with clear safe water and going swimming and diving in the sea. Ellie :D

Hi Lira, I have been asking myself these questions and there could be one of three reasons all all put together and it would make sense. My mother was always scared of water as a child so perhaps I picked up of her fear as she never swam at all not even in a pool. I fell into a lock with flared denim jeans on and the weight of the jeans wet dragged me under even though I could swim and I had to be rescued and also when I was a child I saw jaws and didn' want to go into the sea but my brother did and teased me but that year the water had been very warm and sharks were in fact spotted so I didn't feel silly at all. I have decied to set myself a goal though to be able to swim and dive by next summer but it would need to be in clear safe water. Ellie :D

Hi Jessigirl, So you are like me then love being near it or paddling but not go in. Here in the UK we get a lot of seaweed and the water is very unclear so even paddling if I get some tangled around my leg I totally freak and run out. I remeber as a child the years Jaws came out and we were on holiday at Barry Island which is off the Bristol Channel and my brother asked if I was going in the sea and I said no, a shark might get me, he said don't be silly we don't get sharks in England but I still wouldn't go in and that year as the water was so warm there were in fact quite a few sharks spotted, harmless ones but sharks so I laughed at him and said see I told you as kids do. Great Whites hang out in the water where you are, whoah, I would even paddle very carefully. I love to swim also but only will use the pool, remember even the lagoon isn't safe LOL. How bizzarre that you should be watching right at this moment. Thanks for sharing. Ellie :D

Hi Joliefille, My mother was always afraid of water and I remember as a child she would never even go for a paddle or in a pool but she moved to Spain in 2003 and managed in her late fifties to finally learn to swim as it was so hot out there that she made use of the pool. It is never to late to learn. I have set myself a goal to be able to siwm in the sea by next summer to overcome this fear. Ellie :D

Hi Mands, My dream as a child was to always live by the sea and years ago I also found a slate with a picture painted on it of a cottage on a hilside overlooking the sea fo 80p at a carboot, I placed in on my mantle piece determined that one day I would live in a place just like that and in 2000 I packed everything up and leaving with just my daughter and a few essentials that would fit into the car I left for the sea. I managed to rent a flat immediately, started my own business and now I have achieved my dream and have that house on a hill by the sea. Happy, happy, happy. The only thing I miss about my old life are my friends but they visit frequently and I do still go back to visit them from time to time too. I count my blessings daily. After posting this discussion I have now set myself a goal to swim and dive in the sea but preferably on holiday in clear water by next summer. I am not sure what it is but here in the UK we get a lot of seaweed and I find if some wrpas itself around my leg I just totally freak, its not actually knowing what is is that freaks me I think, strange as not many things phase me. You mentioning hanging or head chopped off in a previous life, I always feel prehaps I was in a shipwreck or I definitely helped smugglers or something conected with the sea and my favourite place is called Smugglers Cove and you have to go through a real smugglers tunnel to get to it, amazing place so I can understand the barrier thing with you, I am the same in car washes too and always duck when the thing comes over the windscreen. Ellie :D

Whoah, I would never have done that, it was probably just a fish but the fact that you knew a shark had been spotted was what had you freaked eh! I will get as far as my waist at the moment then I will feel something tangle around my legs, usually seaweed but thats it I'm outta there so I can understand why you don't now. I have set myself a goal though to be swimming and diving in the sea by next summer. Ellie :D

Great, I hope this helps you! If you could see perhaps the seeweed is the next step, babysteps will get you there!! Go Ellie :D

Hi Cyberfluf, Oh I have now set myself a goal to go swimming in the sea by next summer, it is when the seaweed gets tangled round my legs that I freak as I can't see it but can feel it, I think if the water was clear and I could see I would be fine. Huggles. Ellie :D

Hi Jill, I wonder if it is because we don't have clear water off the UK and if I was in a clear water area I would be able to. I like to se what is around and beneath me I suppose. My daughter went diving when in Fiji and loved it and living so close to the sea I really wish I could experience more than I do, I have tried but I will get to about my waist and some seaweed or something will wrap itself around my leg and I'm outta there LOL. Ellie :D

Super idea, setting a goal. Oh, I think I'd do the same thing if something wrapped around my leg underwater and I couldn't actually see it. That would be creepy. The water down here where we live is crystal blue in the ocean. If I don't go too far out, I can pretty much see some of what's beneath the surface of the water. That is great that you are planning to get some water training. It's smart to get training from "experts" in their fields. Can't wait to hear about that trip!

Hi PearlGrace, I have actually tried to go out into the sea but here in the UK the sea isn't clear and I like to be able to see, I get about as far as my waist and then a piece of seaweed will tangle itself around my legs and I will freak and run back out of the water. I have set myselg a goal though to save, train and book a holiday in an area with clear safe waters to go diving in by next summer, so I will overcome it as I enjoy all other aspects of the sea. Ellie :D

So not just me then, I think it is because the UK waters are so unclear and some beaches do have lots of seaweed and once it starts tangling round thats it i'm outta there! Clear water I should be okay with so goal is set and will attempt eh! Ellie :D

Hi Littleowl, Yes your back must make it difficult but I should imagine swimming is good for it. Glass bottom boats are fantastic as you can see all they see but without getting int the water, suits me fine LOL. Huggles. Ellie :D

Hi Tessa, I think maybe I will need to go abroad to clear water as I'm fine going under water in a pool but not in the sea. I have tried to and will get as far as maybe my waist and suddenly some seaweed will tangle round my legs and thats it I'm running back to the beach. My daughter loves diving and I would trust her 100%, perhaps I will go to a dive school as they train in pools initially to get me comfortable and they take the plunge as I have always wanted to. Ellie :D

Hi Tessa, I will, In fact I will set it as a goal to achieve by next summer which will also allow time to save, train and then go for it Ellie :D

sounds like a plan when you do.. be sure to let the rest of us know how it went. have fun and enjoy it!

Thats the bit that freaks me out crazy I know as I know whast it is but I just cannot stand it tangling around me. Glad I am not the only one who feels that way Cbreeze. Ellie :D

Hi Cbreeze, I think I would stay in shallow water too and clear, I think the reason I don't go in the sea here in the UK is because I can't see what is get tangled round my leg, usually seaweed but it just freaks me out. There has never been a shark attack in UK waters so it definitely isn't a fear of that, strange one eh! I will overcome this by next summer, I have set it as a goal. Ellie :D

Ellie, I always freak out when sea weed gets touches me. It just feels so gross.

Hi Shelly, Yes I guess it is very difficult to find a nice beach in the desert LOL. I am determined I will eventually go in though. Ellie :D

I know :) Maybe I can wait for a flood? lol you will be ready some day soon. You will see

Hi Msedge, I am so lucky to have the sea so near and like you almost discharge any negativity that I may be feeling out into the water and feel very calm and relaxed but I still cannot bring myself to go into the water YET, but I have set myselg a goal to be swimming in it by next summer. Ellie :D

That would ne nice ellie.It will make you feel more relax and it is fun also.

Hi Checapricorn, I am like your sister at the moment, my waist is as far as I have been and then I'll get some seaweed around my leg and run out again not to go back in, I think if the water here in the UK was clear and I could see what was around me I might go in. I have set myself a goal to overcome this by next summer and to book a holiday where there are clear waters that I can swim in. Ellie :D

Hi Maxine, yes you are not that far away from me really here in the UK, I think I have only been to Weston-super-Mare once though. I agree the water is also very cold and the tides can be dangerous especially near the estuaries. I love to be near to and paddle though but I think in clear warmer water I would probably feel safe swimming. I have set it as a goal for next summer anyway. Ellie :D

Hi dear sure their are lot of people who never had seen SEA and i am sure their are lot of COuntry who dont have SEA in Country. Think about those sure its fun as swiming in fresh water is always differnt and pleasent than Marine water And wish u all the best for Diving 2009

Hi Cupid, I hadn't thought about people living far away from the sea but to swim in gentle streams and pools fine not the fast flowing ones. I hope you enjoy. I am determined I will go diving by next summer though. Ellie :D

Hi Gitfiddleplayer, I have set myself a oal to actually go swimming in the water by next summer, the water here in the UK is very cold so I will wait until I can swim in clear safe warmer water but I will overcome this and begin to enjoy as I have the sea at my doorstep it seems a shame not too. Ellie :D

Hi Guybrush, I would love to swim and to join in with the diving though so have set myself a goal to be able to do it by next summer. I think because I can't see in the waters here in the UK so when something tangles round my leg, like seaweed I totally freak. Paddling is fine for now though as I love to be near the water. Ellie :D

Good for you, Ellie! I think we miss out on so much by not being brave enough to have a go. I hope you have a nice, warm wetsuit! When I was little, my grandparents had a beach hut at Felixtowe, and I remember the pebbly beach and the grey, freezing water! Brrr! There are some nice pictures of my brother and I playing on the sand ... but it didn't look the warmest place on earth!

Hi Opal, As far as I am aware I don't think there has ever been a shark attack off off UK beaches so this bit shouldn't really bother me but as the water is not clear it is the fact I can't see what it is that freaks me like when seaweed gets tangled round my legs I just freak as have tried to go out to swim but get as far as my waist usually then I'm running back. Thanks for sharing that you are the same Opal. I do intend to overcome this though by next summer. Ellie :D