PDA

View Full Version : Pools in The UK.



SiaTheMermaid
03-19-2015, 05:44 PM
Hey Everyone,

So recently I bought a monofin and had been using it in my local pool, but recently they have decided that I can no longer use my fin as it is a 'Health and Safety' risk to myself and others. So I ask this question: How did you guys get/find a pool that allowed you to use your tails and fins? I've tried calling the pools that are run by our local council but they all refuse the use of fins.

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

Merfin_Aurora_Oceania
03-19-2015, 07:27 PM
Is there a friend of a friend that can assist you in being able to borrow their pool? I know this is your last resort as the UK is fairly cold to swim is the beaches, hopefully by summer you might be able to swim.

That's totally harsh that you've been prohibited like that :(

SiaTheMermaid
03-19-2015, 07:32 PM
Unfortunately, not very many people in the UK have personal pools unless they are high earners. The rules of health and safety here truly suck

Scottish Mer
03-19-2015, 08:04 PM
My group use a hotel pool that are okay with us using tails and sometimes entertaining their guests but using a hotel pool isn't cheap if you wanted to swim daily.

SiaTheMermaid
03-19-2015, 08:08 PM
How much does it cost you guys to use the hotel, if you don't mind me asking?

Scottish Mer
03-20-2015, 11:55 AM
It's £10 a time, we can use the pool for as long as we like since there isn't any real closing times for it, it's very clean, less 'gritty' than public pools and we get to use their steam room and sauna and hot tub, plus don't need to bring a towel, they supply them for us. It's very handy for my group since we can relax after a full work out in the tails and we tend to stay at the pool for over 3-6 hours at a time anyway but don't do it daily, normally once every 2 weeks since most of us have events on and just want a private swim with the group. We don't get put into a lane at the pool we go to. So, we can swim freely about and it's great for mini photoshoots and for little children that happen to be there to interact with us better.

SummerRogue
03-20-2015, 01:37 PM
My local council run pool charges me £6.50 for an hour in my own lane, they don't let me swim without a private lane :(

SiaTheMermaid
03-20-2015, 01:41 PM
So I guess you just contacted the hotel to ask? Summer, how did you find out about paying for a lane? My council pool hasn't said anything about an arrangement like that

SummerRogue
03-20-2015, 01:42 PM
I contacted them about mermaiding and they looked into the rules and they only allow fins if you have your own lane.


Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

SiaTheMermaid
03-20-2015, 01:45 PM
Ah I see. Thanks, I'll see if they will offer me this :)

Scottish Mer
03-20-2015, 03:00 PM
Yes, I contacted them and they said sure, gave us a day to try out the pool free of charge and after that they happily called the group their 'castle mermaids'. We have good standing with them since my family knew/ have worked there before but my group is family... A very large pod if you'd say. :$

PearlieMae
03-20-2015, 03:07 PM
So cool!

SiaTheMermaid
03-20-2015, 03:09 PM
It's something I can try, thank-you for your input :) It's appreciated

selkie13
03-24-2015, 05:26 AM
So glad it's not just me having issues with council pools.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

SiaTheMermaid
03-24-2015, 12:24 PM
(Excuse my language) But they are getting on my last fucking nerve. I called them to complain about being thrown out of the pool, they told me that my fin IS allowed so I went the other day. No dice. Make your minds up!

Mermaid Melanie
03-24-2015, 01:07 PM
Maybe find out if there are some pools that host free divers and scuba training sessions ?

SiaTheMermaid
03-24-2015, 04:32 PM
I'm chasing some pools at the moment, they're not very deep but it's enough for practice

selkie13
03-28-2015, 04:17 PM
Try college run pools, I'm away to try mines and if they let me that's one more pool in the UK :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sammyantha171
04-02-2015, 08:14 AM
Maybe find out if there are some pools that host free divers and scuba training sessions ?

I'd do this as well. My freediving group gets a whole lane to ourselves, with the rest of the pool for scubas.
There's still enough room to swim around in the rest of the pool though, you just got to look where you're going to avoid the scuba divers.
There might be some finswimming groups around as well.

Samantha Siren
04-02-2015, 09:27 AM
It's all a case of the pool being lazy and not wanting to bother doing a risk assessment. I had one done at a pool in Croydon and was told it was fine to use my tail. You just have to try different pools and say you are willing to partake in a risk assessment. If they say no they are just lazy gits. The manager of my pool said that.

Echidna
04-08-2015, 03:33 PM
Ah, pools and rules :thumbdown:
Blargh. I could rant.

If you can't find a diving group which will share their pool time with you, nor a hotel pool (aren't those really shallow?), maybe you can try using your tail without a fin.

I know it sucks, especially if you have a heavier tail, but once they've grown used to you swimming with a tail, you can one day simply leave the fin in, and no one's going to be the wiser.

SiaTheMermaid
04-08-2015, 05:26 PM
Hotel pools are really shallow, about 1.2 meters but it's better than nothing

selkie13
06-19-2015, 04:30 AM
I think I've just given up on our pools. I'm now looking at my local lakes and parks lol. Monike seems like a good start, need to contact them when I get my tail done.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mermaid Orcinus
07-28-2015, 10:22 AM
Try payasyogym.com. I have been using them for *cheapish* access to hotel pools, and though they are shallow I have had no problems with using my fin in them. :) Hope that helps a bit:)

Mermaid Daenerys
07-29-2015, 10:35 AM
Samantha, may I ask which pool in Croydon allowed you to swim there? I'm in the next town over, and their pools all say it's a health and safety risk, even when I offered to do a swim test and come in to discuss the safety issues with them, but Croydon's near enough for me to come and swim there.

Samantha Sleeman
08-03-2015, 05:41 AM
It's all a case of the pool being lazy and not wanting to bother doing a risk assessment. I had one done at a pool in Croydon and was told it was fine to use my tail. You just have to try different pools and say you are willing to partake in a risk assessment. If they say no they are just lazy gits. The manager of my pool said that. love this lol, I am quite lucky the pool that I use were so helpful and they enjoy seeing my tail as most people haven't seen anything like it. I will agree that the average council run pools are lazy as their staff don't want to be there they are ther for the money and will do as little work as posible to do so.

Kelly the Siren
09-03-2015, 08:39 AM
Hi SiatheMermaid I'm UK too and think the best bet for us to probably book a lane to our selves :/ The health and safety here is way OTT it sucks :( xxx

Gloomymort
09-04-2015, 05:02 PM
I went for my first swim with my fin today as my local pool had previously said they they would allow fins but not tails, After 10 lengths (best lengths in my life but I don't need to tell you guys that) the duty manager came over to me and told me I had to take it off he did allow me to do one more length and told me that I might be able to book a lane but would have to phone in the daytime... I think the reason it was suddenly not ok was because a teacher said out loud while pointing at me "thats bloody dangerous" and then probably complained so unlikely able to swim there with my fin any more...
@ Samantha Sleeman Where do you swim? Bristol isn't far from me and I could probably make it over there occasionally

Sammi Ray
09-04-2015, 05:16 PM
I had this in my area too. I haven't got my tail yet (comes in november eeek) but i spoke to the pool staff and they said no. So i asked to speak to the manager and he said yes. Depends who you speak to. I really hope they wise up. At the end of the day, they fricking high life guards for a reason... it could be a nice little earner for them too... knobs

Gloomymort
09-05-2015, 06:20 PM
I hope to talk to the manager in the next few days.. hopefully he will be helpful as the life guards and front desk were happy with me using my fin so surely its up to the life guards as its their job to rescue me should I need it..

Mermaid Mhara
09-10-2015, 12:35 AM
I've given up with pools around here tbh! Council run, hotel pools, pools in campsites, even private pools people own...no one wants me in my tail! One pool said I could in a lane, when I got there I was told even in a lane they wouldn't allow it. I even asked a pool that specialises in teaching people to use swim equipment and even kayaks in, and it was still a no!

So I stick to my four times a year if lucky routine of swimming in the river and the sea. It's trained me to be able to swim in currents and rough waves that's for sure! But I'd just love one hour in a pool just to enjoy swimming from one end to the next and feeling completely safe (even if I am a tad allergic to chlorine or whatever it is they put in pools nowadays).

Hoping I'll run into more luck with local pools around the area I'm leaving to for University.

Gloomymort
09-10-2015, 06:06 PM
Oh now thats just not on! telling you you can swim in a lane then denying you... id complain to a manager. I hope when you move things go better for you.

Kelly the Siren
09-27-2015, 07:05 PM
Just a quick update, i was turned down for everything even booking my own lane out the way of everyone!? WTH? anyway i got in touch with my local scuba diving club and explained everything and they said they would welcome me with open arms!!! they said it's fine and i can wear a tail as long as i don't mind the rest of the club in their diving gear. So, ladies and gents, might be worth asking your local scuba club and ask if you can tag along xxx

Sammi Ray
09-29-2015, 11:22 AM
Glad you got somewhere! :-)

😄 Sammi Ray 😄

Oceanid
11-02-2015, 05:15 PM
I've just come across this thread, and it's unfortunate to see it seems to be a UK thing in general. I've emailed a local swimming pool about swimming with a monofin, and they've not got back to me yet. No holding out too much hope tbh!

MermaidNadia
11-03-2015, 06:00 AM
I just skimmed through the thread so i may have missed something relevant, but here in Germany there are small public pools that struggle to survive and so they RENT their pools out for about 100€ an hour. It would be worth it if you can get 20 Mermaids to swim regularly... Find the small pools and check their schedule, if they are closed at any time during the week for one whole day, then they might rent out.

Mermaid Kerenza Sapphire
11-06-2015, 04:35 AM
Intriguing thread - I don't yet have a tail or a fin, but had really hoped once I do to be able to practice in my local pool on a fairly regular basis. Over the summer I can use my aunt & uncle's pool (I think) though probably won't until I'm comfortable swimming in a tail...

Have any of you tried school pools? There are a couple of private schools round here which have public access to their pools on evenings and weekends and I wonder if the rules might be slightly less strict, or at least there would be one person in charge to explain mermaiding to?

Elvenhaired
11-20-2015, 04:35 PM
I've just contacted a freediving team in Ware, they said I am welcome to join them with my monofin, I just had to become a Britih Freediving Association - 20GBP for a year or so and you are insured through them (public liability for recreational freediving, etc. Which can be used in case you wanted to swim elsewhere later on!). I am trying to get one of the local gyms to say yes to my monofin first, spoke to the duty manager and she basically just asked me to use it when the pool is not busy. She gave me timetable as well and marked the less busy periods, she was super helpful :) Would be good as Ware is quite a drive away :D Any mers close to Stansted airport? :)

moniee
02-15-2016, 04:48 PM
Hey mers, any new pools discovered that allow monofins/tails? I'm in the London area but willing to travel depending on swim fees etc.

Mermaid Kerenza Sapphire
02-15-2016, 05:46 PM
My gym (sports direct fitness) have been enthusiastic and brilliant about it, though the pool is only 1.4m deep. But better than nothing (and possibly what made them say yes - limits danger in their eyes if you can just stand up if you have any problems). Also got clearance from Lifehouse spa to run mermaid spa days - the insurance was the bugger there but I've managed it - again with the shallow pool.

My local leisure centre, after much badgering, said I could book their dive pit, but I haven't used it yet as that feels like something I shouldn't do without a swim buddy and it's never available at the times my normal swim buddy is :(

moniee
02-16-2016, 12:36 PM
Carla do you mind naming the gym address please? Essex should be find from me depending on what part of it (im in London) :)

Sent from my HTC One mini using Tapatalk

Samantha Sleeman
02-16-2016, 01:43 PM
I went for my first swim with my fin today as my local pool had previously said they they would allow fins but not tails, After 10 lengths (best lengths in my life but I don't need to tell you guys that) the duty manager came over to me and told me I had to take it off he did allow me to do one more length and told me that I might be able to book a lane but would have to phone in the daytime... I think the reason it was suddenly not ok was because a teacher said out loud while pointing at me "thats bloody dangerous" and then probably complained so unlikely able to swim there with my fin any more...
@ Samantha Sleeman Where do you swim? Bristol isn't far from me and I could probably make it over there occasionally


Hiya I swim at Hutton more leisure center in Weston super mare, however I do now have to hire out a lane in advance but they are still very happy to see me there.
Unfortuanatly my old tail broke but hopefully I will be making a new one as soon as I can afford
(which is very difficult with a horse lol) the two hobbies are both expensive.
i still go with my mono fin and they allow but if you would still like to go you would have to ring up the manager and speak to him so you could get all the details in full 'correct' details lol

Mermaid Miradis
02-17-2016, 01:02 PM
Is there a pool in Hampshire that allows mermaid tails? :)

MermaidClaudy
06-08-2016, 06:51 AM
Any pool that allow it in London?

moniee
06-08-2016, 09:37 AM
Claudia, that is what I want to figure out as well!

Sent from my HTC One mini using Tapatalk

MermaidClaudy
06-08-2016, 09:46 AM
Cool!!! Yea mermaids in London!

Jade Forrest
06-12-2016, 04:42 AM
I've just ordered my first tail (yay!) and have been doing the rounds trying to find somewhere to swim. All the council run pools have said no but a lovely heated outdoor pool in Woburn has said yes! It's not very deep but is something at least :) It only opens in spring, summer and autumn so I'll be asking my local dive school if they can help during winter months :)

Sulis the Siren
06-14-2016, 12:55 PM
Hey, good to see some fellow mers near Bristol :)

Quick question for you guys if you don't mind - do you know about any good nearby spots for outdoor swimming? I heard there's a nice place near Bath for a swim in the river, for example. Any good experiences?

Gloomymort - in Henbury Leisure Centre they say they're 'fin friendly'. Haven't tried it out yet because I'm just practicing without a fin, but it might be worth checking out. Also, in one pool in Bristol there's regular freediving training going on so they might be o.k. with you there - I can check out for you what the pool's called if you want.

Jade Forrest
06-16-2016, 08:25 AM
I've not looked into swimming in natural water yet :)

I have had a yes from another outdoor pool - with the limitation that it needs to not be too busy and I have a word with the lifeguard before I get in. They said though that if it's raining I would definitely be ok :) It's heated and I don't mind swimming in the rain so on to a winner!

My tail arrived yesterday (LOVE IT!) so I'm going to try out the monofin on Sunday at Woburn and see how I get on!

SiaTheMermaid
06-23-2016, 06:27 AM
So I recently got a fully silicone tail and i contacted my local pool 'The Royal Commonwealth' to ask about using my tail in their facility. Six weeks. Six weeks of them ignoring me, not answering my requests for a risk assesment, not calling me back when they say they will. Finally got an answer today of a resounding 'No' based on the fact that the legs are bound together. I have tried looking for Rainas guide on fighting the tail ban but I cant find it. Im so pissed right now.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

MermaidClaudy
06-23-2016, 06:53 AM
Damn it, we need a UK mermaid revolution!

SiaTheMermaid
06-23-2016, 07:13 AM
Uk mermaid protest against the tail bans

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Elle Dee
07-23-2016, 07:33 PM
hi i'm new to all this, i just got my mono fin and when i asked my local pool if i could use it they came out with similar responses, but they also threw in that they wouldn't let me use it as some had drowned whilst wearing one. i think this is bs has anyone heard of this?

Celaeno
07-29-2016, 06:05 PM
I've never heard of anyone drowning whilst tailswimming.

Elle Dee
07-30-2016, 11:12 AM
I know, just making up nonsense. I've been lucky tho a friend works in hotel with a pool that I can use sometimes, he was so impressed when I let him try my mono fin he has ordered one too. He want to be a shark rather than a merman. So I'm still the only mer in devonsher.

MaristellaMeri
09-04-2016, 05:44 PM
Try private gym pools. My local council pool was terrible. I had different answers from different people and really rude staff but the gym are absolutely fine (if not pretty happy) about the fin as long as I'm sensible about taking up space during busy times and use the smaller fin if it is busier. However, it is a much smaller pool and it isn't very deep but I've been swimming in my local river all summer so I'm just glad to have somewhere warm that doesn't have a current. I think private gym pools can be much more accommodating if you are up for getting membership.

Mermaid Emeraldina
11-14-2016, 05:40 AM
I am a member of David Lloyd gym and they are ok with me using my mahina merfin. When i first got my merfin i took it to my local council pool and got kicked out. I gave the manager a good moan so don't you worry. I am a confident swimmer and in a 50m pool i was hardly going to kill anybody. anyway, at the david lloyd gym, it being private and therefore more elite, fewer people, smaller pool and life guards with 2 brain cells, i can use my merfin. as long as the pool isn't stupidly busy and there aren't more than 2 in one lane. The life guard last time i was there was talking to me about it and said he'd never seen anything like it, i said its superb for working out with and he said we usually don't allow fins but it is down to our discretion and he could see that i am a confident swimmer and that i swim very close to the pool floor so i am away from passing swimmers. So in my experience and the above comments i can also agree that private gyms are the way forward

Jade Forrest
01-12-2017, 03:48 PM
I have found a private pool near me that I can rent for an hour for £30 or I can book 10 1 hour sessions for £180. i have my first session booked for 28th Jan to try out my first silicone tail. In the summer I go to my local outdoor pool and they are really happy that I swim there. I am the Woburn mermaid :)

Mermaid Emeraldina
01-12-2017, 04:49 PM
I have found a private pool near me that I can rent for an hour for £30 or I can book 10 1 hour sessions for £180. i have my first session booked for 28th Jan to try out my first silicone tail. In the summer I go to my local outdoor pool and they are really happy that I swim there. I am the Woburn mermaid :)

what pool is that? woburn is only an hour away from me - would be wonderful to swim together!

Jade Forrest
01-12-2017, 04:56 PM
I swim at Woburn Lido in the summer, the pool I've booked privately is in Abingdon near Oxford! Would be great to have other Mers to swim with :)

Mermaid Emeraldina
01-12-2017, 05:21 PM
the lido is closest to me - let me know when youre going, would love to meet up!

Jade Forrest
01-12-2017, 06:22 PM
It will open again in the spring I think so I will definitely let you know :)

Dogfish
03-25-2017, 05:37 AM
I've recently been getting into mermaiding and before buying my first fabric tail, been trying to become a stronger swimmer - swimming at my local pool is fine but as others have been saying its tricky to get a solid reply on if I could wear a monofin or not. One guy said no, due to health and safety and 'being inable to get me out of the pool quickly in the event of a fire' (?) but another staff member said she loved the idea and would enquire. Needless to say, I've had no further replies to emails or calls.

It concerns me as I'd love to wear my tail more often, but I feel like I can't excuse buying one if I'm unable to use it often. Any further progress on this problem with you guys?

Glinda Rose
04-16-2017, 09:10 PM
Hi,

I'm a UK mer based in the North of England (specifically, Leeds), but with strong affiliations with London. I don't yet have a tail but am swimming with a monofin for practice.

I am looking for other UK mers because I think I'm the only one in my area, and it's a really bad location in terms of swimming, pool access, etc. And far from a beach. I was wondering if there are any Northern mers with good ideas about where to go swimming, or if anyone wants to meet up?

I am currently on holiday in LA, California, where I have access to a really great pool and no one minds the monofin, but am sad to think that this is only temporary. I feel like California has so many more opportunities for mermaiding than the UK. If I could find somewhere that was half as good in England, I would be ecstatic.

MerKatt
07-10-2017, 04:05 PM
I'm soooo glad to find this pod and thread! It's taken me about 3 months to find somewhere to swim, Mermaids of the UK your local council pool will only allow fins if you hire a lane! However where i live that seems to be impossible to do. All my local pools have turned me down. I've now gone to the local hotels with pools which also conveniently have gym memberships on offer, i suppose for travelling businessmen or something? Anyway. They're pretty reasonable and gets you full use of the pool. I have one hotel that's given me a solid yes, however there's one slightly closer to my flat who have asked me to come down with my fin so they can check it out and we'll go from there. I think what's more disheartening is there are 2 local mermaids i know of and when i asked them where they're able to swim i was given a big ole lecture about swimming in a tail and safety...

SingingSelkie
07-23-2017, 07:40 PM
I'm glad I found this thread too. I live in Scotland and was worried that I'd encounter problems using the monofin and/tails as they are so strict here in public pools you can't wear goggles that cover your nose so I had a feeling they may have issues with something like a monofin. I have yet to buy and take mermaid gear to my local pool as I wanted to find out about this first and in the meantime have just been practicing without fins or tails. But knowing my local council I can see this becoming near impossible :( I would love to hear more stories on how people have gotten around it and or other locations to swim other than local pools. We are very low on public pools here.

MerKatt
07-23-2017, 07:52 PM
I'm glad I found this thread too. I live in Scotland and was worried that I'd encounter problems using the monofin and/tails as they are so strict here in public pools you can't wear goggles that cover your nose so I had a feeling they may have issues with something like a monofin. I have yet to buy and take mermaid gear to my local pool as I wanted to find out about this first and in the meantime have just been practicing without fins or tails. But knowing my local council I can see this becoming near impossible :( I would love to hear more stories on how people have gotten around it and or other locations to swim other than local pools. We are very low on public pools here.

Oh a fellow Scot mer! I'm in Glasgow if you need help finding a pool and want a swim buddy! The local hotels are your best bet or you can hire lanes at local council pools :)

SingingSelkie
07-23-2017, 08:02 PM
Oh a fellow Scot mer! I'm in Glasgow if you need help finding a pool and want a swim buddy! The local hotels are your best bet or you can hire lanes at local council pools :)


Yay, I've found another Scotmer!!! Or you found me rather! I'm in Perthshire and just starting out. I've loved mermaids all my life and only found out about becoming a real mermaid about a year or so ago as I didn't think it was a thing being the only one I knew who liked mermaids. Plus as you will know it's not a big thing in Scotland. I would love help in finding places to swim and possibly meet up for some in the future? X

selkie13
07-24-2017, 12:03 AM
Yay, I've found another Scotmer!!! Or you found me rather! I'm in Perthshire and just starting out. I've loved mermaids all my life and only found out about becoming a real mermaid about a year or so ago as I didn't think it was a thing being the only one I knew who liked mermaids. Plus as you will know it's not a big thing in Scotland. I would love help in finding places to swim and possibly meet up for some in the future? XIf you find a place let me know! Perthshire isn't to far and I'll get the bus down. I've had no luck with any of my pools. They use to let me use my monofin and my fabric tail the once. but now I cant even use my monofin in the swim lane when it's quiet.


Sent from my SM-J510FN using Tapatalk

SingingSelkie
07-24-2017, 04:03 AM
If you find a place let me know! Perthshire isn't to far and I'll get the bus down. I've had no luck with any of my pools. They use to let me use my monofin and my fabric tail the once. but now I cant even use my monofin in the swim lane when it's quiet.


Sent from my SM-J510FN using Tapatalk

Im going to start doing some looking into pools and policy's etc. In the next few weeks. Will let you all know how I get on. I refuse to let this stop me! Council may hate me by the end of this but oh well. :D

Astridia
08-08-2017, 10:12 AM
Any pools in the midlands? (UK) I know Watermeadows hires out a lane to a small pod (i hope to join them very soon on a swim) and I live 5mins walk from my local pool. shall have to ask, if I can get info i shall update here. Any other mers in the derbyshire/nottinghamshire region?

SingingSelkie
08-09-2017, 06:19 PM
Im going to start doing some looking into pools and policy's etc. In the next few weeks. Will let you all know how I get on. I refuse to let this stop me! Council may hate me by the end of this but oh well. :D

So I contacted my local live active centre here in Scotland via email and they replied

We wouldn't allow a monofin in a public session but as you have mentioned we would be able to hire a lane (or 2 depending on the size of the fin). We have had 'mermaids' in the pool before and have a risk assessment for those so I would imagine it would be similiar. You can call us for more details if you wish

So I was very excited about this. I have yet to find out how much it is to hire a lane but I'm glad there is somewhere so close to practice and possibly in the future use a mertail.

selkie13
08-10-2017, 04:18 AM
That is brilliant! Hopefully it's not too much to hire out the lane. Let me know how it goes because I'd definitely be interested in coming down to use that pool. Which pool is it by the way?

Sent from my SM-J510FN using Tapatalk

SingingSelkie
08-13-2017, 10:17 AM
That is brilliant! Hopefully it's not too much to hire out the lane. Let me know how it goes because I'd definitely be interested in coming down to use that pool. Which pool is it by the way?

Sent from my SM-J510FN using Tapatalk


I have a feeling the cost of hiring a lane will benefit more if there is more than one person sharing the lane at a time.
It's the Live Active Strathearn Campus. Not a very deep pool but good enough to practice.

Mermaid.Mikayla
08-13-2017, 12:06 PM
Hey Everyone,

So recently I bought a monofin and had been using it in my local pool, but recently they have decided that I can no longer use my fin as it is a 'Health and Safety' risk to myself and others. So I ask this question: How did you guys get/find a pool that allowed you to use your tails and fins? I've tried calling the pools that are run by our local council but they all refuse the use of fins.

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!
I told my pool owner and the lifeguards that it was for swim training and is normally used by swimmers. It has to safety risk if used properly. And they allowed me to use it.

MerKatt
08-13-2017, 02:58 PM
I have a feeling the cost of hiring a lane will benefit more if there is more than one person sharing the lane at a time.
It's the Live Active Strathearn Campus. Not a very deep pool but good enough to practice.
Good luck! My pools rejected it entirely. :( I use a hotel swimming pool to swim in and they're suuuper kind and flexible.

selkie13
08-13-2017, 03:15 PM
I have a feeling the cost of hiring a lane will benefit more if there is more than one person sharing the lane at a time.
It's the Live Active Strathearn Campus. Not a very deep pool but good enough to practice.I think I should be able to come down so long as I'm not working and we can split the cost. Can also wait and see if anyone else will join us ^.^

Sent from my SM-J510FN using Tapatalk

SingingSelkie
08-17-2017, 04:44 PM
I think I should be able to come down so long as I'm not working and we can split the cost. Can also wait and see if anyone else will join us ^.^

Sent from my SM-J510FN using Tapatalk

Sounds like a brilliant idea xx

Dogfish
01-04-2018, 05:04 AM
Update! So I just replied to a similar thread for this in general, but seeing as its the UK one here I'll pop it here too -
I have finally been able to find a pool that let me wear my mono fin. I emailed ahead of time but got no reply, so after much thought, I just went in with it. I didnt use the skin (its a finfun) but didn't hide the monofin from view, just didn't mention it. Said hi to the life guards, got in, did a couple of normal laps then put the fin on - no one said a word. Perfect!
I did swim in the adult-only evening portion of the pool times so perhaps that helps? I can see why they wouldn't want things like that when it's busy or around kids, in case it encourages them to bring in things that are similar which perhaps are not as safe. In any case, they really didn't seem to care. One of the ex-staff members I knew had told me he thought they'd say no but they had been known to allow scuba flippers, so perhaps that's part of it?
He said, weirdly, it's the bright colors on the tails that put them off. In that they see it as purely decorative, so a black monofin seems far more legit, and they can see your legs too.

Glencoco93
01-08-2018, 02:16 PM
Any pools in the midlands? (UK) I know Watermeadows hires out a lane to a small pod (i hope to join them very soon on a swim) and I live 5mins walk from my local pool. shall have to ask, if I can get info i shall update here. Any other mers in the derbyshire/nottinghamshire region?

I just got my first tail and monofin (mermaid kat, in green) any details on this pod that meets here? Im in Liverpool myself but that seems like the closest one so far

P.S. If there are any mers in or near Liverpool let me know! we could try together :P

CamillaJayne
06-05-2018, 03:42 PM
Hey everyone! I'm from the midlands (Herefordshire), but go to university in Wales, so any pools around there would be fab!! I've swum in Ludlow Pool in Shropshire. Me and my sister went in and just got in with the monofin. The lifeguard just said to stick to the lane rather than in the open swim bit. We thoroughly enjoyed it!! But when we went to my university pool, we swum for about 30 minutes, then told us we weren't allowed it. I could also travel to Cambridge area to swim, as that's where my bf lives. Glad to hear some people have found alternatives!! :)

selkie13
07-20-2018, 07:29 PM
Found a pool they would let me in.... it's barely a foot deep. At least it's free though, but that might be because it's in a children's play park and is a paddling pool hahaha.
God's I've been trying for about 3 years and taken a break the past year. Hopefully with the mermaid trend getting bigger I'll have more luck this time. 5th year is the charm as they say ^.^
God I hate living in a small town

Elle Dee
10-10-2018, 05:04 PM
After 2 years I have just bought my first tail and wanted to see if there was any mers in South devon. I have been going to a private pool for the last couple months who are ok with me using my monofin. I'm also near the river dart which was perfect during the summer.Having to wait on first swim in tail though as I've picked up a horrible ear infection.:(

the.tattooed.mermaid78
04-09-2019, 03:44 PM
My local council run pool charges me £6.50 for an hour in my own lane, they don't let me swim without a private lane :(Can I ask how you went about asking them as I've challenged my local council. I've basically said that now mermaiding is a sport, they need to get with the times and accommodate for people who want to swim in monofins and tails. It's going really slowly lol

Sent from my [device_name] using MerNetwork mobile app

the.tattooed.mermaid78
04-09-2019, 03:46 PM
I contacted them about mermaiding and they looked into the rules and they only allow fins if you have your own lane.


Sent from my iPod touch using TapatalkSummer can you get a copy of this somehow? I need to put this to my council. Which is the pool that allow you to do this so I can put it to my local council too. Thanks

Sent from my [device_name] using MerNetwork mobile app

the.tattooed.mermaid78
04-09-2019, 03:48 PM
Ah, pools and rules [emoji107]
Blargh. I could rant.

If you can't find a diving group which will share their pool time with you, nor a hotel pool (aren't those really shallow?), maybe you can try using your tail without a fin.

I know it sucks, especially if you have a heavier tail, but once they've grown used to you swimming with a tail, you can one day simply leave the fin in, and no one's going to be the wiser.Problem being like the pool near me your not allowed tails either

Sent from my [device_name] using MerNetwork mobile app

the.tattooed.mermaid78
04-09-2019, 03:59 PM
Anyone in Co Durham, north east England?

Sent from my [device_name] using MerNetwork mobile app

themermister
04-19-2021, 04:14 AM
I dont Know if it helps but I am based in Manchester and I go to Bannatyne's Gym. the have no problem with my tails Enable GingerCannot connect to Ginger Check your internet connection
or reload the browserDisable in this text fieldRephraseRephrase current sentenceEdit in Ginger×

Lumiiri
05-06-2023, 06:28 AM
Any pools around South Yorkshire? I've been rejected from one, and have a potential from Ponds Forge but only during a specified session, and I'm not sure if you can take in your own fin or if you have to use theirs, and in that case if they even provide monofins at all and not just bifins.