Thread: Thais and swimming

The death of the hotel lifeguard at Chewang got me thinking. RIP poor fella.

Out of the thai folks I have met over the years I would estimate less than 5% have any swimming skills at all.

I can understand it from the point of view that its a relatively poor country and such a pastime might be an indulgence when you are struggling on the ant-heap, but even people whose occupation is on and around the water? e.g. fishermen, deckhands, lifeguards?

In my country the attitude is to teach skills and respect at a young age. In LOS it seems to be to instill fear, or encourage the natural fear that children get after a certain age.

Anyway it strikes me that with the rising affluence of the country there may be a business opportunity for someone.

I have no idea what the skill level of the guy on Samui was, this isn't about him personally.

Just a few random thoughts for the forum.

It's as same as in almost every occupation in Thailand, just theory education a bit experience and that's all. The rest is thinking like Buddha is helping me for sure.
No training at all.

Thais are like cats

Originally Posted by Rigger

Thais are like cats

Out in the country where I am at water is second nature. There is a place we go swimming in Mae Nam Munn north of Rattanaburi where the water current is quite strong even for a vetran swimmer and I have never heard of someone drowning.

I guess the region dictates the capability. My daughter and son were Knee high to a grass hopper and took to water like fish. All of my immediate family cant keep away from the stuff, especially when it gets HOT

Water to us means FOOD; so fishing with casting nets (this can be dangerous in deep water if you get tangled in one) is the Norm.

Originally Posted by Carrabow

Originally Posted by Rigger

Thais are like cats

Out in the country where I am at water is second nature. There is a place we go swimming in Mae Nam Munn north of Rattanaburi where the water current is quite strong even for a vetran swimmer and I have never heard of someone drowning.

I guess the region dictates the capability. My daughter and son were Knee high to a grass hopper and took to water like fish. All of my immediate family cant keep away from the stuff, especially when it gets HOT

Water to us means FOOD; so fishing with casting nets (this can be dangerous in deep water if you get tangled in one) is the Norm.

Just ask around how many kids drown in the area, up our way it's probably 2 or 3 a year and not a single lake in and around the village that hasn't taken a kids life.

Originally Posted by Rigger

Originally Posted by Carrabow

Originally Posted by Rigger

Thais are like cats

Out in the country where I am at water is second nature. There is a place we go swimming in Mae Nam Munn north of Rattanaburi where the water current is quite strong even for a vetran swimmer and I have never heard of someone drowning.

I guess the region dictates the capability. My daughter and son were Knee high to a grass hopper and took to water like fish. All of my immediate family cant keep away from the stuff, especially when it gets HOT

Water to us means FOOD; so fishing with casting nets (this can be dangerous in deep water if you get tangled in one) is the Norm.

Just ask around how many kids drown in the area, up our way it's probably 2 or 3 a year and not a single lake in and around the village that hasn't taken a kids life.

Sorry to hear that,

Are you in the country or Suburbia?

Originally Posted by Carrabow

Originally Posted by Rigger

Originally Posted by Carrabow

Originally Posted by Rigger

Thais are like cats

Out in the country where I am at water is second nature. There is a place we go swimming in Mae Nam Munn north of Rattanaburi where the water current is quite strong even for a vetran swimmer and I have never heard of someone drowning.

I guess the region dictates the capability. My daughter and son were Knee high to a grass hopper and took to water like fish. All of my immediate family cant keep away from the stuff, especially when it gets HOT

Water to us means FOOD; so fishing with casting nets (this can be dangerous in deep water if you get tangled in one) is the Norm.

Just ask around how many kids drown in the area, up our way it's probably 2 or 3 a year and not a single lake in and around the village that hasn't taken a kids life.

Sorry to hear that,

Are you in the country or Suburbia?

Both at the moment with live between to homes one in the sticks and one in the city, but spent 6 years living in the village before.

Originally Posted by Bazzy

I would estimate less than 5% have any swimming skills at all.

and even less have CPR skills

For a country with a lot of coastline and water, the swimming ability here is pretty abysmal. As someone said^^, the apathetic Buddhist fatalism in LOS is mostly to blame.

Originally Posted by kmart

For a country with a lot of coastline and water, the swimming ability here is pretty abysmal. As someone said^^, the apathetic Buddhist fatalism in LOS is mostly to blame.

sorry, but that is bullshit

Malaysia is the same with very few people taking to the water

and Indonesia

Originally Posted by Bogon

Due to a high percentage of condo living, most people have a pool at their exposal compared to the U.K where you only have the local swimming baths to home your skills. I think it all boils down to the Thais staying out of the sun and wearing 25kg of clothes when they swim at the beach for their below par swimming skills.

most people do not live in condos, strangely enough

it all boils down to the fact that swimming not seen as something they would normally do

kids love to play in water but rarely get taught to swim, leading to many drownings

Originally Posted by DrAndy

Originally Posted by Bogon

Due to a high percentage of condo living, most people have a pool at their exposal compared to the U.K where you only have the local swimming baths to home your skills. I think it all boils down to the Thais staying out of the sun and wearing 25kg of clothes when they swim at the beach for their below par swimming skills.

it all boils down to the fact that swimming not seen as something they would normally do

kids love to play in water but rarely get taught to swim, leading to many drownings

Out where I am, I will have to argue that point.

Originally Posted by DrAndy

Plus the abundance of swimming pools (especially in the BBK area).

You missed out the 1st line of my post there DrAndy.

Originally Posted by DrAndy

most people do not live in condos, strangely enough

They do if they live in Bangkok strangely enough.
My point was, that most Bangkokians have a pool at their disposal either in the apartment complex or moo baan, thus they should be half decent at swimming, but it is the opposite. They are shite at it whilst the U.K population do not have the same ammenities at their disposal, but a high percentage of the population are half decent at it.

I got taught at school; do they do that in Thailand?

My point was, that most Bangkokians have a pool at their disposal either in the apartment complex or moo baan, thus they should be half decent at swimming, but it is the opposite

well, that is obviously untrue

the vast majority of people who live in Bkk do not have access to any pool

but even those that do tend to sit by the pool rather than use it for swimming

Originally Posted by DrAndy

I got taught at school; do they do that in Thailand?

Did at my daughters old school, Tantarak in Pattaya, school had a pool and swimming (lessons) once a week.

Originally Posted by DrAndy

I got taught at school; do they do that in Thailand?

My point was, that most Bangkokians have a pool at their disposal either in the apartment complex or moo baan, thus they should be half decent at swimming, but it is the opposite

well, that is obviously untrue

the vast majority of people who live in Bkk do not have access to any pool

but even those that do tend to sit by the pool rather than use it for swimming

I live in Ratchaburi area & my boy had swimming lesson with the school.
I would take him swimming when he was 5 years old now he is 14 & has the biggest feet I have seen on a Thai boy.

I keep telling him he has 2 big paddles at the end of his legs.

Originally Posted by Bogon

My point was, that most Bangkokians have a pool at their disposal either in the apartment complex or moo baan, thus they should be half decent at swimming, but it is the opposite. They are shite at it whilst the U.K population do not have the same ammenities at their disposal, but a high percentage of the population are half decent at it.

the vast majority of people in Bkk do not have access to any pool

even if they do, they do not use it for swimming, just for cooling off and sitting by it

Originally Posted by DrAndy

Malaysia is the same with very few people taking to the water and Indonesia

Have you ever seen what a female Bhumi Putra has to wear when she goes swimming in public Doc?

Plus it is frowned upon for males and females to share the same public pool with Fridays being a ladies only day.

Thai females also wear a lot of clothes when they go swimming and I am amazed that there are not more drownings with all the kit that they wear.

Originally Posted by DrAndy

the vast majority of people in Bkk do not have access to any pool

I actually said "Most Bangkokians have a pool at their disposal". This means that they may not have one at there house/shack/apartment, but there will be one within 2 blocks of where they live. So yes. They do have access.

Actually. Tell you what DrAndy. Yes, you are correct. Bangkok does not have an abundance of swimming pools. In the 3 condos and 4 moo baans I have lived I have been very very lucky to have a swimming pool.
Just ran an errand to a mates apartment and when I passed his pool I thought to myself "You don't see many of those in Bangkok".
Met a pal for a late lunch at his condo down On-Nut. Whilst sitting next to his pool I mentioned how quiet it was.
Anyways at home and going for a quick 20 lengths now (insert joke).
Oh. If you actually read my post, you would see that I was comparing the amount of pools compared to the U.K.
So you do not agree with this statement then?
More people in Bangkok have access to a swimming pool compared to people in the U.K.

Think we are both getting a bit petty here and it's not really my cup of tea to shake feathers, especially on a topic about swimming!
Wanna shake hands and agree to disagree?

regional differences?

living in Phuket I was involved in water safety training for children, way before any swimming training it was simply about basic confidence in the water, head under water without panic, holding onto your breath, rolling onto your back, arms out and calm to start breathing again. Kids were generally 7-12 and often terrified of the water - and early step was simply to jump into the shallow end of the pool, about shoulder-depth for the smallest ones, and that was quite an achievement for many of them. Easy to see why there can be panic when hit/knocked over by even a small wave. Rare to see Thai families at the beach in Phuket, just my impression but most are not 'from' Phuket, perhaps landlocked areas, and beach not part of their lifestyle. Phuket Lifeguard Club continues to run pool and sea sessions for children throughout the year.

Now in Chanthaburi where it's a reverse, beaches crowded on sunny weekends and quite a beach 'culture'. Our little town of around 8,000 has a 6 lane 25m pool that is at times not big enough, children's learn-to-swim classes well supported, adults doing training laps - serious business no clothes permitted ie t-shirts/shorts it is proper swimwear only. Lycra rules! but no speedos fortunately.

Originally Posted by Bogon

I actually said "Most Bangkokians have a pool at their disposal". This means that they may not have one at there house/shack/apartment, but there will be one within 2 blocks of where they live. So yes. They do have access.

there may be pools, but they are for residents only, or are quite expensive for the normal local

Originally Posted by Bogon

Tell you what DrAndy. Yes, you are correct.

thought so

Originally Posted by DrAndy

there may be pools, but they are for residents only, or are quite expensive for the normal local

Would it be better if I rip stuff off webites to help the debate?

Thailand, especially Bangkok has many, many public swimming pools. The purpose of these pools is obviously SWIMMING! Many of the Central department stores often have very nice, clean and inexpensive pools to enjoy. Because of this there are many experienced and able swimmers in Thailand, but on the other hand you often meet a Thai that can't swim!

Source....Thailand Public Swimming Pools - Entertainment & Leisure Company Listings in Thailand

How about finding me a site about the lack of pools in Bangkok?

Just don't know when to stop eh?

Originally Posted by Bogon

Think we are both getting a bit petty here and it's not really my cup of tea to shake feathers, especially on a topic about swimming!

Originally Posted by Bogon

Wanna shake hands and agree to disagree?

Thought not...........

Wanna leave it at this or get a swimming thread chucked into MKP?

Originally Posted by Bogon

Thailand, especially Bangkok has many, many public swimming pools. The purpose of these pools is obviously SWIMMING! Many of the Central department stores often have very nice, clean and inexpensive pools to enjoy. Because of this there are many experienced and able swimmers in Thailand, but on the other hand you often meet a Thai that can't swim!

jolly good source, but then they only list two!

even so, they still charge over B90 to get in, which is quite a large slice for most Bkk residents

maybe that is why there are so few people using them?