Dulwich Pool Discussion

[Pootle]

The pool was closed when I joined in May, and so I asked about the criteria for a partial refund on the monthly fee, because I wasn't getting the full benefit of the membership in the meantime.

[CPR Dave]

It's not really a bizarre policy if you are swimming in Southwark's other swimming pools free of charge in lieu of the Dulwich pool you are still paying for.

If you paid to use other venues they should either reimburse those costs or reimburse an element of the Dulwich membership.

[Friernlocal]

Went to the Dulwich Leisure Centre pool last Friday. It's been a long wait, but it has improved.

The pool water is crystal clear.

The men's changing room is also a lot better with new nonslip mats and all the showers have been given a makeover. New doors, new shower heads that stay on longer than the five seconds of the previous ones. More importantly, all the cracked and discoloured tiling has been replaced with sealed white boards and the ceiling and lighting has been replaced.

[peckhambog]

Saw sand on the floor of the medium lane in the pool yesterday (Friday 24th).

 

How does it get there? I thought that was the indicator the filters have a problem. The water itself seemed clean and clear.

[ctovey]

We went the day after it reopened and there was a lot of grit on the steps into to pool.  The water was lovely and warm, but a few days later it was really cold!

[richard tudor]

If true I was told that the new swimming pool at Canada Water is also closed and will not open until end November/December due to problems.

 

[Friernlocal]

I've seen it in the same place the past two Fridays. I'm assuming it's some sand that's left over from when the old sand filters failed. When that happened there was lots of sand on the bottom. I'm guessing it'll only go if they use a pool vacuum to clean the bottom.

[Alec1]

6 hours ago, ctovey said:

We went the day after it reopened and there was a lot of grit on the steps into to pool.  The water was lovely and warm, but a few days later it was really cold!

I went last week, and it was lovely and warm, then went on Tuesday and wished I hadn't stepped in as it was freezing.  It shouldn't be so cold that you shiver when you briefly stop swimming!  A lot of grit in parts at bottom. 

 

[ctovey]

Still a large patch of grit clearly visible in the middle of the pool yesterday (Tuesday).  On the plus side - the water was a lot warmer!

[Mugpie]

Can we change the title of this thread please.  Every time I see it I think the pool has been closed again. 😆😆

[Alec1]

9 hours ago, Mugpie said:

Can we change the title of this thread please.  Every time I see it I think the pool has been closed again. 😆😆

So do I, and I started it!!!  I have changed title. 

 

[barbercat]

The sand is back and I’m sure it’s going to close again! The pool is getting murky

[Alec1]

I noticed a lot of sand last time I was there.  Not sure if anyone else finds this, but the changing rooms are SO cold.  Perhaps it's just me getting older and realising if you lose weight you feel the cold more!! 

[ctovey]

I was there on Tuesday and Thursday this week.  Lots of grit on the steps into the pool.  Although, the water was a lovely temperature, family changing room wasn't cold and the showers were warm!

[Friernlocal]

The changing room was warm on Friday evening.

[east-of-the-Rye]

Can anyone help me understand the booking system? I used to swim a lot at Dulwich Baths by just turning up but more-or-less stopped during/after Covid. I want to start again but am not sure I'm understanding the booking options: I've selected "Lane - Med" and the only options on the days I can do for the next week or more are 20:00 or later. It is just really popular and booked up? Or is the pool busy with classes etc until that point so there is no point hoping I'll ever be able to book for earlier? (I did spot an early evening slot on Sunday 1/2 - but it's not bookable till 26/1...) 

[satsuma]

16 hours ago, east-of-the-Rye said:

Can anyone help me understand the booking system? I used to swim a lot at Dulwich Baths by just turning up but more-or-less stopped during/after Covid. I want to start again but am not sure I'm understanding the booking options: I've selected "Lane - Med" and the only options on the days I can do for the next week or more are 20:00 or later. It is just really popular and booked up? Or is the pool busy with classes etc until that point so there is no point hoping I'll ever be able to book for earlier? (I did spot an early evening slot on Sunday 1/2 - but it's not bookable till 26/1...) 

Yeah, unfortunately it gets booked up quickly, so you need to get onto the booking system well in advance. If there is no option, it's because there is some other event like a swim class on.

[ctovey]

Booking becomes available 1 week in advance. - I can book for a Tuesday swim at 10pm on the Monday one week prior.  Even at 2 mins past 10pm, there are sometimes only 15 places left out of 30, so speed is of the essence!   I don't think you necessarily have to book a certain lane i.e. slow/med/fast.  How are they to know what lane you swim in when you get there??

[the_hermit]

You could book the wrong lane with no repercussions but hopefully etiquette prevents this.  If I turned up and there were >10 people in the fast or medium lanes I think it would be sufficiently unpleasant to have rather not turned up in the first place.

Edited 3 hours ago by the_hermit

[Alec1]

3 hours ago, ctovey said:

Booking becomes available 1 week in advance. - I can book for a Tuesday swim at 10pm on the Monday one week prior.  Even at 2 mins past 10pm, there are sometimes only 15 places left out of 30, so speed is of the essence!   I don't think you necessarily have to book a certain lane i.e. slow/med/fast.  How are they to know what lane you swim in when you get there??

They allow 10 people per lane, so if someone books a fast lane, but they are a slow swimmer, and they go in slow lane, that means there are likely more than 10 in that lane.  They are quite clear on the booking part about swim speeds.  

[missyelliott]

The idea is not to cheat the system otherwise you could end up having 30 people in the fast lane! They have a booking system by speed lanes for a reason - i.e so everyone can enjoy their swim with people roughly the same speed in lanes not overcrowded.  10 in a lane is bad enough. If there isn't a space in your lane then you'll need to book another session rather than spoling it for the people that are adhering to the right lanes.

[ctovey]

Apologies. I was just looking at the session I book - silver swim - and you don't book a specific lane, although they are separated into slow/medium/fast.  I didn't notice that some sessions are lane specific.

Edited 11 minutes ago by ctovey