‘Floaters’ are ruining UK swimming pools for everyone — but it’s not what you think

| Lifestyle Reporter Published September 15, 2026 12:55pm Updated September 15, 2026 1:02pm There’s one swimming pool behaviour that’s ruining everything (Picture: Getty Images) Plonking myself into the pool at my local leisure centre last week, I was ready for my lane swim. I’d deliberately booked the slow section, as I’m not looking to smash any PBs. But before I could kick off and get going, I realised there was an obstacle in my way: swimmers who had decided that instead of swimming, they would just stand there. Known on swimmer forums as ‘floaters’. I’m not suggesting that a trip to the pool means you should be front-crawling non-stop. Everyone needs a break. But booking a lane should mean one thing: you’re going to actually swim. There’s usually a dedicated time or space if you just want to splash around. Some pools even offer lanes to walk in. But you shouldn’t be doing your underwater headstands or chatting with your mates in them, with no intentions of actually swimming. That’s just plain rude. Standing in the middle of an active swimming lane is a no-no (Picture: Getty Images) On the r/Swimming subreddit, @BrilliantNebula794 said this behaviour drives them ‘insane.’ They wrote: ‘The lifeguards need to do a better job communicating who should be where because otherwise I might have some butterfly to work on.’ Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. Meanwhile, @kennethpbowen had a ‘walker/stander’ join their lane during a recent swim, when they proceeded to ‘just stand right in my way.’ ‘At our pool non-swimmers are assigned an “aqua lane.” The pool management shouldn’t have non-lap and lap swimmers in the same lane,’ @algonagirl added, while @templesofsyrinx1 said it was ‘dangerous’ to have one stationary person with a faster swimmer in the same lane. Finding a ‘floating swimmer’ can be frustrating, says one expert (Picture: Getty Images) ‘It isn’t okay to float about in a lane designed for swimming’ Ella Foote is the editor of Outdoor Swimmer, and she believes that swimming pools should be both open and accessible to everyone. She tells Metro: ‘Many leisure centres do an excellent job of managing mixed use and ability with lane use guidance and signage.’ However, she understands the frustration of finding a ‘floater’ in your lane. ‘Finding a floating leisure swimmer in a lane where they wish to do a swim workout is frustrating,’ she says. ‘Imagine going to the gym for a treadmill run to find someone sitting on it and not using it for running, when there’s ample seating elsewhere.’ She adds it’s down to the individual swimmer, to make sure they’re in the right place. ‘The best pools offer not only slow, medium and fast lane swimming but a wider general swimming area,’ Ella says. ‘If you want to go for a swim with no lanes, you need to look for sessions with general swimming or call the pool to see what sessions might suit.’ ‘If you are a genuine swimmer who isn’t sure what lane to use, enter the slow lane and work yourself up the lanes if you find yourself quicker than the other swimmers. ‘It isn’t okay to float about in a lane designed for swimming. Deals of the Day Topman’s new-season collection has arrived and prices start at just £10 An Instagram mattress left me with back pain – this one completely changed my mind Book Val d'Isère, Val Thorens and Tignes for less in Club Med's ski sale Save 25% on red light therapy masks, sauna blankets and sleep gadgets in Bon Charge sale The viral LED face mask with over 350 lights that's currently discounted by £100 ‘It can be dangerous to you and other pool users. This is how collisions and accidents happen.’ Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Arrow MORE: ‘Toasted skin’ is the itchy condition every parent should know about Arrow MORE: The routine question all doctors ask that patients absolutely ‘despise’ Arrow MORE: I quit social media for 4 weeks – it changed the way I dream The Slice Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.