Are Goggles Essential When Swimming?
When we think about the things that are needed for a swim, one of the things that come to our minds would be the goggles. To some people, forgetting to bring their goggles is as good as forgetting to bring their swimwear. However, are goggles truly that important?
For Survival’s Sake
Do we need our goggles to be able to swim? The answer is no.
Swimming is a sport that allows one to keep fit while keeping the damage to your joints to a minimum. However, it is also a skill that can potentially keep you alive, especially since Singapore is surrounded by water. From time to time, you may notice swimming instructors getting his/her learners to open their eyes underwater without the protection of goggles. This is meant to help learners understand that goggles are merely a tool to make swimming more comfortable for them and that it is by no means a necessity.
If you think that this is unnecessary, think again. You will be astonished as to how often I have seen swimmers transform into non-swimmers the moment their goggles are taken away from them. Learning to swim, with or without goggles, is critical; for survival’s sake.
That said, if we take into account that most pools are chlorinated, it is indeed wise for a swimmer to wear goggles for protection. By choosing not to wear your goggles, your eyes will likely get irritated by the chlorine, resulting in redness and some discomfort.
This is especially true for people who enjoy swimming with contact lenses. In any case, you should avoid wearing contact lenses while swimming, find out why from our earlier post.
A swimmer is truly water-safe only when they are armed with the knowledge that they can swim without their goggles on. Once that is achieved, we will have to take steps to preserve our gift of sight.