There is little doubt that, once you've gotten over the getting wet part, swimming is one of the most refreshing of summer occupations. After that dread making, shiver shaking initial leap, it's pure pleasure to streak through the water and feel both weightless and graceful in the water. The more adventurous of us head for the sea and let the salt waves rough and tumble us into a glowing, fresh, new person. Others (including this lily livered reporter) prefer the more coddled and controlled milieu of the indoor, heated pool.
Whichever you opt for, swimming is the perfect aerobic exercise. To encourage the water wary, we begin with suggestions for South Dubliners, who have a good number of beaches, bathing places and pools to avail of either for free or for a modest fee.
Two south Dublin beaches, Killiney and Seapoint, were awarded European Blue Flags this year. And this means that not only must the water be crystal clear, with no unidentified floating objects, but the beach also must be squeaky clean. Killiney, incidentally, won its first Blue Flag in 1989, just a year after local residents took to the beach with their garden forks, removing stray seaweed and detritus.
Both Seapoint and Killiney have lifeguards and a flag system signalling whether it is safe to swim. A yellow and red flag denotes that it is safe, while a red flag means that is dangerous.
Beside Killiney Beach is White. Rock, with access from the Dalkey end of the Vico Road. It's a bit of a trek, but the water is clear and the beach is sandy and soft. The beach is in shadow from about 4 p.m., so get there early.
The deep and sheltered Fortyfoot in Sandycove, for years the preserve of irascible old men in their tattered birthday suits, has reluctantly opened its waters to women swimmers. But it is still very much a man's world, and women might be more comfortable by the little harbour in Sandycove.
Nostalgic types will be glad to know that there is still an open air pool at Dun Laoghaire Baths (adults: 80p, children: 40p, tel: 2806965). The chlorinated sea water is closely monitored and is changed regularly.
But if bracing salt water is not your preferred dip, there are plenty of indoor pools where you can slug it out with those menacing figures in goggles who puffily plough up and down, "doing lengths". Most pools have specific times for non members and some have adults only hours, so telephone beforehand.
Staying near the coast, Fitzpatrick's Castle Hotel in Killiney has a 20 metre pool (£5 daytime, £6 evenings, sauna and steam room included. Tel: 2853107). Not far away, Newpark Sports Training Centre, Blackrock (adults: £2.50, children: £2. tel: 2883720) has a 25 metre pool where there are early morning slots for adults only, as well as a "business lunchtime swim" on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Glenalbyn Pool in Stillorgan is the largest one around, at 33.3 metres and it's open every afternoon (adults: £2.80, children: £1.20. Tel: 288 1502).
Moving into the heartland of Victorian Dublin, we find Dublin Corporation's 25 metre pool at Williams Park in Rathmines, (adults: £1.50, children: 70p. Tel: 4961275).
Further west, there is a cluster of swimming pools at Terenure, Rathfarnham and Templeogue. Terenure College Swimming Pool (adults: £2.30. children: £1. Tel: 4907071 before 4.30 p.m., 4908882 after 4.45 p.m.) has an adults only session on Sunday mornings which includes a class in the shallow end for bashful beginners And Templeogue College Swim Pool has two shallow ends so that learners can dash from one end to the other with just a frisson of excitement as they cross the deep bit (adults: £2.30, children: £1.20. Tel: 4901711).
The 10 metre pool at Butterfield Health and Fitness Club in Rathfarnham is a "child free zone" according to the manager. Adults can swim, loll in the jacuzzi and sweat in the sauna or steam room, all for £5 (Tel: 4939930).
At Dundrum Family Recreation Centre there is a 25 metre pool (adults: £2, children: £1.30. Tel: 2980183), and in the Dublin mountains at the Kilternan Country Club the 18 metre pool - and the tennis courts, gym, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi is open to non members (adult: £10, children: £5. Tel: 2955559).
There are remedial pools in south Dublin at Cerebral Palsy Ireland, Sandymount (adults: £2.20, children: £1.20. Tel: 2695608) and at Cheeverstown House, Templeogue Road (adults: £2, children: £1. Tel: 4905988). In both pools the water is heated to 90 or more, there is easy "stepped entry" access and there are hoists for wheelchairs. Both pools are recommended not just for disabled people, but for those with back or other injuries who are in search of a quiet swim.
But for the traditional, noisy, no holds barred swim, there's always the Grand Canal at Mount Street.