I live in a seaside tourist town. Here we learn to swim as young children, it is impossible not to know how to swim and now, as a parent, I understand that only the peace of mind of knowing that my children could swim without problems gave me the peace of mind to take them to the sea and be able to (fairly) relax. I often read about people who drown because they were swimming on the seashore without knowing how to swim. Often more than one (the first in difficulty forces others to attempt a rescue). They are often people who know little about the sea, newly immigrated non-EU citizens.

I honestly cannot understand how a sane person can enter the water knowing that any problem, a hole, a higher wave is an almost certain death sentence.

Could it be that in addition to teaching us to swim, our parents taught us to fear and respect the sea? And that this simple precaution "is out of fashion"?