Sydney's Ocean Pools Overflow as Shark Attacks Drive Swimmers to Safety
At Wylie's Baths in Coogee, the historic ocean pool has never witnessed such a surge in visitors. The blue and yellow-ringed upper deck is packed, towels are tightly clustered on the concrete below, and regular lap swimmers navigate through an influx of newcomers. This scene is replicated across Sydney, where netted swimming areas and ocean pools have become crowded havens in the wake of four shark attacks in New South Wales waters over a 48-hour period.
On the Australia Day long weekend, staff at Wylie's Baths faced an unprecedented situation: they had to turn away swimmers for the first time in memory. "We had to physically cap the numbers coming in," says day manager Marie Sullivan. "There's never been a cap at Wylie's. People were lining up even when I was stopping others, saying we're over capacity. It was people on top of people. It was crazy."
Shark Fears Reshape Swimming Habits
Julie Hill, an avid ocean swimmer with three decades of experience in the area, typically enjoys Sunday morning swims across Coogee Bay. However, since the shark incidents, she and her group have stayed away. "We haven't done that since the shark attacks," Hill notes, observing the absence of morning swimming groups along the coast.
Darina Lupinkova, manager of Wylie's Baths, reports an immediate increase in visitors paying the $6.50 entrance fee following the first shark attack. "We are definitely busier," she says, adding that singer Nick Cave's public praise of the baths in January may have contributed to the crowds. Lupinkova, with 14 years at the site, confirms that no one recalls such high numbers necessitating entry restrictions before.
Council Responses and Safety Measures
Councils across Sydney struggle to quantify the rise in usage of netted areas and ocean pools, as many are unpatrolled and free, relying on anecdotal reports. Mosman council notes a "small increase" in inquiries about enclosed baths like Balmoral and Clifton Gardens. At Dawn Fraser Baths in Balmain, queues extended up stairs on a hot January day, with patrons attributing the wait to shark concerns.
Woollahra council acknowledges that enclosed spots like Murray Rose Pool are "always busy" during summer, while considering new facilities at Yarranabbe park. The Inner West council is progressing with tidal baths at Callan Park, set for completion in early 2027.
Swimmers like Seb Cook, 21, express heightened caution. "I feel like people always know there are sharks, but there's never really been this many in such a short period. So I think people are a bit spooked this summer," he says, opting for Redleaf pool over open beaches. Eve McLeish, 21, avoids ocean swimming after a fatal shark attack near Nielsen park, highlighting the psychological impact of recent events.
Expert Insights and Future Trends
Chris Pepin-Neff, a shark policy expert at the University of Sydney, describes the cluster of attacks as "extraordinary" and notes the challenge in tracking beach usage due to limited data. He explains that while swimmers may initially avoid open waters after shark incidents, behavior typically normalizes within about two weeks. "The picture that you see when someone says 'shark attack' is the scene from Jaws," Pepin-Neff says. "When you cluster those together ... that creates a completely different psychological profile that a community has to grapple with."
The NSW government has announced a $4.2 million funding boost for drone surveillance, increased bull shark tagging, and shark-listening stations in Sydney Harbour. Sarah Joyce of the Sydney Coastal Councils Group emphasizes the need for a collaborative approach to shark safety, criticizing the state government's coordination with councils as inadequate. "This is all kind of new and everyone's grappling with it," she says, pointing to the growing popularity of swimming amid climate change.
Returning to the Water
Despite the fears, some swimmers are gradually venturing back. Jocelyn Edmunds, 31, continues to swim in open water, citing statistical unlikelihood. "The shark threat is not putting me off going in the water," she asserts. "Statistically, it's incredibly unlikely for the average person. You're in the water for what, 10 minutes?"
Back at Wylie's Baths, Julie Hill is preparing to resume her ocean swims. "I am thinking this Sunday," she says. "I will think about going down and doing another big swim. I'm trying to psych myself up." As temperatures rise, the balance between caution and tradition continues to evolve along Sydney's coastline.
