Saltwater Sanctuaries Around the World: Man-made “sea pools” have become refuges for swimmers from the wild waters and unpredictable tides of Cornwall to Australia. These architectural marvels offer a serene escape where saltwater and crashing waves create a natural wonder.
London-based author and outdoor swimmer Chris Romer-Lee loves sea pools. “Sea Pools: 66 Saltwater Sanctuaries From Around the World,” his upcoming book, explores these stunning aquatic havens. It includes over 60 photographs of sea pools from around the world and insightful essays by designers and outdoor enthusiasts. The book also explores sea pools’ 19th-century origins and development.
In 1927, visionary lawyer and financier Frederick Baker created the Lewinnick Cove House Pool in Cornwall’s rocky landscape.
Romer-Lee’s fascination with sea pools began during a family trip to Switzerland, where he saw the stunning Zürichsee Kreisel, a swimming facility seamlessly integrated along Lake Zurich and River Limmat. Thames Baths, an organization advocating for a floating pool on London’s Thames, was born from this encounter. Studio Octopi, his architecture firm, restored Scotland’s tidal pools and designed Cumbria’s stunning seawater pool.
Romer-Lee used Google Maps to search coastlines worldwide for the most unusual sea pools for his book. He worked with local photographers who had captured the beauty of these paradisiacal locations. Romer-Lee supported emerging talent while capturing the essence of each pool through their discerning lenses.
“Sea Pools” features captivating images of forms and colors. Ireland’s tranquil Belmullet Tidal Pool and Portugal’s rocky Piscinas Naturais de Porto Moniz, formed from Madeira’s volcanic lava over millennia, are examples of nature’s artistry. These pools’ colors and dramatic backdrops evoke awe and serenity.
READ MORE: Male Gorilla Gives Birth: A Surprising and Historic Moment for Gorilla Conservation
Romer-Lee admires Scotland’s Trinkie and North Baths, Cornwall’s Lewinnick Cove House Pool, and Scotland’s Trinkie. These magical sea pools are enhanced by these wintery images, captured in January.
The book also features pools with innovative engineering and extravagant designs. Wooley’s Pool in Cape Town, South Africa, has white-painted rocks that demonstrate such ingenuity. This artistic feat prevents rock slips and enhances the pool’s beauty. Romer-Lee worries that the paint may prevent seaweed from attaching, harming the delicate marine ecosystem. He believes a well-designed pool promotes human-wildlife harmony.
Outdoor swimming is rising as UK indoor heated pools close due to rising energy prices. Romer-Lee, a daily swimmer in London’s open-air Serpentine Lake at Hyde Park, wants to highlight the accessibility and safety of these often-overlooked pools along shorelines worldwide.
His book, “Sea Pools,” reminds us of the world’s coastlines’ hidden treasures. Readers are transported to a peaceful world where saltwater sanctuaries soothe the soul. Romer-Lee’s work celebrates nature, the sea, and the need to preserve these aquatic wonders for future generations.