Winter Waters
If the thought of swimming in winter gives you the shivers, fear not. Farah Master dives into the city’s indoor pools.
Take an early morning stroll down Deep Water Bay beach on any given day and chances are you’ll come across a hardy breed of swimmers, who brave the waters all year round. But what about those of us who are too wimpy to dip our goosebumps in the chilly winter sea? While most of the city’s public pools are outdoors, for subtropical reasons, there are some indoor pools around, if you know where to look.
South China Athletics Association
88 Caroline Hill Rd., Causeway Bay, 2577-6932.
Open daily 7am-11:45pm, 1pm-6pm, 7:30pm-9:45pm
Like the Kai Tak Nullah, you can smell the SCAA’s 50m indoor pool long before you reach it. As chlorine-stinky as it may be, it’s great for swimming laps. The lanes are large and there is lots of room to practice your butterfly stroke. There is a smaller (and worryingly warmer) 20m pool, used mostly by small children. Membership is $100 a month for adults ($50 for students and the under-18s), plus a $22 entrance fee to use the pool.
Fun factor: Perfecting your swan dive in the awesome outdoor diving pool. Who needs Acapulco?
Morrison Hill
7 Oi Kwan Rd., Wan Chai, 2575-3028.
Open daily 6:30am-noon, 1pm-5pm, 6pm-10pm (closed Thu, 6.30am-10am). $19 for adults, $9 for students and the disabled.
Morrison Hill has three indoor pools (50m, 25m and 18m), which attract mainly the elderly and young children. There are not many lanes, so you’ll have to navigate around elderly ladies in floral one-pieces, and crocodile lines of small people. Not for serious swimmers, but good for a splash about.
Fun factor: Racing the wrinklies.
The Repulse Bay Club
109 Repulse Bay Road, 2292-2900.
Open Mon-Fri 6:15am-10pm, Sat 7am-10pm, Sun 8am-10pm.
The 25m, heated indoor pool at the stylish Repulse Bay Club is open to non-residents at a price - $1,200 a month. For that you also get access to the 30m outdoor pool, as well as rather swanky health club facilities, including a poolside lounge, gym, squash and tennis courts, golf driving bay, sauna, steam room and solarium, and restaurant.
Fun factor: Dive-bombing the tai-tais (this may be frowned on).