Ocean pools offer an interesting comparison with the formally-designated seniors centres that exist in many coastal communities.

Swimming is a life-long activity and a kind-to-the-body exercise. Older regular swimmers may have been exercising at the same ocean pool for 50 years or more. Winter swimming competitions routinely include relay events for the over-80s.

At the ocean pools, older people with weathered skin and economical, elegant swimming styles have high social standing. Photographers continue to document the strong ageing bodies seen at the ocean baths.

 Active old age is an undeniable reality at the ocean pools.

The term ‘seaweed’ is usually reserved for the larger algae. Seaweed provides food and shelter for many seashore animals, but seaweed can clog ocean baths.

Algal growth around the pool walls and paths, especially over summer can also cause slippery conditions that many pool users do not expect. At some ocean pools, warning signs try to acquaint pool users with this risk.

Chemicals used to clean the pool must now be selected so as not to harm the pool users or the other marine organisms that inhabit the rock platform. Cleaning with high-pressure saltwater is now the preferred method for removing algae.

Microscopic algae in the form of red tides can make ocean pools and ocean beaches unusable.

Science has occasionally been involved in selecting the sites or the designs for ocean pools.

Scientific tests of water quality have underpinned government and council action to close ocean pools and beaches for swimming on public health grounds.

Science underpins efforts to conserve buildings and other structures at the ocean pools and the wildlife around the baths.

Science has also altered the way swimmers eat and train and the way swimming coaches coach.

Pumps help keep water in ocean pools fresh, provided the surrounding coastal waters are not themselves polluted.

Valves help keep enough water depth in the baths for swimming.

Both pumps and valves present maintenance problems.

The main problems with pumps are that they can:

• 
stop pumping,
• have insufficient capacity,
• have sumps too high to allow for complete drainage, or
• lack facilities for cleaning and removing the debris around pump inlets.

Threats to the continued operation, the maintenance or the water quality of ocean pools and the temporary or extended closure of ocean pools have inspired public protests and demonstrations, as well as many letters to newspapers and to  politicians. Swimming clubs, winter swimming clubs, progress associations and friends groups have been prominent in recent campaigns to create, maintain and enhance and rebirth ocean pools.