About your pool visit

Visitors to swimming pools are reminded to:

1. Shower before using the pool
2. Shower on leaving the pool
3. Follow the necessary hygiene precautions when visiting public places to help reduce the risk of infection. These include washing your hands for at least 20 seconds, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze and do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.
4. If you feel unwell, please avoid using the pool.

Swim England are the national governing body for swimming, they will be following the latest information and assessing risk as appropriate to stay up to date visit the Swim England website [external link]

• We have 57 changing cubicles in the changing village, 16 of which are larger family changing cubicles and eight have baby-changing beds.
• There are 19 showers, 7 of which are fully private showers.
• There are separate male and female toilet areas.
• There are three hairdryers, which are free of charge.
• All lockers cost £1.20, of which £1 is refundable.

We are is committed to creating equal access for everyone. Please see details of the Changing Places Registration Scheme for provision we provide at the Dolphin Centre.

The temperature of the pools is maintained between 28º - 30ºC, in line with industry recommendations. 

Our Toddler Pool is fitted with a heat exchanger which enables this pool to be heated individually. The temperature for this pool is maintained between 30º - 31ºC.

All our pool lifeguards are qualified to the national standards required by The Royal Lifesaving Society [external link]. We expect the highest level of vigilance from our lifeguards at all times, providing a safe and secure environment for all our customers; and as such they are required to carry out lifeguard training at least once every three weeks.

One adult must accompany every two children under eight years, or two non-swimmers under sixteen years. This is in line with best practice from the Royal Lifesaving Society.

Juniors can access the pool without an adult if they are over 8 and a confident swimmer (can swim 25 metres and jump in deep water unaided).

Juniors can access the diving boards without an adult if they are over 8, a confident swimmer and can exit the diving pool unaided. Juniors under the age of 8 must be supervised in the area by an adult, a confident swimmer and able to exit the diving pool unaided.  The use of swimming aids and goggles is prohibited.

Juniors can access the slides without an adult if they are over 8 and a confident swimmer. Juniors under the age of 8 or using swimming aids must be accompanied by an adult. 

Juniors can access the diving boards without an adult if they are over 8, a confident swimmer and can exit the diving pool unaided. Juniors under the age of 8 must be supervised in the area by an adult, a confident swimmer and able to exit the diving pool unaided.  The use of swimming aids and goggles is prohibited.

Juniors can access the slides without an adult if they are over 8 and a confident swimmer. Juniors under the age of 8 or using swimming aids must be accompanied by an adult.

The toddler pool is open to all juniors under 8 years old who must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

The following items are not allowed in the pool:

• baggy, see-through or ripped swimwear
• t-shirts
• vest tops
• skirts
• sarongs
• denim jeans
• cut-offs
• shorts with studs
• belts
• shorts longer than just below the knee
• underwear or thongs

Provision will be made for cultural requirements and medical conditions.

Do not wear swimming goggles if you are using the slides or diving boards.

• Do not enter the swimming pool if you are suffering or have suffered from diarrhoea within the previous 48 hours. If you have been diagnosed with Cryptosporidiosis [external link], do not swim until you have been free of symptoms for 14 days.
• Visit the toilet before you swim and always wash your hands after using the toilet.
• You are required to shower before entering the pool - if everyone does this properly, it will improve water quality and reduce the risk of contamination.
• All infants who are not toilet trained must wear an aqua-nappy. Do not change nappies on poolside.
• If the pool is contaminated by vomit, blood or faeces, report it to a member of staff immediately.
• Customers are not permitted to swim in underwear when swimming at the Dolphin Centre. Appropriate and proper swimming attire must be worn at all times. Swimwear can be purchased from our swimwear merchandise stand that is located in the reception foyer area.

Bather loading in the Dolphin Centre pools complex is controlled by coloured wrist bands. These wrist bands are the locker wrist straps which customers receive when paying for a swim and a locker at the Dolphin Centre reception desk.

The Dolphin Centre uses 5 coloured wrist bands (Green, Red, Blue, Yellow and White) and during peak periods we operate our band callout system to manage and monitor pool users in our pool complex.

During peak periods customers will get a minimum of 60 mins and a maximum of 75 mins swimming time.

Above the poolside office there are coloured lights that you may see flashing. If the coloured light flashing matches your band colour, this indicates that your swimming time is up.

When calling customers out of the pool, the Dolphin Centre staff will also call a siren.

Prams and pushchairs can't be taken onto the poolside. Please use the buggy park in the Changing Village or the one next to the 'Under the sea' soft play area.

We ask that all electronic devices are not used on poolside.