A new app for sea swimmers in Ireland is set to provide enthusiasts with all they need to know before they get their toes wet.
The Sea is a free platform featuring all the locations and information you need for your coastal endeavours, including activities, culture, environment, and advocacy.
Newstalk's Bobby Kerr joined the creator of the app Peter O'Brien for a dip to discuss the initiative.
Peter explained on Down to Business with Bobby Kerr how the project was born out of his passion for sea swimming.
He bought thesea.ie domain around five years ago with the intention to provide information on the best swimming locations and tide times.
This grew into a platform that would map the Irish coastline and include the heritage spots, culture and environment alongside it.
"It goes into all those areas and maps the coast and all the swim and surfing spots," Peter said.
Live @NewstalkFM - I’m out & about finding out more about https://t.co/Mt8zwNhWti - a new app for swimming enthusiasts that tells you all you need to know before you take the plunge! #BobbyMeansBiz pic.twitter.com/IkzYqSCEnI
— Bobby Kerr (@bobbykerr) May 15, 2021
"It's also a Wiki app, so people can put in their swim spots, we've got 150 on the app I think, but there are thousands of swim spots in Ireland.
"I think everybody is into the sea now, and it's a useful resource for people to have.
"If you are a sea swimmer and you're going to the west coast and you're from the east, it's great to have a space that you can look up these spots."
The app also features information about sea conservation, which is one of Peter's passions.
"It's really in terrible trouble, I think a lot of people understand that these days," he said.
"Every second breath we take comes from the ocean and the large mammals are in desperate trouble because of overfishing
"If we're going to want to use it and enjoy it for future generations, it will really have to be better managed.
"Marine protected areas is a big part of what we need to ramp up."
Petter added that he is going to continue developing the app and adding new features, but it will remain free for the foreseeable future.
"I'm an environmental campaigner and an activist and this is a contribution to that," he stated.
"For now, it's a service for the sea lovers of the island."
You can download The Sea app here.
