A "swimming hole" is a place in a river, stream, creek, spring or similar natural body of water which is large enough and deep enough for a person to swim in. Common usage usually refers to fresh, moving water and thus not to oceans or lakes.

Many older folks have nostalgic attachments to the term (e.g., "the ol' swimming hole") because they may have grown up in a time when there were few swimming pools and most people swam in such natural settings. With increased urbanization and industrialization, many have been lost. However, there are still countless natural swimming places that meet this definition and many are still used with great pleasure. Efforts in recent years to clean up such bodies of water have actually resulted in cleaner water in many rivers and creeks and healthier natural places to swim.

Safety is a paramount concern with swimming in natural settings. These are usually informal (unofficial) swimming places and usually there are no lifeguards. Currents can be swift and, in larger rivers, are often hidden beneath the surface. Being unregulated places, there may be drinking and rowdiness which lead to careless behavior. Diving in such places is especially dangerous as the depth may be insufficient or there may be hidden rocks below the surface resulting in broken necks or backs and paralysis or death. Broken glass is sometimes present and can cut feet if old sneakers or other footwear is not used.

"Skinny dipping", or swimming naked, is a well-established tradition at some more remote swimming holes and is an attraction to many natural swimming fans.

For more information about natural swimming places in the United States, see:

 http://www.swimmingholes.info .