For many, summer holds no greater joy than heading out for a day at the beach. But in these modern times, beaches often close because of high bacteria levels or algae bloom. What’s a tech-savvy beach bum gonna do about that? How about getting the newest iPhone app, called Swim Guide.

The app was the result of years of research by Waterkeepers, like Mark Mattson, president of Swim Guide and Waterkeeper for Lake Ontario. “This is a charitable organization devoted to protecting and celebrating our water full-time,” he says.

There are nine official Waterkeepers across the country safeguarding over 5,000 kilometres of Canadian watershed.

Having monitored Lake Ontario for 10 years, Mattson and Swim Guide have turned that information into a free, downloadable iPhone application that will guide users to clean, swimmable beaches for all of the Great Lakes and the Fraser River in British Columbia. In July, the beaches along the Saskatchewan River in northern Alberta and Biscayne Bay in Florida will be added.

Android applications for other phones will also soon be available as a free download or you can find it through the website at theswimguide.org.

It’s a straightforward way to gain information about swimmable beaches. Just tap the Beach Map icon to see beaches around you, so you’ll always know the ones that are closest to your present location, and which have been “posted” (which means that it does not meet certain water quality criteria). Green means go: the icon indicates beaches that are swimmable. Red means stop: icon indicates beaches that have been posted because of poor water quality. Yellow means caution: a beach that may be posted.

If summer means that you’re on the road across Canada or visiting friends in new places, you’ll be able to find the closest beaches to you. But if you are a homebody in the warmer months, there’s a Beach List icon that will build a list of your favourite beaches as you bookmark them. Get up in the morning, sun is up and day’s getting warm – just tap your list icon to see which way you’re going that day for the best beach experience.

You can even let your friends know where you are. Swim Guide interfaces with social networking sites Facebook and Twitter so your peeps know where to find you. Those stuck in the office, however, may not be your biggest fans.

You can get info on nearby beaches, so you’ll know what amenities each spot will offer you. Swim Guide also gives you directions to the desired beach through Google Maps.

This information is as fresh as a swim in a cold northern lake. According to Mattson, information is automatically updated each morning.

For those who are fastidious about water quality, you can see historical data showing how often your favourite beach has been closed. “People don’t necessarily trust day-long data. This way they can see the history. They can see what a particular beach looks like in August when water levels are low and it’s really hot.”

To see what Swim Guide can do for you, check it out on <A HREF=”http://www.youtube.com/LOWaterkeeper” TARGET=”_blank”>YouTube or the website <A HREF=”http://www.theswimguide.org”>www.theswimguide.org</A>. It’s a free download through iTunes.

See the original article via Beach babies | Life | London Free Press.