For students staying in town this summer, Bowling Green offers many cool spots to take a dive into some summer fun.

The closest option for students on campus is the Student Recreation Center.

Senior Robert Fitzgerald said he goes to the Recreation Center to swim because it is free, accessible and the closest option.

“My favorite thing about swimming is that it’s good exercise and fun,” Fitzgerald said.

According to the University’s Department of Recreation and Wellness website, if you have eight or more credit hours there is no fee to use the Recreation Center’s pool.

Additionally, the Recreation Center offers discounted memberships to students taking less than eight credit hours.

Graduate student Stephanie Winner said she likes that the Recreation Center pool is indoors, so swimming does not have to be limited to just summer and people can swim laps for exercise during the winter too.

For students willing to travel a little further to take a splash, students can choose to swim at the Portage Quarry Recreation Club Inc.

Senior Jessica Koetzle said she chooses the Quarry over other swimming options because it is the closest thing Bowling Green has to a beach and she gets to lie outside under the sun.

The best part about swimming is just cooling off when it is hot, rather than swimming itself, Koetzel said.

Some students said they would rather swim at apartment pools because their friends have a membership and they can get in free as well.

Winner said she tends to go to Falcon’s Pointe because her friends live there.

The Bowling Green City Pool is another option in town for students.

According to bgohio.org, a day pass costs $5.

For students willing to spend a little more, there are also waterparks like Castaway Bay, Cedar Point’s Soak City and Kalahari in Sandusky, Ohio.

According to the waterparks’ websites, a day pass at Castaway Bay costs $29, Soak City costs $32.99 and Kalahari cost $49 per person.

Swimming does not have to be restricted to the limits of Bowling Green, or even Ohio.

Graduate student Felix Miga said he cannot swim, but as a child he lived in the Dominican Republic and he would go to the lagoons.

Miga said he later moved to the U.S. Virgin Islands and enjoyed the beach. Although Miga doesn’t swim yet, the various options of pools and waterparks around the area gives him an opportunity to learn.

“When I learn to swim, I want to dive and look at coral,” Miga said. “I hope to learn soon because it’s also good exercise.”