When I was 16 I went to a job interview at a theme park near my home. They said they were looking for pool staff to assist the lifeguards at one of their waterslides, ensuring that people were able to find their way out of the pool after falling off the end of the slide. Swimmers only. Uniforms would be provided.

I always liked the idea of getting wet in clothes, but was never allowed by my parents to do it. My mother told me that I will not be asked to jump into the pool, and that I should go wearing a smart polo shirt and chino pants. I said I may have to jump into the pool, but she said they wouldn't ask for that.

So I took her advice and went in a red polo shirt over a white T-shirt and my white chino pants, looking good. I always wanted to get wet in these clothes, hoping that today might be my chance.

Sure enough, I was asked to "change" and show how well I could swim. Since I only went in my smart clothes, no swimwear, I jumped into the pool like that. Hey, what a great feeling that was. I never thought clothes feel this good in the water.

I swam several lengths in pool, like they asked me to. They were quite impressed that I could swim in clothes and they hired me because the job would involve occasional swims in my uniform. The water park also allowed their visitors to wear clothes in the water.

Then they said I could stay in the pool for as long as I wanted and check out the rest of the water park. I was in wet clothes paradise, getting soaked at various attractions and watching other people swim and play in wet clothes.

When my mother came to pick me up, she was shocked when she saw me soaking wet and that I was asked to jump in the pool. After I got home (still fairly soaked), I jumped into our backyard pool as I was.

One of my friends was at our house at the time, but he said he couldn't join me in the pool because his parents forbid the wet clothes stuff and he didn't have any swimshorts with him.

So I said: "Go to my room, pick some clothes you like and come swimming." A short moment later he came down with a big smile, dressed in my black jeans, T-shirt and yellow hoodie. It was a thrill to see him jump into the pool many times, with the hoodie clinging to him, and the jeans shining.

The next weekend he invited me over to go swimming at his home. What a suprise when it was when I arrived and saw him in the pool fully clothed. Apparently his parents had given in. So I quickly joined him in the pool wearing my jeans, T-shirt and jumper. It's been great fun. Since then we always go swimming in our clothes. Why not?

Joey, Australia 

My name is Rakesh, and I'm one of the lifeguards in a water park in Chennai. It has a big Tsunami which can run down the wave pool and raise the water level quickly by about half a meter. When the tsunami comes it soakes all the swimmers who are sitting at the shallow end of the pool.

In our water park it is customary that people dress modestly, covering their top with a T-shirt and wear shorts or pants that go below the knee. It is a very colourful scene to see all the people having a good time in their wet clothes.

Here comes the wet bit

The tsunami is a wet and refreshing event for the lifeguards who take turns attending it. The lifeguards get the swimmers out of the wave pool before the tsunami launches and make them sit at the shallow end. We then form a people chain towards the pool to stop anyone getting to back into the pool when the tsunami rolls in and soakes them all.

The good bit is that we get hit by the wave and the spray first, soaking our uniforms completely. This is great in the hot weather we have. I just keep my wet uniform on to keep cool, but it dries quickly, so I'll find a way to get my clothes wet again. Great fun. You should come to India.




My colleage Chandra is completely soaked after the tsunami passed.

He loves it.