Is it Permissible According to Halacha to Enter the Sea on Shabbat?

Hello,

It is not permitted to enter the sea on Shabbat.

Sources: See Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim (Siman 318, Sif 2) and Mishna Berura (Skiya 1) that if the pool does not have a surrounding wall, it is prohibited to swim in it on Shabbat because when the water is displaced and flows outside the pool, it is similar to a river, and it is included in the decree of not swimming on the water lest one create a barrel of swimming. See there.

Also, even when the pool does have a surrounding wall, one should refrain from swimming in it, according to Mishna Berura (Siman 326, Sk 21) that the custom among Ashkenazim is not to wash in a river or a mikveh at all, as it is likely to lead to the squeezing of hair, among other reasons. See there. This is also stated in Responsa Ba'er Moshe, Part 3 (Siman 56) and in Shmirat Shabbat K'Hilchata, Part 1 (Chapter 16, Sif 39), that it is prohibited to swim in the sea and in a pool on Shabbat. See also in Responsa Teshuvot V'Hanhagot, Part 1 (Siman 218).

And also for Sephardim, this is to be prohibited as stated in Responsa Yaskil Avdi, Part 6 (Siman 1). This is also mentioned in Yalkut Yosef (Siman 341, page 15) in the name of Rav Ovadiah Yosef, zt”l, that even for Sephardim it should be ruled practically not to wash in a pool on Shabbat. This is also stated in Responsa Divrei Eliyahu, Part 7 (Siman 19). See also in the book Or L’Tzion, Part 2 (Chapter 47, Sif 32).

Best regards,

Hillel Meirs