Is it permissible according to halacha to go to the beach during the Nine Days?

Hello,

According to the Sephardi tradition, it is permissible to go to the beach during the Nine Days, even during the week in which Tisha B'Av falls. According to the Ashkenazi tradition, it is permissible only until Rosh Chodesh Av.

In all traditions, extra caution is required not to swim in places where there is a danger during the entire period of the Three Weeks, as these days are considered to be susceptible, Heaven forbid, to undesirable events.

Sources: The Sephardi custom is to permit bathing in cold water during the Nine Days, even in the week in which Tisha B'Av falls, and therefore it is permitted to enter the sea during these days, as explained in Yabia Omer (part 5, Orach Chaim, end of siman 41) and Yechave Da'at (part 1, siman 38).

The Ashkenazi custom is not to bathe even in cold water from Rosh Chodesh Av onward, as written by the Rama in Orach Chaim (siman 551, paragraph 16), and therefore they should not enter the sea during the Nine Days.

In any case, extra caution is required not to swim in places where there is a danger throughout the Three Weeks, and it is already written by the Chatam Sofer, ztz"l, in his book Ma'ayan Ganim (siman 551, paragraph 14) that he saw people refrain from bathing in rivers throughout the Three Weeks due to the danger, as the time is susceptible to harm. See also in the book Orchos Rabbeinu part 2 (page 129). And refer to Teshuvot V'hanhagot (part 2, siman 263) which states not to swim deep in the sea to the height of a person during the Three Weeks, as these days, Heaven forbid, are susceptible to danger. Check it out there.

Best regards,

Hillel Meir