Is it permitted to go to the beach during the Three Weeks?

Greetings,

According to the custom of Sephardim, it is permitted to enter the sea during the Three Weeks, even during the week in which Tisha B'Av falls, while according to the custom of Ashkenazim, it is permitted only until Rosh Chodesh Av.

For all customs, extra caution is required not to swim in places that pose a danger during all the days of the Three Weeks, as these days can unfortunately lead to undesirable occurrences.

Sources:

The custom of Sephardim is to permit bathing in cold water during the Nine Days and even during the week of Tisha B'Av, thus they are allowed to enter the sea during these days, as explained in the Responsa Yabia Omer, part 5 (section Orach Chaim, end of section 41) and in the Responsa Yechaveh Da'at, part 1 (section 38), and in the book Hazon Ovadia, Four Fasts (page 248).

The custom of Ashkenazim is not to bathe even in cold water from Rosh Chodesh Av onward, as stated by the Rema in Orach Chaim (section 563, paragraph 16), and therefore they should not enter the sea during the Nine Days.

Nonetheless, extra caution is required not to swim in places that pose a danger during all the days of the Three Weeks, as the Chut Shani zt"l wrote in his book Mevo'ot Chaim (section 563, paragraph 14) that he observed people refraining from bathing in rivers throughout the Three Weeks due to the danger, as the time is predisposed to harm. Similarly, it is mentioned in the book Aruchot Rabbeinu, part 2 (page 229). Refer also to Responsa Teshuvot Ve’Hanhagot, part 2 (section 263), which rules that during the days of the Three Weeks one should not venture deep into the sea—specifically, not beyond a depth approaching a person’s height—since these days are unfortunately prone to danger. End of report.

Best regards,

Hillel Meirs