Ashley Brooks

Review of Dartmouth Sportsplex

Great facility, questionable staff.

Great facility, questionable staff.

I go here regularly in the mornings to swim. The facility is fantastic, the renovations are clearly well done. The lifeguard staff, however, are lazy at best and downright incompetent at worst. Watched the lifeguard this morning spend 10 minutes chatting with some boy, who was texting on his cell phone, as opposed to scanning the pool. Even caught her posing for a picture at one point. Sometimes the lifeguards aren't even in a guard uniform, just general facility uniforms, which makes it really difficult to easily spot the lifeguard. (Not to mention anyone in full length pants, a sweater, and sneakers will be significantly encumbered during a rescue). I made a complaint to front desk once about no visible lifeguard, and no one watching the pool. Despite leaving a number for them to "call me to discuss the issue", no one ever followed up.

The couple times I've been in the evenings (when the pool is busier) the staff have seemed fine. Unnerving that the staff seems to feel they can get away with not doing their job just because it's quiet/the morning.

At this point, I don't trust the lifeguards there to notice I needed help, or be able to help me when they did. Lifeguarding is a serious job. You're responsible for people's safety. Any lifeguard who doesn't take their job seriously all the time (regardless of time of day, or number of patrons) shouldn't be lifeguarding.