With a heavy NE swell closing down most of the beaches along Australia’s East Coast over new year, not even the pools are safe.

In a somewhat typical Aussie understatement, the sign at North Curl Curl pool on Sydney’s Northern Beaches says “Pool Closed, Dangerous Conditions” and that’s if you can get close enough to read it without being washed away.

A new years day swim to shake out the NYE cobwebs from the previous night is pretty much out of the question.

While I was there, there were some much bigger waves/sprays but this one was pretty solid and nicely balanced the image with the pool. There should probably also be a sign that says “Don’t stand so close to the pool taking photographs” or shoot telephoto from a distance rather than wideangle. But then what’s the fun in that? Although the two feet of water swirling around below me was a bit dicey at times.