Two tourist swimmers who went for a dip in Hamilton Harbour were quickly told to get out of the water in case they were hit by shipping or boats using the busy waterway.

Quite why the duo thought it a good idea to take to the water at a location where ferries, shipping and pleasure boats are often jostling for position, rather than seek out one of the Island?s famed beaches, will probably never be known as the two men have since left Bermuda.

But a Police inspector has warned any others who might make the same choice to think again and said that swimming in the harbour is ?a no brainer? and should not be attempted by anyone.

A passing ferry raised the alarm after spotting the two British visitors out swimming in the busy harbour having apparently decided to cool off while staying at The Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel on Pitts Bay Road.

The harbour water was choppy at the time, around 5.30 p.m. on Saturday, when the men were seen by the crew of a passing ferry and reported to the Marine Police section. A patrol boat was launched to intercept the men and tell them to head back to the shore, which they did. Insp. Mark Bothello, of the marine section, said: ?The ferry reported them to us and we sent a boat to tell them to go back to Princess dock. They were not in the main channel. Swimming in the harbour is a ?no brainer?. We would warn people from swimming in active shipping lanes and areas where there is a high concentration of vessels.?

Asked if the swimmers might also have been risking their health from potential pollution in the commercial waterway, or even encountering sharks in the deep water, Insp. Bothello said he was not aware of sharks being sighted in the harbour and believed the only water draining into the harbour comes from ordinary street run-offs. But the harbour is such a busy area for all manner of shipping and boats that swimmers are asking for trouble if they go out into its water, he warned.

?People should be aware of their surroundings if they are going out swimming. Nine times out of ten the head of a swimmer in the water will not be seen from a boat. Swimming in this kind of area, or after dark, is frowned upon. I recall the weather was also quite blowy on Saturday,? said Insp. Bothello.

?The two men were from the UK and left the Island the next day.?