Five best: Swimming pools in Singapore

Katong Swimming Complex

111 Wilkinson Rd (6344 9609) Daily 8am-9pm. Adult $1 (Mon-Fri); $1.30 (Sat & Sun). Concession $0.50 (Mon-Fri); $0.70 (Sat & Sun)
Dipping variety: Competition, teaching and wading pools.
Eye candy: The mural at the extreme left side of the complex when you enter is of a stick man in a series of diving positions.
Crowd gazing: The most toned and tanned old people you will find.
Decibel level: Cicada quiet. You can even hear the mould grow.
Noteworthy: It desperately needs a makeover.

Jurong East Swimming Complex

21 Jurong East St 31 (6563 5052/6565 2297) Mon 2.30-9pm; Tue-Sun 8am-9pm. Adult $1.50 (Mon-Fri); $2 (Sat & Sun). Concession $0.80 (Mon-Fri); $1 (Sat & Sun)
Dipping variety: Competition and wave pools, lazy river, water slides and a jacuzzi.
Eye candy: There’s a 3-D movie viewer for a buck outside the men’s changing room.
Crowd gazing: Tons of children and teenagers, with maids and extended families in tow. Also, the rare expat.
Decibel level: Ear-piercing. Kids screeching in either delight or terror. It’s hard to gauge.
Noteworthy: Greasy KFC and Pizza Hut in the building. 

Buona Vista Swimming Complex

76 Holland Dr (6778 7230) Daily 8am-9.30pm. Adult $1 (Mon-Fri); $1.30 (Sat & Sun). Concession $0.50 (Mon-Fri); $0.60, $0.70 (Sat & Sun)
Dipping variety: Competition, teaching and wading pools.
Eye candy: The yellow, brown and turquoise colours of the complex are reminiscent of a Wes Anderson movie.
Crowd gazing: More idlers than swimmers.
Decibel level: White noise. Constitutes the murmur of Buona Vista residents deep in humdrum gossip.
Noteworthy: Post-swim drinks? The complex is located next to the car park behind popular Holland Village boozing spot Wala Wala. 

Queenstown Swimming Complex

473 Stirling Rd (6473 7269) Daily 8am-9pm. Adult $1 (Mon-Fri); $1.30 (Sat & Sun). Concession $0.50 (Mon-Fri); $0.70 (Sat & Sun)
Dipping variety: Competition, teaching, wading and diving pools.
Eye candy: Small reading corner in the canteen. Shelves stocked with Buddhist sutras and trashy Chinese gossip magazines.
Crowd gazing: Young, attractive, single sunbathers and couples with their kids.
Decibel level: Peaceful enough for a siesta.
Noteworthy: Opened in 1970, it is the oldest running swimming complex. It's also near Ikea. 

Toa Payoh Swimming Complex

301 Toa Payoh Lorong 6 (6259 4808) Daily 8am-9pm. Adult $1 (Mon-Fri); $1.30 (Sat & Sun). Concession $0.50 (Mon-Fri); $0.70 (Sat & Sun)
Dipping variety: Competition, teaching, wading, training and diving pools.
Eye candy: The sleek, taut, tanned bodies of water polo players in training. Think Baywatch with yellow balls.
Crowd gazing: A range – from the nubile and athletic to the ah peks sporting too-tight Speedos.
Decibel level: Unpleasant. PIE traffic is incessant.
Noteworthy: The retro-futuristic lifeguard booth with a spiral staircase looks like something out of Robocop.

This story first appeared as 'Pool factor' (Jun 2008).