Santa Monica Swim Center

Rating: 10 on a scale of 10.
This is a beautiful facility with a deck-level, modern pool and very friendly, professional staff. It's a better pool than the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center (cleaner, more modern pool design, more friendly and professional staff, better pricing).

In/out privileges are allowed, if you let the front window know, meaning you can swim, get a sandwich and then workout again. Street parking is $1.25/hour, there's a two hour maximum, then move the car and pay again. If you buy a pass, you can get free parking.The locker issue is minimal; although theft is a risk anywhere, the vibe at this pool tells me the risk is negligible.

This is a great complex with lots of diverse aquatic activity. There are two pools; one smaller, warmer and shallower; the other bigger, cooler and deeper. There’s definitely lots of pressure with all the teams and groups; but there’s also a lot of availability to swim laps. Afternoon in the splash pool they like bookings.

I give it a 10 - I go there to swim not to use the locker room. With a 20-swim pool pass, they give you a pass to park in the college garages for free, so as a senior I buy a 20-swim pass and it comes out to $1.88 per swim - parking included.

There are too many teams monopolizing the lanes.

The lockers are on the pool deck, so you have to carry your clothes out, after your shower, to secure them. Definitely not a 9 in my book. For a 9, try the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center in Pasadena.

Rating: 9 on a scale of 10 (½ point off for not being open for lap swimming all day and ½ point for having long course lanes only three mornings a week.