Studies on the way recreational swimming is practised in the swimming pool environment generally highlight sociodemographic criteria. The objective of the present study is to identify and understand such practices, based more on subjective factors and the meaning of the practices for the participants. Our study concerned indoor pools in Lyon (France) and was based on a questionnaire (N=700). Interpretation was based on the concept of forms of practice with five different aspects: the meaning given to the practice; wishes in the way of change to facilities and services; space relations; time relations; and the major social characteristics of users. The results showed that the types of use were highly complex and varied.