Outdoor swimming is: an adventure, a community, fitness, wellbeing, a race, a meditation, a way of life… The rewards of swimming outdoors are many and varied and this guide is here to support you to take that first leap into the big blue beyond…
For years, authorities have been warning us against swimming in open water. They say it’s cold and dirty, that there are hidden undercurrents and weeds that can entangle you and drag you down, and if you do happen to survive the initial swim, you’ll probably get ill afterwards. Later we’ll bust these myths and show you how you can swim outside safely, but firstly we want to answer a more fundamental question: why should you swim outside?
Perhaps the main draw – plain and simple – is that it’s very enjoyable. If you haven’t experienced outdoor swimming, that can sound surprising. If you’re used to swimming pool temperatures for example, entering open water can give you quite a shock (literally) but with a bit of practice you can tolerate, and even thrive in, a wide range of natural water temperatures. Swimming in cool water is a whole-body sensual experience. There’s an initial period of discomfort followed by a spell of feeling invigorated and energised.