No Pool in Sight! The Joy of Open Water Swimming

I love swimming in open water. In the beautiful part of the South West where I live I'm blessed with boundless opportunities to (literally) take the plunge. There's those pools and rivers of Dartmoor and, of course, the sea. My favourite spot, pictured here, is just a ten minute walk from my house.

Moving so close to the coast kickstarted my habit of taking a regular dip. I rarely go to swimming pools anymore as they seem too sterile and are often crowded. I often have my secluded cove all to myself. It's the same when I holiday on the continent in Brittany and Galicia too.

Aside from during COVID lockdown, and when I was intensively looking after my parents, I try to sea swim at least once a month throughout the year. This is a modest goal compared to that of many hardy locals who have taken part in 365 day swim challenges. However even so I've noticed that my tolerance for cold water has increased. I don't make a fuss as I submerge myself beyond nipple level anymore!

What I Wear

Some diehard wild swimmers believe that it's cheating if you wear a wetsuit. Sod that! There's a number of reasons why I reach for the neoprene rather than a cozzie. Of course in the colder months it means that I can stay in the water longer and actually have a decent swim before hypothermia sets in. Sometimes I take a dip alongside the purists in winter. I'm often playing in the waves for longer than it takes them to undress, plunge themselves into the sea and get out and dress again.

The wetsuit is useful in summer as well for entirely different reasons. It forms a protective barrier when jellyfish drift across the Bay. And ever since the big local bull seal decided to put my leg in his mouth I'm much more inclined to cover up in home waters. Even an accidental nibble that breaks the skin can mean a trip to A&E thanks to the bacteria that these big marine mammals carry in their saliva

Over the years I’ve amassed a fair amount of swimming paraphernalia. None of it is very expensive. Yes, I own a robe, but it’s not one of those fancy designer ones. It was so cheap in the sale that I bought one for my partner Paul too. To be honest, it gets more use on the way to campsite shower blocks than it does at the beach. I find my quilted and towelling ponchos far more useful. I have a few of these and layer them according to season.

So what else is in the kit bag? Neoprene gloves, boots and a hood supplement the wetsuit in the chilliest months. More often than not I'll slip on my cheap swim shoes for dodging sharp rocks, broken glass and any weever fish that could be lurking under the sand waiting to give unsuspecting humans a sting. I've got those all-in-one snorkelling masks for when I fancy spying on the fishies. Oh and sometime I'll wear one of those waterproof pouch thingies around my neck to stash my keys, a payment card and my phone.

Personal Benefits

What are the benefits that I get from swimming? Happily that I can think of quite a few. It's good exercise and grounding and I love the sense of connection with nature. What comes to mind first though is the power of a seaside dip to be so stress relieving. I remember when it was my go to way of relaxing when I got home from a hard day at work.

Now I don't know the science behind this but I reckon that regular swims throughout the year have helped improve my tolerance of the cold in the water and out. I used to be a big winge bad when the temperature dropped but no more.. I've just asked Chat GPT and it agrees that I may have a point.

I'm careful though not to stay in chilly waters for too long. The risk of hypothermia doesn't go away. At the other extreme during long hot summers getting in the sea, river or pool is the obvious way to cool down. In sun scorched Andalusia in Southern Spain I'll sit in the Mediterranean for hours to combat temperatures which nearly reach forty degrees.

So there you have it. I don’t embrace extremes or challenges. I simply enjoy being submerged in a vast area of water. And if you ever need grounding or a gentle reset I wonder whether you might find your own special place where you too can feel the benefits of a quick dip.