Everything You Need to Know about Wild Swimming
Wild swimming is exactly what the name suggests: swimming in the wild. Otherwise known as open-water swimming.
This can refer to virtually any unrestricted body of water, including the ocean, rivers and lakes.
I was blessed to grow up in a tiny seaside town in the southeast of England, where the sea is literally just outside my door. As a child, I never knew any different but now as an adult, I find it very difficult to live without it.
There are many benefits to wild swimming including better mental and physical health as well as it being a challenging source of fitness. But trust me, swimming in the pool is one thing and swimming in the wild is quite another.
Why do people enjoy wild swimming so much?
Summer days well spent jumping off into the sea!
There’s just something about immersing yourself in open water that provides a sense of elation and relaxation. If you want to get all hippy-dippy about it, I suppose it’s the fact that you’re at one with Mother Nature. And if you swim in the sea, that’s when Mother Nature is at her most powerful as nobody can control the ocean. It’s freedom. You’re free.
Then there’s the health benefits! As well as producing a natural endorphin high, cold water initiates a process of cold adaptation in your body that rapidly increases your tolerance to cold temperatures, makes cold water feel more comfortable, and improves overall health. You’ve seen or heard about athletes taking ice baths after physical activity, right? Well, that’s because cold water helps speed up the recovery process after exercise by reducing temperature, blood flow and inflammation in the muscle tissue.
Plus, it’s free! Public swimming pools charge you to use their facilities, whereas nature doesn’t.
What are the health benefits of wild swimming?
With the rain falling down, this looks like pure heaven to me!
Hydrotherapy, in all its traditional forms, has always been highly recommended by health professionals. Having joint trouble? Head to the pool. Muscles hurting? Have a bath. This dates all the way back to the Roman era when they would frequently switch between hot and cold plunge pools. The reason for this is that it produces a strong vasodilation that pumps out lactate from the muscles and replenishes the blood in the extremities. Strong endorphins are subsequently released as a result, which can improve immunity and treat depression. The body's perception of coldness is then lessened once you're submerged in the water and adaptation starts to take effect, allowing for a far more enjoyable experience.
Frequent icy plunges, in the bath or the wild, help rid the body of pollutants and enhance mental and physical well-being. And as an added bonus, because your body is working so hard, open-water swimming can be a terrific way to burn off some calories!
Lastly, it’s perfect for de-stressing, as it often acts as a form of mindfulness or meditation. And in this modern, digital society, going for a dip outside in nature is the perfect chance to get away from your phone for a bit!
What to be aware of when wild swimming
As with any adventure activity, wild swimming comes with a few safety things to think about -
Never go swimming in reedy shallow areas, stagnant lakes, urban rivers, or canals
Be cautious of water quality and avoid any floodwater
Keep cuts and wounds covered, you never know what could be in there!
Don’t swim alone or if you do, make sure to let someone know where you are
Check your surroundings for depth, rocks, obstructions etc. and try not to jump in head first, just in case!
Keep an eye on the current, you don’t want to be swept out with no control over how to get back to shore
Be sensible. Don’t stay in too long and get too cold – warm up straight after a swim but avoid a hot shower
What to wear wild swimming
Bunch of swimmers ready to embrace the waves in competitive open-water swimming
Well, not only does that depend on the season (especially in the U.K. as the temperature changes at all different points in the year) but more importantly, it depends on your comfort levels.
Wild swimming is for everyone at all ages! And sea swimming communities are growing more and more by the day. The best part about it? You can wear whatever you want!
Well, within reason of course…
Handstands in the ocean anyone?
As a scuba diver, I’m used to wearing rash vests and wetsuits so personally, I like to wear a wetsuit when swimming during winter. But in the summer, you’ll find me in a swimming costume just like the rest of them!
Sometimes, you may even catch me in my scuba diving mask, snorkel and fins depending on the visibility of the water.
What to do/wear after wild swimming
If only I looked this good after a wild swim!..
Honestly, the most important thing to do is warm up! If you swim outdoors frequently, you have undoubtedly encountered ‘after-drop’, which is the reduction in your body's core temperature after you exit the water.
When you're in the water, the typical process starts, and it's completely normal. Your body will decrease the flow of blood to your skin and limbs to protect your essential organs, keeping your core warm but your limbs and skin cool. As soon as you emerge from the water, the warmer blood in your core will come together with the cooler blood from your skin and limbs, causing your core temperature to drop. Maintaining your body temperature throughout this process is crucial for your health and safety.
What are the best ways to stay warm after a swim?
Imagine this melting cup of hot chocolate after your wild swim!
Strip off, wrap up warm, have a hot drink and avoid a hot shower straight away!
It's much better to let your body naturally warm up before stepping into a hot, scorching shower, however tempting it might be! Your core temperature drops faster and lower when you take a hot shower since it speeds up the rate at which cold blood rushes to your warm core. It’ll be a terrible shock to the system so please, please avoid that ever-so compelling hot shower!
Instead, wrap yourself up in a lovely warm towel or dry robe, and whack on some comfy warm clothes (thermals, fluffy socks, woolly hat etc), then enjoy a delicious hot chocolate or herbal tea. Once your body is ready and regulated, then you can have that long-awaited shower!
Wild swimming appeals to a wide range of people, from young teens just messing about with their mates, to the older generation who find it helps keep them fit and healthy. It doesn’t matter who you are or what age you are, anyone can enjoy wild swimming and I hope this post has encouraged you to give it a go!
If you’d like to read more about how I stay warm and what I specifically like to wear after a wild swim, then please read my post - How to Stay Warm after Wild Swimming
