Cold Water Swimming And Where To Enjoy It In Kent & Sussex
We take a look at the many health benefits of cold water swimming and where you can take part in the activity locally…
Image Photo by Nina Deschères on Unsplash
Getting up at the crack of dawn and diving into some, let’s face it, freezing cold water of a morning may not be your idea of fun on the face of it. But take a moment to consider the health benefits of cold water swimming and you might just change your mind.
The main benefits include that it is good for the circulation as it brings your blood to the surface, it boosts the immune system through helping to produce more anti-oxidants and white blood cells and it is of course a great form of exercise for the whole body, helping with fitness and weight management.
It can also reduce stress, as it triggers the fight or flight response in us which should diminish as you repeat the experience, and it has also been seen to improve people’s general mood.
Cold water swimming is also a great way to meet new people and socialise. So it will also inevitably be good for your mental health too.
If you are new to cold water swimming, then The Outdoor Swimming Society recommend that you keep it up regularly (at least once a week) to acclimatise and increase the amount of time you spend in the water gradually. Then once your swim is over, get yourself dry and into warm clothes as soon as possible, and enjoy a nice warm drink!
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So why not give it a go and get your day off to the best possible start? The safest way to get involved is to join a club, so you are not swimming alone and are in an area you know is regularly used for swimming. Here we have rounded up some of the clubs you can check out locally…
Groups in Kent
The Sheppey Bluetits are part of The Bluetits Chill Swimmers Ltd – "a social enterprise that exists to encourage people to give cold water swimming a go". Visit https://en-gb.facebook.com/groups/415488153231693/
Folkestone Sea Swimmers is a group for anyone in Folkestone who's interested in getting together with others for sea swimming. Visit https://en-gb.facebook.com/groups/178922999330430/
Dover Darlings Open Water Swim Group are a "group of darlings who like to meet up in Dover harbour and have a dip, all year round"! Visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/2289942054503790/
Hythe Sea Swimmers are a gathering of like-minded people who enjoy swimming in the sea year-round – “there is no formal arrangement or organisation, it's simply a place we meet”. Visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/205584503510882
Groups in Sussex
Bexhill Seagals is a group for ladies (only) who "wish to experience the thrill of cold water swimming (or paddling!)". Visit https://en-gb.facebook.com/groups/wadhurstbluetits/
Littlehampton Sea Swimmers is a "friendly and informal group for sea swimming in the Littlehampton area". Visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/2580950548822119/
Salty Seabirds are a community sea swimmers in Brighton and Hove who swim all year round and are “an inclusive group of swimmers and the focus of our daily dips is to have fun and find friendship”. Visit https://en-gb.facebook.com/groups/1428502797269726/
Sos – Solent Outdoor Swimmers, near the border of West Sussex, they meet at the Emsworth steps along the path to Thorney Island for sea dips (tide allowing). Visit https://en-gb.facebook.com/groups/SolentOutdoorSwimmers/
Eastbourne Open Water Swimmers meet at the First Aid Post/ Lifeguard Tower west of the pier by the Wish Tower car park. Visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/482840503084459/
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