We are and Im dead scared that I'll have a heart attack due to the cold but I need to give it a try. I have a woolly hat and gloves.

My OH is cheating with a wetsuit

Good luck, but take care;…and I have to say I admire your bravery.

“If you're not used to the cold, a common response is to be initially shocked and fight for breath, says Mark Harper, an anaesthetist who swims in the sea off Brighton. It is this struggling for breath that usually causes people to drown, not hypothermia. "Essentially a couple of litres of water in their lungs, that's what kills people. Waves and not being able to hold your breath." It's why sea swimming can be more dangerous than having a dip somewhere like the Serpentine.”

I was going to clip in with something glib, like 'no. It sounds ****ing awful'.....

But now i hear your actually doing it, i want to wish you well. Im sure it'll be fine.

erm..........let me think.

No.

Your call, OP, but personally I'd give it a miss. I honestly don't think it will do you any good.

I have a cold, so understandably two words ). Or three words to be more social- not a chance.

Oh, I was hoping this was a more popular activity than you're all saying

Its here, I last went in October and we keep meaning to go at weekends (I was going every night nearly after work) but we havent kept it up.

http://walpolebayswimmers.co.uk/

I follow them on twitter and theres loads of sea swimmers across the country and these people are at it all the time. Its meant to be good for you

I’m sure swimming per se has health benefits but are they enhanced by swimming in cold sea water??

P.S. I’m from a seafaring background and keeping myself out of the sea was always something that was high on my priority list!

P.P.S. underestimate deep cold water at your peril.

I'm not weird.

Be honest, you weren't going to do it even if you didn't have a cold. I know I'm not!

The only water I'll be taking a dip in is my bath water complete with himalayan bath salts.

Apparently yes, and I was always on a bit of a high when I went before, it was chilly but not unbearable, but of course in October the sea temp was around 14 ish, its the warmest time of the year.

As tempting as it sounds... no.

I'm not - I have a brain and (respectfully) can think of better ways to welcome in the new year than to do something utterly stupid.

No, I'm not mental.

A woolly hat and gloves are a good start. I would also recommend some form of bathing suit.

I think you should reconsider;

… you have not seen 'Titanic' ?

Absolutely no chance. It has to be a really hot day for me to venture into the sea in the middle of the summer, no way am I going near it in winter! A bunch of classmates once decided to go swimming in the river in January. They were all really ill, needed medical attention and got a rollicking for being so stupid.

All these posts are putting me right off. What sort of 'ill' were they?

Pollocks, I knew there was something else I needed.

Rather optimistically I have a snorkel kit in my swim bag because there have been lobsters in the pool before and some lovely sea life.

To swim in? Anything else you might have forgotten?
You are one crazy brave girl and good luck.

Edit ... I see you've remembered.

Near where I live there's an older bloke who swims every day between the piers. He's charmingly mad as a hatter though.

Enjoy the shocking ole thrill of it Tiacat.


There's a group of old ladies that swim EVERY day near me, including through the winter.


Cold water swimming is apparantly very good for depression. The cold and effort gives you an adrenaline rush and you feel really alive. Then when you're out and warm you feel euphoric.

I'm going to start doing it from May when my local lido opens. Not doing it until then though.

I was surprised how OK it was. so I went some more times in January
But not with other people about
and not with clothes
This was Torquay Paignton

Delicious.

And the sea isn't all that cold in Jan, worse in May.

Bloody cold enough mind.

Look up the best ways to approach this. If you haven't done all ready.

...is it any good if you’re not depressed though?

P.S. feeling inordinately warm is one of the symptoms of hypothermia,…followed shortly by death!