Editorial: 'swim safe and sensibly and chances are you won’t regret it'

I recently set myself a challenge – to swim in the sea every day for 21 days. Admittedly, a thunderstorm upset my flow at day 15 and I struggled to maintain my daily dedication thereafter. But for the most part, I swam for three weeks.

It might have been August but sea swimming in Ireland means in a short space of time you see all the seasons.

There were days when the sun beat down on my back and the sea was like a lake, there were others in which the waves were so high and powerful that even at waist deep, I was knocked off my feet.

Some days I swam early in the morning when I nearly had the beach to myself, other days I swam in the afternoon surrounded by the shrieks of kids on body boards, but my favourite is always in the evening when the tide is in and water is that little bit warmer.

Some days I couldn’t get my swimsuit on fast enough to get in the water, others I didn’t really want to swim but got in anyway. There were days when the dips were quick and I just about got the shoulders down and others where I floated away, bobbing up and down and losing track of time.

Chill out

No matter what the conditions were though I enjoyed every swim, shrieking after that first dive under the water, laughing when a wave caught me by surprise and appreciating how it really helped me to chill out.

The pandemic brought about plenty of fads – thankfully the likes of those restaurant food boxes were short lived. But sea swimming boomed in popularity during lockdown.

According to Swim Ireland, it saw unprecedented growth during the time, especially among people aged over 50, and that enthusiasm has sustained long after the pools and gyms reopened. It’s free, it requires little equipment but for many, it has also become a social outlet.

It relaxes the bones and leads to a great sleep. But it is the social element which has really helped people, a cup of tea afterwards and a chat is part of the whole experience

There are also plenty of benefits – with minerals such as sodium, chloride and sulphate, sea swimming is great for your skin, and it doesn’t just benefit your complexion, I noticed a massive difference in my psoriasis.

It also builds your immune system, and can regulate the antioxidant processes in your body, helping to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.

The saline can help those with sinus issues, and it can reduce inflammation reducing muscle pain. One of the most significant benefits I found was that lovely wave of tiredness that comes over you after a cold dip followed by a hot shower.

It relaxes the bones and leads to a great sleep. But it is the social element which has really helped people, a cup of tea afterwards and a chat is part of the whole experience.

Recognising that, Aware recently launched its second annual Big Splash campaign, urging people all over Ireland to come together for a swim or ‘dip’ on Saturday, 14 September in support of mental health.

You can register on aware.ie and it’s €23 to take part. As part of the donation, you’ll get a blue swimming hat that you can wear on the day to symbolise your support.

Now that I’m home from holidays and the sea isn’t on my doorstep, I miss it already, but I will have a last dip of the season on 14 September.

If you’re lucky enough to live by the coastline and you’ve been meaning to get a swim in this summer, have a quick dip before the winter nights roll in; swim safe and sensibly and chances are you won’t regret it.

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