FAQs

Do I need a wetsuit? Is it warm enough to swim without a wetsuit?

No one can answer this question apart from you. There is no definitive temperature at which people should wear a wetsuit. It all depends on your own body, your tolerance, your acclimatisation, how long you want to stay in for. Some people wear wetsuits all year round, some people wear ‘skins’ (swimming costume only) all year round, some people wear wetsuits some of the time.

You can wear more or less neoprene (wetsuit material) as feels right for you. Neoprene socks and gloves are popular with skins swimmers in the winter. Neoprene jackets and hats are available, and wetsuits themselves vary in their thickness.

Think about how well you tolerate the cold. The first time you go for a dip be prepared to get out if you are finding it too cold. It’s best to start swimming outdoors in the summer or autumn, then as the temperatures drop you can judge yourself when and how you want to embrace the neoprene.

Where’s a good place for beginners?

If you are at all nervous in the water, the best place to start would be a supervised outdoor session. The Blue Lagooners near Pontefract and Swim your Swim near Doncaster both run these regularly and have good reputations.

Is X swimspot safe? Is it suitable for children?

The short answer is ‘no’. No outdoor swimming place is ‘safe’ if you mean that no-one swimming there will ever get into trouble, or drown. Just like our roads are not ‘safe’ and people are injured and die every year. The swimspots on this site are places where people swim regularly - that’s about as much as can be said truthfully. You must always make up your own mind about whether your skill, confidence and experience, together with the conditions on a particular day and time, mean that you want to enter the water. Everyone swims at their own risk. Educate yourself about the risks of outdoor swimming, and about the key safety points.

Regarding children - if you take a child swimming you are responsible for their safety at all times.

What do I need to start swimming? What type of X/Y/Z should I get?

I’ve written about the kit you need to start swimming. In the summer this can be as little as something to swim in and some water shoes.

You might want to ask other swimmers what brand of particular kit they use, if you see something you fancy, but really, there are few stand out brands. It’s more about thinking whether the kit has the features you want - for example a tow float with a space for valuables is more useful than one without.

Please also consider buying from retailers that understand open water swimming rather than from Amazon. (There’s a few ideas on the kit page). An independent retailer will be happy to answer your questions and give you advice. It may cost a little more, but you are supporting the community of outdoor swimming and you are much more likely to get a quality product (and be buying from someone who pays tax in the UK, which goes towards funding our emergency services, our schools, our NHS, our local councils . . . ).

Is there a regular group session I can join in?

There are regular swims at the Blue Lagooners and at Swim your Swim. Wild Wanderers Women only group on Facebook regularly organise swims at local spots. Your best bet is to look out for posts on facebook groups (like FLOWS, KAPOWS, Nidderdale Wild Swimmers, SOUP and York Swimmers) - or post your own suggestion of a time and place and see who joins you. Don’t be disheartened if it takes a while to organise something - being specific about time and place will help. If you are friendly and open you should soon start to make connections with other people who want to swim at the same time and place as you!

Where do you put your stuff?

I often just leave my stuff on the bank. If you are (understandably) not comfortable with this, you can get a tow float with space for valuables such as keys and your phone, or a smaller waterproof bag (like this one) or bring along a beach butler.