How sea swimming improves our mental wellbeing

Experts reveal the benefits of sea swimming

Though swimming in a pool might be a tad more common, sea swimming is just as popular, especially here in Ireland.

Not only can it have a positive impact on your physical health, but your mental health is equally impacted.

In a 2019 study, researchers found that sea swimming can be "transformative" and can drastically improve your mental wellbeing.

So, how can sea swimming improve our mental health?

According to the study, Denton discovered three main benefits to sea swimming.

Sea swimming is transformative

Participants in the 2019 study found that sea swimming is transformative. They noticed changes happened to their body, their mind, and most interestingly, their identity.

As per the Outdoor Swimming Society, author Hannah Denton, who is also a psychologist and a sea swimmer, explains:

"Swimmers described swimming as transformative. They reported identifiable stages over the course of a swim and also described how their mood could change as a result of the experience feeling ‘healing’, ‘resourcing’ and ‘a way to escape’."

It helps you to connect

Being in the sea, actively in nature, creates a connection. Sea swimming was found to enable this "sense of belonging to nature, place and others".

Denton explained to the Outdoor Swimming Society:

“Swimmers also described a strong sense of connection and belonging as a result of swimming; to the natural world, to the place they swim, to other swimmers in the water, and also to the swimming community."

The sea swimming community in Ireland is thriving at the moment, making it a wonderful place to make new friends.

The act of cold water swimming, in general, holds many benefits as well

Any body of cold water, including swimming in the cold Irish Sea, brings its many benefits for your mental wellbeing.

A 2023 study from the University of Limerick found that cold water swimming significantly improved participants' mood.

No matter a sea swim or a dip in cold water, the plunge might be an option for you to improve your mental wellbeing.

And I don't know about you, but this warm weather might be the driving push to start my own sea swimming journey.