THINKING OF SWIMMING IN OPEN WATER?

It’s that time of year, when you may be considering taking the leap from pool to open water! In the colder temperatures, you’ll probably want to wear a wetsuit, which keeps you warm and helps with buoyancy too. But wetsuit or not, make sure you acclimatise to cold water slowly. Try not to rush to warm-up when you enter the water, as this will spike your heart rate and breathing and can make you more likely to panic. Instead, move slowly and gradually get the heart pumping.

Lubricant products like Body Glide will help getting your wet suit on and minimise chaffing around the neck and armpits. Try to avoid using Vaseline as it can break down the wetsuit material.