By Lynne Beebe

Tips to consider before starting a practice of cold water swimming

I am far from being an expert on cold water swimming, but have learned much from my experiences over the past three years and from reading studies and stories about cold water swimming around the world and throughout history. Here is some of what I’ve learned and some helpful resources if you want more information.

Safety

Without guidance, I had already felt that the best way to enter the cold Salish Sea was slowly and with intention, breathing deeply and calmly, with my head above the water. This was bac...