Everything you need to know about cold water swimming in the sea

Cold water swimming has seen a surge in popularity this year, but are there any physiological benefits to this extreme activity?

Ice water swimmer Dee Newell gathered the sea swimming community together to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society this December.

I have spent most of my life living near the sea and have been dipping in (very sporadically) during the colder months for more than 20 years now. This year saw a resurgence in my interest in sea swimming and I certainly wasn’t the only one. What is it that draws so many people to submerge themselves in the cold sea in the middle of winter and are there any benefits to this act of madness?

What is cold water swimming?