Cold water swimming with the BlueTits
and live on Freeview channel 276
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I met up with the dippers at the Felpham boat ramp, they have sessions all along the coast, this one worked best for me. The ladies I found there were lovely! Very accommodating, they welcomed me warmly – which was ideal as it was really cold!
After a few introductions Jan and a couple of the others ran me through some first timer advice; go in slowly, splash the water over your arms and chest and most importantly get dressed fast into multiple layers and drink the hot drink I’d brought with me.
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Hide AdEveryone started getting ready to go and it was then that I noticed how much gear everyone had. Those fancy towel robe coats, goggles, swimming caps, gloves and shoes. It might not sound like a lot but it was enough to make me even more anxious than I already was. I did have wetsuit shoes, something I was very grateful for later on.
As we waded out in the water I got as far as my knees and wondered if I was making a terrible mistake. Some of the others were already in the bigger waves, the surf going over their heads as they laughed and whooped giving me a confidence boost to push myself further so I could have some of that fun too. I made it past my waist, splashing the cold water on my arms and chest like Jan had told me to and in no time at all I was up to my chest, the waves splashing my face and I felt great. Like I’d conquered something monumental. The group were shouting well done, and giving me ear to ear grins and a thumbs up, we were together in something unique, all knowing what the other had had to go through to get this far.
Within a few moments I started to feel pins and needles from my elbows to my hands. The tingly feeling soon turned to a stinging pain and I decided my dip was over. I started to make my way back to the shore accompanied by more cheers and shouts of well done. The feeling in my arms went away almost immediately and I briefly thought of going back in.
Just like the group had told me to I dried quickly and got my layers on feeling so alive, in a small cocoon of ecstasy that drove the cold away while I sipped my thermos coffee. I wanted to stay and chat but I finally started to feel cold so I said my goodbyes, made my way to my car and the promise of a warm shower. The whole drive home I couldn’t stop thinking about my dip and stated planning the next one in my head. I was hooked.
Thanks to the Felpham Dippers and the Bognor Bluetits for an amazing experience and I’ll see you at the next one!