Open water swimming is something that you need to experience at least once in your life but can also be enjoyed year round with the right kit, willpower and determination.
Open water swimming is enjoyed in open, outdoor bodies of water, including lakes, rivers, reservoirs, oceans and bays. It is a different experience to that of swimming in a pool as there are no lanes, no tiled walls and no harsh chemicals like chlorine. There are less physical boundaries too and the outdoor environment you swim in can be different and varied every time.
Being outside everything feels much more natural, freer. Illuminated by natural light colours are more vibrant, there is the sound of nature all around and the water can have real depth to it. Of course the conditions can vary too, one day flat calm and beautifully calm, the next choppy and windy.