We still pinch ourselves every day to make sure that we are really this lucky in living so close to the sea. We are also fortunate in that, like so many others, we have realised the huge benefits that swimming in our coastal waters offer us.

So what are these benefits? Well what we would really like is for you to take part and find out for yourselves but as a taster here are 6:

When our body senses cold it sends blood to warm the organs. To achieve this the heart has to work just that little bit harder.

Every time you swim outdoors, the cold water temperature helps to boost your circulation by pumping your blood through your capillaries, arteries and veins.

When swimming outdoors, the cold water stimulates your parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), which is responsible for repairing the body.

This stimulation of the PNS promotes a feeling of relaxation, accompanied by a a sense of contentment. When we are both relaxed and content you are more likely to have a far better night’s sleep.

You’ll know that immersing yourself in cold water, whether in the beautiful waters surrounding the North Devon coast or the amazing rivers, shallows and pools on Exmoor,  it can make your skin sting and take your breath away.

To reduce this stinging sensation, your brain releases endorphins (your bodies painkillers), which results in a feeling of wellbeing once you’re back on dry land.

Combine this with a swimming workout in the great outdoors , to further reduce stress and promote mental wellbeing,  you have found a perfect way to inject some happiness into your day!

Swimming in cold water makes your body work harder to keep warm. So it’s simple maths that this in turn increases the number of calories you burn.

The colder the water, the more energy your body will convert from fat to fire up your metabolism to keep your core temperature stable.

Immersing your body in cold water shocks your immune system, which in turn  produces more white blood cells and more antioxidants.

This helps boost your immune system and reduces your risk of heart disease and cancer.

Cold water exfoliates the skin, flushing out impurities and making it smoother. This all adds up to you feeling better inside and out every time you swim outdoors.

A key message from Coastal Swim Coaching is to know your limits and swim within them. These limits include your swimming ability, cold water acclimatisation,  and how much you know about the water in front of you. We recommended that you alway swim with a buddy and wear bright swim equipment.