Cold Water Swimming Health Benefits

Sea swimming and cold-water dips have become increasingly popular all over the world it seems. But have you ever imagined what it would be like to plunge into the ice -cold waters of Iceland? Let’s dive into the cold water swimming health benefits, and why I chose to do it in Iceland.

Forget ‘cold water swimming’— here, it’s just ‘swimming’ (lol). It’s so common it’s practically part of the culture, and it comes with a bunch of health benefits too.

I’ll explain further in this article:

• cold water swimming health benefits
• why cold water swimming is so trendy
• personal experience sea swimming
• best places to sea swim in Iceland
• practical tips of cold water swimming
• To sum up cold water swimming

Many of us are familiar with the health benefits of cold-water immersion.

They include:

• Immune system boost
• Rush of endorphins (my favourite)
• Improves circulation
• Good for metabolism
• Improves mental health (another favourite)

If you’re interested in more on the health benefits of cold water here is a good place to start.

But there are so much more benefits to reap from this activity than ‘just’ improving health. Mental health benefits include helping with anxiety and depression while inducing a state of calm. I think this is partly since you must control your breathing while submerged in cold temperatures. This takes your focus and also naturally forces a sense of peace and calm.

I personally love activities like this, that literally force you to remain calm while doing something quite thrilling. Freediving is another example of this for me.

Another cold water swimming health benefit of sea is the social aspect. You shouldn’t be taking off into the high seas on your own. Especially in cold conditions.

It’s always more fun with friends anyway. But you will find that there are always big communities around sea swimming. Many people religiously meet up and jump in the water together, no matter the weather.

I love this. Knowing that people will show up in the rain hail or snow means I don’t have to overthink it in the morning. I just get up and go (of course unless the weather was really unsafe to swim).

It becomes part of the daily routine. It is something you end up craving as a physical release, a mental reset and a social activity.

In Iceland, a think due to the naturally harsh environment people are bread to be badass. They take pleasure in the challenging environment and activities related to it. Swimming is no different and you will find communities of sea swimmers all around the country.

One of the best parts of sea swimming in Iceland is that natural hot springs and geothermal areas. You can effortlessly warm up after your plunge if you want.

That is a big reason why its quite trendy for locals and visitors alike to take to the sport. It allows all demographics and experience levels to give it a go.

You might be terrified to think of sea swimming in such a cold place. Then the thought of a nice warm bath on the beach next to you spurs you on. I think this is special in Iceland and makes the whole idea quite inviting.

There are even classes available in Reykjavik. For those that want to feel confident in their journey into cold immersion and feel safe in the process.

My introduction to sea swimming here in Iceland started immediately. Of course, I had taken some dips in the local fjord as I was settling into my new home. But after two weeks there was the legendary annual ‘cow swim’ (Sæunnarsund). It consists of a 2km swim across a neighbouring fjord in Flateyri.

I naively signed up without any sort of training beyond my own fitness abilities at the time. Thankfully they were strong from my daily swimming routine back in Ireland.

This was such an exciting way to be introduced to Iceland, to the Westfjords, and to sea swimming here. There were lots of jellies and the temperature was an average of 10 degrees Celsius. I completed it in my freediving suit because I had no idea about my ability to swim long distance in cold water.

People were in a mix of gear and everyone had an absolute blast. It remains one of my favourite memories of living in Iceland.

I decided to try to continue crossing the nearby fjords which I did next summer. However if you know the Westfjords you know there are a LOT of fjords! So there are a few left for me to complete but still on my list. Once I get a kayak for Andri to guide me and feed me bananas across the longer fjords..

The cow swim is only one of many that are organized throughout the year. If you are interested in joining an organized swim you can keep a look out on this Facebook page to keep up to date with the latest swims.

Otherwise, if you are new to cold water swimming or new to it in Iceland and you just want to get your feet wet (:)), here are some of my favourite places to leisurely enjoy the elements. They mix cold water dips with warm hot pots or steam baths afterwards.

• Nauthólsvík

This is probably the most well-known, and unfortunately the busiest, particularly in the summer. It is in Reykjavik with a stunning view of the ocean. It is home to the largest swimming community in Iceland.

There is a large hot pot overlooking the sun shining onto the sea in front of you. It also includes a steam room and changing facilities.

There are also organized swims arranged here often. Swimmers cross Fossvogur or swim across and back again (which is 1100 meters total). You can join a membership or pay as you go at a reasonable price.

• Laugarvatn Fontana

This facility hosts geothermal baths located next to laugarvatn lake. It allows you to take some natural plunges in between the hot pots and saunas if you please. I really like it here because you can just walk into the lake when you get too hot. Natural plunges are always so much nicer than artificial cold plunges to me.

• Langisandur – Akranes

This is a lovely sandy beach that stretches about 1km. It is a really nice spot to dip or do a little swim. It also has a cozy warm hot tub called Guðlaug. Situated right on the beach for you to bath in afterwards at a cheap price. There is nothing better than the blissful state of a hot soak on the beach after a cold swim. It’s hard to put into words!

• Swimming Pools

All of the swimming pools here have a couple of hot pots and always a cold pot in some form. This is also a great way to get started in cold water immersion. You can easily head into the sauna or steam room afterwards. I often find it isn’t as extreme a feeling as a sea dip.

You should either way check out a public swimming pool while in Iceland. They are next level, and a pleasantly surprisingly cheap activity here.

There are a lot of other areas that are great to swim in. It is easy to do so with a friend. If you are road tripping away you might see a nice spot for a dip. After all it is an island and there are plenty of lakes and freshwater bodies as well.

Here is a list of some badass swim crossings that I personally have on my own bucket list. There are some logistical planning and organization needed for most of them. Keep an eye out online for organized swims that take place around the country if interested.

These are useful tips for anywhere and not just in Iceland. Although in places of extreme cold it is important to be extra cautious and aware of your surroundings. If you want more tips and advice for cold water swimming there are plenty of resources online.

• Have a swim buddy

Especially in cold water, where anything can happen. You can be at risk of hyperthermia. So it is really important to have a buddy system or better yet a group around you. Things can change in a split second. If you are new to the sport and still learning your own abilities than do not risk it.

• Stay conservative

It might feel good to challenge yourself to stay in the cold for a certain length of time. Especially if you are close to a hot pot or steam room. However it is really important to build up your tolerance and strength in the water.

It is really advised to start slow if you are heading into the sea. Start off with a dip. Then slowly work your way up while never feeling like you are pushing your limits. You can easily get hyperthermic and no one wants to deal with that.

• Wear the right gear

It is recommended to keep your head covered. We lose most of our heat from our heads and you will get really cold really fast if you don’t cover your head. Beyond that wearing gloves and socks or booties is also advised. Not only to keep all fingers and toes snug but for safety while accessing the water.

Sometimes you must walk a good bit from the changing room, or hold onto things to get in. A swim buoy is also recommended for visual aid of the swimmer. It is also a floatation to support you if needed.

• Know the environment

Check the conditions first, as things can change a lot and fast here in Iceland. It isn’t always safe to jump into the ocean. You need to have a knowledge of the local currents and tides if you are planning a swim or crossing.

Never jump in naively without knowing the environment and expected weather, and let people know what and where you are.

What I really love about this sport is that it can seem extreme, and it also feels that way sometimes! There are so many cold water swimming health benefits that you can reap here in Iceland.

It really gathers interest from all sorts of people and demographics. It is one of the most inclusive activities I have participated in. This is not only true in Iceland, but back in Ireland too.

You are always welcomed and encouraged, and you never regret going in. You see people in their 80s religiously going for their daily dips. Children are jumping in with glee at the same time. It’s wonderful to see and to be apart of.

I think that the cold water swimming health benefits are only maximized here in Iceland. We are lucky to have it as such a popular past time. Just keep safety as a priority and you have people with you. Then it can be such a liberating experience that you can incorporate into your daily life.

If you have experience swimming here and know of some good spots, leave it in the comments below. I am still learning myself, and always looking for good places to sea swim (not only in Iceland!)

For more stories around this topic from me, why not read about freediving in Iceland, or ice diving! Both available here:

Thank you for sticking with me through the whole thing. I hope I didn’t ramble on too much! It is a topic close to my heart and I can easily ramble on forever about it. I hope to see you in the sea, feeling good and smiling 😊

Further reading:

The Ultimate Guide to Freediving in Iceland – Freedom in Life

Ice Diving: The Ultimate Swimming Adventure in Iceland – Freedom in Life