What Are The Benefits Of Swimming In Sea Water?

I recently watched the Academy Award-winning film, My Octopus Teacher on Netflix. Expecting just another beautiful documentary about life under the sea, I was surprised at how the film also focuses on the benefits of swimming in the ocean. Craig Foster was able to overcome his mental health troubles just by swimming in the sea every day.

There are several benefits of swimming in seawater: it is a form of cardiovascular exercise that increases our strength and endurance, reduces stress, boosts our mood, improves our mental well-being, strengthens our immune system, soothes our muscles and joints, and helps certain skin conditions.

Research coming from some of the world’s top universities is showing just how beneficial swimming in the sea is, confirming what ancient Greek philosophers like Plato, Euripides and Hippocrates have been saying for centuries. Swimming in the ocean is good for the mind, body, and soul.

How Swimming In Sea Water Benefits Our Mind

Sitting on the beach, observing the waves lap against the shoreline, is enough to quiet our minds and make us forget some of life’s troubles. But wading in and going for a swim in the sea can offer us even more profound benefits.

Swimming In The Sea Reduces Stress

When we get into the ocean, we leave behind the safety of solid land. There are waves and currents to contend with, hazardous creatures to be aware of, and, depending on where in the world you are, intensely cold temperatures.

We have to be fully present when we swim in the ocean, focusing completely on every moment. We have to focus on our breath and when to dive under the next wave. This takes us out of the mental space we spend most of the day in. Our stress levels drop when we swim in the sea.

Swimming In The Sea Can Treat Depression

Depression and anxiety are becoming more pervasive in society. People are being offered more and more psychiatric medication, and not enough doctors emphasize activities one can do to improve the symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders.

Scientists from universities around the world are presenting a growing body of research that shows how swimming in the ocean regularly can be an effective treatment for depression and anxiety.

One study reported an immediate improvement in mood and a gradual reduction of the symptoms of depression.

Swimming In Cold Sea Water Boosts Our Mood

Wim Hof, the famous “Ice Man”, is one of the loudest advocates for regular exposure to cold water. He believes that swimming in cold seawater can make one healthier, happier, and stronger in the long term.

In My Octopus Teacher, Craig Foster talks about how he got used to swimming in the freezing seawater of Cape Town without a wetsuit. When our bodies enter cold water, we experience a state of shock. Cold seawater has a profound impact on our nervous system. The brain releases a flood of endorphins, and this gives us a natural high.

How Swimming In The Sea Benefits Our Body

Swimming is already one of the best exercises you can do because it engages almost every muscle in your body. Open water swimming in the ocean has even more benefits than swimming in a pool.

Improve Endurance And Strength By Swimming In Sea Water

One has a lot more to physically contend with in the ocean. Our muscles have to work harder to swim against currents and resist the force of the waves. This is why swimming in the ocean helps to build strength far more than swimming in a pool.

Swimming in the sea also builds endurance because your body has to adapt to the demands of the ocean. You can’t just put your feet on the bottom of the pool when you get tired. You have to keep pushing yourself.

Swimming In Sea Water Benefits Our Skin

Ancient Greek philosophers and physicians recognized the healing properties of saltwater thousands of years ago. Sea water contains high levels of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and iodine. We absorb these minerals through our skin when we are submerged in water.

For centuries, people have been flocking to the dead sea to improve their skin. Seawater can treat problems like psoriasis and eczema, relieving dry, itchy, red skin. It also helps to heal wounds because seawater has antiseptic properties. Both the cold temperature and minerals in seawater promote the health of our skin.

Swimming in The Sea Boosts Our Immune System

Swimming in the sea improves the functioning of our immune system. Because your body constantly has to respond and adapt to changing conditions in the sea, more white blood cells are produced.

White blood cells are fundamental to our immune system. They are responsible for attacking pathogens that enter our bodies.

Swimming In The Sea Increases Libido

Exposure to cold seawater has been shown to boost your body’s production of estrogen and testosterone. These two hormones are largely responsible for our sex drive and fertility.

A higher libido has benefits inside and outside of the bedroom. It increases our confidence and self-esteem and boosts our mood.

How Swimming In The Sea Benefits Our Soul

By spending more time in the sea, we begin to understand just how powerful the ocean is. We realize the fragility and the unpredictability of life. Because we focus on our breathing and movement, swimming in the sea feels meditative.

Spending time in nature always gives one a deep appreciation for the world around us. Swimming in the sea regularly makes you feel more connected to nature. You become aware of the tides, the changing seasons, and the life underneath the water’s surface.

Summary

All of the amazing benefits of swimming in seawater makes a pretty compelling argument for planning regular trips to the beach. Swimming in the sea on a weekly basis can have a profound impact on your mind, body, and soul.

By immersing yourself in the ocean, you will not only improve your physical fitness, strength, and endurance; you will improve your mental health and feel more spiritually connected.