Dippy Ambassador and Lake District swimmer Wayne Singleton shares what first brought him to open water swimming, why he keeps coming back, and how swimming can create space for connection and conversation.
Wayne first discovered open water swimming as an adult almost by accident. After moving to the area and setting up Ulverston Triathlon Club, he came to the Lake District with a group of friends and was reintroduced to wild swimming. As an adult, he had never swam in a lake and this first experience stayed with him.
Wayne began swimming different distances and gradually found himself swimming through the winter months which for many people who are not cold water swimmers seems like madness. What started as a new experience became part of his life and, over time, something he came back to for reasons that went well beyond swimming for exercise and endurance.
“Everything Is Alive”
Water lover (obviously), runner, dad of 2, well actually 4 if you count his 4 legged companions, fell walker, and podcaster, Wayne explained that the role cold water swimming has played in helping him manage his mental health, during periods of depression and anxiety has been a game changer.
“When you’re in cold water, there’s nothing else to concentrate on. You’re very much immersed in nature and everything is alive. You can feel all your nerve endings firing, particularly in the colder months here in the Lake District.”
Many open water swimmers recognize this feeling of being alive and having our nerve endings on fire! It is an indescribable sensation that brings complete alertness to your senses and leaves no room for thought, worry, or overwhelm, which during tough times is what we need to hit the pause button on anxiety and depression. Once you’re in the water, your attention is drawn towards nothing but what is happening in that moment and everything else temporarily fades away. That experience is what brings Wayne and thousands of cold water swimmers back to the water time after time.
Men’s Swim Groups
We asked Wayne how he thinks we could encourage more men to discover cold water swimming so they too can feel the benefits and come away from the water feeling lighter. His answer is simple – a community. There are swimming groups specifically for men, alongside many mixed groups of open water swimming communities across the UK. You can’t go far without being able to find them, especially if you live near a body of water or are on social media. Wayne found Blue Mind Men, who swim at Rayrigg on Lake Windermere. All it took was a message to the group on social media and he was warmly welcomed.
“Everyone’s just dead friendly. It’s a really inclusive environment. There is no pressure on anyone to do anything but turn up. You can go for a paddle if that’s what feels right, or swim further if you want to. You don’t have to arrive as an experienced swimmer, and there isn’t an expectation beyond being comfortable where you are.”
For someone who has never tried wild swimming before, that can make a real difference. The first step doesn’t have to be a long swim or a particularly cold one. It can simply be turning up somewhere that feels welcoming and seeing what happens.
Connection
Wayne also talked about something else that happens when people get into the water together: conversation starts. There are no phones or screens to interrupt, no agendas and nowhere else to be. Once you’re swimming, the usual distractions of everyday life are temporarily out of reach and that creates an unusual kind of space for people to chat. More times than not it is to laugh about the unearthly noises wild swimmers make as we enter the cold water or to point out things in our surroundings worth noticing, like a bird skimming the surface, a flower rarely seem at this angle, or something under the water that definitely felt like it was alive!!!
Once you’re out on the shore, conversation continues and this sense of community is what brings us back every week. The common goal of warming up, having a brew and sometimes sharing a bacon butty is enough to make us feel connection and it is a powerful yet simple experience. It sounds ordinary, and perhaps that’s exactly why it works. You don’t have to arrive with a big conversation prepared. You can simply be part of something simple.
For Wayne, talking to people when you’re going through a difficult period matters. Finding a group where people are welcoming and inclusive can make it easier to take that first step towards connection and for a while forget your troubles and come out of your head. Wayne is fundraising in 2027 for a chosen mental health charity Growing Well who aim to support people to recover from mental ill health in a productive and non clinical setting. At Growing Well, they give people a safe space, a sense of belonging and purpose through horticultural outdoor activities. You can find out more about the charity via the link below.
https://growingwell.co.uk/
Find A Group Near You
It couldn’t be easier to start open water swimming. There are swimming communities across the UK, in fact across the world, many of which share their sessions and events through social media. The Bluetits have groups spread far and wide, there are men’s groups you can find, for example Blueballs have groups across the UK/Ireland, Trunks and Hunks are also another group you can reach out to. Also The Outdoor Swimming Society maintains a UK-wide directory of wild swimming groups, which is a useful place to start looking for a community near you. However, if you have time, then take a drive to some common places near you like beaches, lakes etc and you will usually find a group or a few swimmers who can point you in the direction of a group. One thing open water swimmers are not is judgmental and one thing they are is happy to help. If you’d like to explore open water swimming, the following organisations are useful places to start:
The Bluetits Chill Swimmers
https://thebluetits.co/
A UK-founded social swim community with a large network of local groups. Find a group through their website and check the latest information before attending.
Outdoor Swimming Society
https://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/
Maintains a UK-wide directory of swimming groups and is a useful starting point for finding communities around the country.
Men’s Groups On Social Media Platforms
Edinburgh Blueballs/Newquay Blueballs/Blueballs Ireland/Blueballs Midlands/Blueballs Cornwall/Baltic Boys Aberdeen/Numbnuts Cornwall/Sheffield Dippers/Ice Guys/Dundee Dookers/Bude Wellness Warriors/ Bluebloods Wild Swim Club/Trunks and Hunks
Help & Support Outside The Water
If you or someone you know needs some help and support, then please consider reaching out to some of these organisations:-
Best Mates https://bestmates.org/
ANDYSMANCLUB https://andysmanclub.co.uk/
Samaritans on 116 123
Wayne's 2027 Challenge
Wayne swam nearly 54 kilometres in 2022 which resulted in hypothermia which is a real risk when swimming in cold water for extended periods of time. Luckily Wayne was not alone and had support to help him with his challenge. In 2027, Wayne intends to go again "I will be restarting from St Bees, with the aim of making it as far as I can in around a week - ideally to Walney island. Your sponsorship will help me grind the training out and get in the water with massive jellyfish!"
You can support Wayne and Growing Well using at the link below:-
https://www.justgiving.com/page/soltosil2?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL
As a Dippy Ambassador, Wayne has a discount code he shares with his gang and welcomes you to use it should you want to get your hands on some new open water swim gear. Use WAYNE20 at the checkout for the discount to be applied.
This article reflects Wayne’s personal experience of open water swimming. It is not medical advice, and experiences of cold water swimming vary from person to person.