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Wild swimming safety: start here
Plan a wild swim around the conditions, cold water, other people and a clear way out. Follow local signs and official advice.
Open water is not a controlled environment. Conditions, temperature, currents and access can vary between places and from day to day. Read the advice for your location, check the forecast and tides where relevant, and decide in advance where you will get in and out.
Before you go
- Choose a place you have researched and check local hazards and signs.
- Go with another person, tell someone your plan and when you expect to return.
- Carry a way to call for help and wear visible swim clothing.
- Enter cold water gradually; do not jump or dive in.
- Leave the water if conditions or how you feel change.
In an emergency
If you are in the sea or at the coast, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard. Follow RNLI Float to Live guidance if you unexpectedly enter cold water. Inland emergencies require the appropriate emergency service; follow local emergency instructions.
Advice and access arrangements differ across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Check the relevant official bathing-water authority and local site signs. This page is general guidance, not a substitute for training or emergency services.