May 2026 ‘Night Swimming’
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The first time I swam at night was in the sea, just off the harbour beach in Dover. I was in my mid-20s, training with a group of strangers for a Channel relay. I didn’t like the dark on land and I could still spiral into panic if something brushed my leg in the water, so the combination of darkness and sea unsettled me. Outwardly I put on a brave face. Inside, my heart raced. I knew the session mattered, so I got on with it. What I remember is hazy: the brown brackish water of that coastline and the red and green lights hanging from our goggles. I don’t recall beauty or joy. Just blur and nerves. And yet, some of my most powerful, poignant swims since then have been in the dark.
One of my favourite swimming memories is joining a group on the south coast in search of “sea fairies”. It was early summer and my friend Amanda persuaded me to come along for a night swim in the hope of seeing them, which I later learned was bioluminescence. I had no idea what to expect. The experience left me spellbound. I waded in, trusting the swimmers around me. Within minutes, as I began to move through breaststroke, I was dazzled by a trail of glittering lights in the water. Every sweep sparked a scatter of light. It felt like a conjuring trick or like I had taken some mind-bending substance. The glow lingered, each movement releasing more shimmer. It was rare and quietly extraordinary. A gift from the wild that feels almost unbelievable until you witness it yourself.
It may seem strange to invite you into darkness just as the days lengthen and light stretches further into the evening. But this is a beautiful time to experiment and play, as the water warms and the weather steadies. Whether you are planning your first night dip or training for something long and strong, I hope these pages help you discover the magic that waits after sunset..
Ella Foote, Editor
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- How open water swimming can help with chronic pain
In our latest Virtual Event we spoke with swimmer, philanthropy writer and author Gillian Best about how outdoor swimming and cold water can help with chronic conditions - Community health – helping each other
Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi explores the health benefits of night swimming and group sessions - Weekend swim retreat: Combe Head House, Somerset
A homely smallholding with a Victorian swimming pond – we’re in! Rowan Clarkes reports… - Weekend swim retreat: Watersedge, Worcestershire
Digital editor Abi finds a swimmer’s haven on the edge of a Worcestershire lake - Swimming my swim
Fourteen-year-old Alexander Sixsmith has found freedom, focus and confidence through open water swimming. Living with DLD (Developmental Language Disorder) and navigating POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), he has already become one of the youngest EnglishChannel relay swimmers and continues to take on major crossings while raising funds for Aspire - How to do Moon Salutations
While sun salutations are generally an invigorating morning yoga practice, moon salutations are thought to be more calming and often recommended for evening sessions - An open water wetsuit for every level
Whether you’re new to swimming and looking for an entry-level wetsuit that’s comfortable and warm, are after a mid-level wetsuit that balances performance-enhancing features with durability, or you are looking for an elite-level wetsuit that prioritises flexibility over buoyancy – read our expert reviews to find the right wetsuit to suit your swim. - How do I choose the right level of wetsuit?
What’s the difference between an entry-level, mid-level and elite wetsuit – and how do you decide which tier is right for you? - Night training – finding the right balance
Training at night can be highly effective, and with the right balance, it can support both fitness and overall wellbeing, says swim coach Vivienne Rickman - After dusk
In general, but not always, bodies of water are often calmer at night, so instead of having to swim at night out of need, this month editor Ella wants you to try to swim in the dark out of curiosity - Quiet courage in the darkess
Jharna Kumawat finds calm, connection and quiet courage through night swimming - Crewing through the night
Elaine K. Howley, usually our guide to the tides of swimming history, turns inward this month, exploring her mother’s final days through the raw, relentless lens of marathon swimming - Swimmer’s Ear: why it happens and what to do about it
Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi shares his expert guidance on Swimmer’s Ear, including why it happens and how to treat and prevent it - Where black water meets sky
In this reflection for Outdoor Swimmer, John Lewis-Stempel, the prize-winning nature writer and Herefordshire farmer, draws on a lifetime of rivers, fields and night wanderings to explore how swimming after dark unsettles the senses, dissolves human certainty, and returns us to our first, tidal origins - Learning the light
With her book, ‘Apothecary By The Sea: A Year In An Orkney Garden’ out this month, we asked Victoria Bennett what led her to Orkney, how she created her new life on the island – and to share her favourite recipes for outdoor swimmers - Laura celebrates 500 SUB10 swims!
For Laura, it was never about speed or medals. It was about showing up, embracing the cold, and letting the lake do its quiet, extraordinary work. NOWCA shares her story. - Executing hard sessions in the pool …the right way!
Tougher swim sessions are the engine room of swim performance – but they need intention, structure, mindset and execution, says swim coach Nicola Butler - Endurance swimming: the night element
Take your time, start small and prepare well for the nighttime element of your endurance swim, says Olympian Alice Dearing - Swimming with sparkle
For swimmers lucky enough to encounter bioluminescene, Marine Biologist Helen Scales reveals what’s really happening when the water starts to sparkle - Into the inky depths
Endurance training or sensual submersion, Rowan Clarke explores night swimming - Into the dark
For long-distance swimmer Sophie Etheridge, night swimming allows you to truly let go - The thrill (and fear) of night swimming
Simon Griffiths explores the wonder, thrill and fear of swimming at night – and shares his top tips for doing it safely - Pitch perfect: swim and stay
Ella Foote and her family head to East Sussex for a weekend of swimming, camping and adventure with Vango Outdoors
