“The ocean is so cold that I’d rather drown right away than freeze to death.” That was a friend’s response when I asked why she hadn’t learned to swim after years of working on the water. Her statement made perfect sense when I splashed half naked into Goldsboro Bay on a recent January morning.
Two other people went in with me. We did it on purpose, supposedly for health benefits. I’m still trying to figure out what those benefits are.
Immersing oneself in cold water in winter isn’t a new trend. Scandinavians have been doing it for generations as part of their sauna culture. In recent years it has become a social media craze.
It doesn’t take much scrolling to find fit young people plunging into mountain streams or diving into the ocean after running across a snow-covered beach in swimsuits. They talk about the health benefits as if it’s part of their daily clean eating and exercise routine.
Maine has its own cold-water traditions that predate social media. The annual Lobster Dip in Old Orchard Beach benefits the Special Olympics and claims to be Maine’s original organized plunge, dating back more than 30 years. Participants aren’t always Instagram-ready influencers. They jump in for a good cause.
Personally, I’d rather volunteer at a bake sale or enter a summer benefit walk. I’m skeptical about plunging into icy water to boost wellbeing, especially when the person who suggested the dip canceled the night before because she wasn’t feeling well.
Still, my curiosity outweighed my skepticism. Three of us agreed to go despite the absence of our leader.
I asked one fellow plunger why she liked winter swims. “Moving to Maine from Texas was a bold move,” she said. “I felt determined to experience everything the Pine Tree State has to offer. So of course, I said yes when I was invited to my first cold plunge in January. We dropped our drawers, ran screaming into the ocean and ran right back out. And from that moment, I was hooked.”
I grew up in coastal Maine, and I’m not a fan of cold water or the ocean. I think the Atlantic is a dirty cesspool, and I’m afraid of its creatures. My earliest memory on the water is being cold, burning my hands on a can of Spaghetti O’s warmed on a lobster boat exhaust pipe, and smelling oily bait. How can jumping into water that seems so cold and unforgiving be good for someone?
Another member of our group swims in the ocean every week of the year. She says it wakes her up, clears her mind and energizes her for the day. I prefer a hot cup of coffee in bed. That’s exactly what I did the morning my friends, dogs and husband drove to the nearest public beach. I’ve always considered ocean swimming an activity for wealthy, health-conscious visitors from away, chubby Scandinavian men or someone on a bet fueled by drugs or alcohol — or both.
The seasoned year-round swimmer and the woman from Texas who wanted to try everything Maine offers both charged into the water. I followed behind because my feet went numb immediately. My legs started to go cold, and the idea of being in the water seemed increasingly stupid. I freak out if I step in a snow puddle after taking my boots off indoors.
I almost turned back when a droplet landed on my stomach. I’ve never been shot, but I imagine it feels similar. The other two women dove in, and I decided to go over my head, making it much worse. I was last in and first out. Gratitude for being out of the water almost made the experience worthwhile.
For me, it was like a reverse baptism, like a cat being given a bath. The effects of cold-water plunges clearly differ from person to person. I felt hardened and bitter. The other two felt energized and full of life.
There are plenty of ways to spend winter days outdoors in Maine. Snowmobiling, sledding, ice fishing, snowshoeing, skiing, hiking, chasing hunting dogs and starting next winter’s firewood pile are all traditional activities. Slipping into a bikini or swim shorts and diving into icy water is not.
Still, it’s an experience I’ll never forget. I’m glad I did it because I feel a little gutsier. I might even do it again, especially if it means getting together with people and trying something that leaves you feeling different than you did before.