Besides swimming in the wonderful geothermal swimming pools, that are located all around Iceland, many Icelanders have taken up interest in swimming in the cold North Atlantic ocean as well. There are many good places for sea swimming, but you should always take caution when doing so, as the ocean temperature around Iceland is usually between 0°C and 12°C (32°F to 53.6°F).
Some of the public guidlines for sea swimming are:
- Never swim alone. Always have a partner with you.
- Always watch your partner. Monitor their condition by speaking regularly.
- Don’t go too far from the coast.
- Don’t start swimming until you have started to breathe normally and stay for small periods of time, to begin with.
- Recognize the possible symptoms of hypothermia.
- Listen to your body.