Guaranteed to strike fear into the heart of the coldest core. One word: Jellyfish. I've been struggling with these critters for a couple of years now since I've been open water swimming in the sea on the west coast of Ireland. For one or two weeks in a season, these critters get blown in from the deep ocean and they bump up against the coast and the beach just where everybody likes to swim. Watching their numbers suddenly bloom and then gradually decrease. I think the beach and the tide have a natural filtering effect, so halfway through July, there were thousands, and swimming through them was difficult. In mid-August, there was hardly any. I think having a beach close by where they can wash up with each tide is a big plus. If it wasn't for the beach, they'd still be floating around. There's a natural fear of them because, according to the web, all jellyfish are stingers—some more than most. And when we bump into them, they're slimy and they can potentially harm us. On another level, they're kind of cool. When they're not at the surface where you can swim into them, and they're at different layers in the water column, that gives a cool kind of feeling of space flight to your swim. I've got a basic poll below. Have you been stung, or are you lucky and you've escaped the stinging? Of course, there's different types of jellyfish. One day I'll make a compilation of the types that I've seen and photographed. The big one for me this summer was the Lion's Mane jellyfish and I think I got stung in the face by a Lion's Mane. Quite painful. The face had some red swelling, halfway through the swim. As I was still swimming, cold water was on the sting immediately and I just had to keep going. In general, having jellyfish adds to the difficulty of a swim. So when they are not there, you really appreciate a jellyfish-free swim - and when they're there, well, you just have to get stuck in! 🐻

While at a local swim spot with my friend, we heard an horrific story of a rescue from the day before - a woman who was known as a strong swimmer got her arm impaled on an old fishing hook. This story ends with a rescue on a SUP board, but for 45 minutes, this woman was in serious trouble. Sometimes old fishing hooks are going to be in the water with our shared spaces, and there's not much that can be done. This hook was for pike, an aggressive predator, so was a big hook enough to snag an adult. It had a wire tracer, so it couldn't be snapped or bitten through. It was underwater and caught around a mooring or a buoy. So the lesson here is to take a whistle with you and a small knife if possible in your tow buoy.

Yous are The First Wave 🌊, the first members that I can rely on to join and support me from the ground floor - appreciate it peeps and stick with me while we grow this community. Feel free to post 💌 about your swims, and I love you. xx

Welcome to the Wild Bunch 🐻 a community dedicated to all things wild! Swimming in nature is an experience not quite like any other. I've made this community to start you, and I, on a journey. The end destination is unknown, but we're going to have some fun! My name is Matt Mawson and I really enjoy a frequent wild dip (winter) and swim (summer). I'm not a pro, though I am dedicated to learning through research and doing. It’s my desire to improve knowledge, safety, and give lessons on wild swimming and open water swimming. Comment below and introduce yourself and where you're from, what you'd like to see, and vote in the poll so I can best serve. 🏊‍♂️ I wild swim to...

I'm taking the plunge! Started something I believe in 110% - a community for wild swimming. There are soooo many good reasons for joining this group and I invite you to participate freely and share your passion! This is going to be lots of fun and I am dedicated to increasing members to this community by posting quality resources to help you, and me, do more wild swimming - your humble servant, Matt. It's not about the destination - it's about the journey.