Time To Discover Open Water Swimming At Divers Cove Godstone

Open-water swimming has gained increasing recognition in recent years. Maintaining one's health and connecting with nature have become a priority for many people.

I decided to scour well-being health websites to find places where fearless open-water swimmers took themselves for their swims. I discovered that many lakes, rivers, and oceans are accessible to all and are in some of the most beautiful places on the planet.

As I scrolled through these images, feelings of amazement (how do people get into such cold water), fear (how easy is it to drown out there), and trepidation (if only I could have a go) all flooded my mind.

Several times, I toyed with the idea of trying open water swimming, but the nearest I have ever come to wild swimming was a quick dip at Kynance Cove in Cornwall, and believe me, that was cold with a capital C, even with a wetsuit on!

So, finally, after finding an open-water swimming lake in Surrey, I plucked up the courage to try it out at Divers Cove in Godstone. Read on to discover how I got on!

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Wild Swimming at Divers Cove, Godstone

One of my friends, a regular open-water lake swimmer at Divers Cove in Godstone, Surrey, asked if I wanted to come for a swim. Well, that was a while ago at the start of the season in April, and it's taken me until now to finally dip a toe into the lake, and guess what - I love it.

Well, maybe not the lead-up to it, to be honest. I couldn't sleep the night before my new activity, anxious that my old bones wouldn't be able to keep going around the 450m or 650m lake circuits.

And I had such unnecessary questions running riot in my head as I tried to sleep. Just how embarrassing would it be if I ended up flailing around in the water and had to be rescued? Or what if I swallowed water and ended up with an unwanted parasite in my stomach?

An Introduction to Open Water Swimming at Divers Cove

On the morning of my first wild swim, I sprang out of bed, eager to get it over with and to be able to say at least I had tried this new activity.

I arrived at Divers Cove to complete my introduction to Open Water Swimming with Rhona, a fully qualified wild swim teacher and competitor in many open water challenges, including the recent Pier to Pier Isle of Wight sea swim. I was in good hands.

Ten other attendees were in our group, including my husband, who had been reluctantly dragged along as my support system. After a 30-minute talk covering vital information about OWS, including how to recognise signs of hyperthermia kicking in and warm your core up after getting out of the water, we were ready to get into the lake.

I sported a non-flattering neon pink swim cap, compulsory for open-water swimming to enable me to be seen at all times, and a neon pink float, again essential as a visual aid and to hang onto if I got tired. Mr P was kitted out in neon orange and not overly impressed with his far-too-tight swim cap!

Being the ice queen I am, I had brought along a wetsuit, worried that the 22-degree water was way too cold for me to survive, and wriggled my way into it as the other newbies made their way into the water led by Rhona.

Into the Blue

And we were off. I plunged into this idyllic lake on a beautiful sunny August morning and was finally wild swimming!

Rhona tasked us with swimming 25m (yes, that is the first certificate a child gets when it learns to swim) to a small sandbank at the side of the lake where we could stand up and take a breath. I found the short swim a real struggle. My arms and back hurt, the sun was fogging up my goggles, and Mr Wander, who didn't want to come in the first place, was out in front like a professional wild swimmer, totally oblivious to my discomfort.

To be fair, I was so happy that he had embraced it from the moment he got in, which meant I would always have a swim buddy. He then instructed me (as if he had been doing this for ages) to remove my wetsuit so it would be easier to move.

I looked around at the other ladies, who had all managed to survive in mere swimsuits and decided my moment of truth was imminent. Off came the wetsuit, and with it, the freedom of movement. Now, nothing was keeping me from swimming around the 450m loop circuit that had previously looked quite daunting.

Rhona had already pointed out the route, where to swim around the buoys and a couple of shallow sand banks on the opposite side of the lake, so you could rest if your arms and legs felt heavy. Several of the group decided they weren't ready to swim the circuit and got out, which was fine as everyone needed to swim at their ability and comfort zone.

Open Water Swimming Converts

Gliding through the water felt very liberating, and if I could have patted myself on the back and said "Well done, Angie", I would have done it! I did breaststroke, and even though Mr P's preferred stroke is the front crawl, he stayed alongside me to give me the confidence I needed to complete the lake circuit.

A family of coots joined us as we swam, whose nest was on one of the banks. Being so close to wildlife in these beautiful surroundings was pretty magical. It was then that I knew open-water swimming was something I wanted to continue doing. Looking at the smile on Mr P's face, I knew we might be open-water converts.

Final Thoughts on Open Water Swimming

Open-water swimming is a great outdoor activity. It gives you a feeling of freedom, keeps you fit and can be done in all seasons. So if you have been wavering like me, don't put it off any longer - do it!

Once you feel confident, you can venture further afield to other bodies of water. It is always best to swim with a buddy and check out tide times if swimming in the sea. Always take as many precautions as possible before wild swimming.

Need to know about Divers Cove Swimming Lake

Divers Cove is a seven-acre reservoir and has a sandy bottom.

Divers Cove is open from April to October.

Introduction to Open Water Diving is a one-hour talk and swim and costs £25

Divers Cove is a members-only site. Each swim is pay-as-you-go and priced according to your membership level.

Parking is on the road leading to the lake and the overflow car park.

Basic changing rooms and toilets are available; however, there are no showers on-site.

Facilities include a small cafe serving coffee, tea and cakes, a sauna and a hot tub (extra fee)

Lifeguards are on duty.

Things to take with you for a wild swim at Divers Cove

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Water Bottle

Flask (for hot fluids on cold days)

Over-Ears Swim Cap ( good if you don't like getting water in your ears)

Swim Cap

Swim Float (not always necessary if wearing a wetsuit)

Neoprene swim socks (optional)

Swim goggles (tinted option for sunny days)

DryRobe

Wetsuit (optional)

Flip-flops

Baggy, warm clothes to change into after exiting the water.

A woolly hat, gloves and scarf are needed after swimming in winter.

Other Open Water Swimming Lakes in Surrey

The Surrey Hills Adventure Company is at Buckland Lake in Reigate.