‘I feel like a mermaid and the sea is my home’: A qualitative exploration of wild swimming, meaning and well‐being in Victoria, Australia

Abstract There is growing interest in blue space as a natural environment that may foster well‐being. Blue space encourages mindful, immersive, and connected ways of being in and interacting with place. A popular blue space activity that may promote well‐being is wild swimming (WS). Existing research suggests that swimmers find WS meaningful because it supports well‐being. However, the meanings attributed to WS by wild swimmers likely depend on the characteristics of place, such as water conditions and temperature, which may have a unique influence. The present study aimed to explore the meanings ascribed to WS by a Victorian cohort of wild swimmers. Participants comprised 47 wild swimmers (31 women, 15 men, 1 non‐binary person, mean age = 55.5 (11.7)). Participants answered demographic items and five open‐ended, qualitative questions about WS. Data were analysed using template thematic analysis. Five key themes were identified: ‘Always a swimmer’: Starting wild swimming; ‘You feel euphoric’: Psychological well‐being; ‘Still going strong’: Physical well‐being; ‘Chatting at the buoys’: Social connectedness; and ‘The sea is my home’: Connectedness to nature. Swimmers found WS meaningful because it promoted well‐being by (I) allowing continuity of a ‘swimmer’ identity; (II) promoting positive mood states and possibly facilitating swimmers to feel energised, calm, meditative, focused, authentic and masterful; (III) aiding physical fitness, healthy ageing and physical pleasure; (IV) enhancing social connectedness as swimmers formed friendships and communities; and (V) fostering nature connectedness as swimmers communed with and observed their sea surrounds. The findings indicate that Victorian wild swimmers, like their counterparts elsewhere, value WS because of the enriching ways in which it fosters well‐being. Among the first studies to explore WS in Victoria, Australia, this study contributes to a growing body of research which suggests that engaging in blue space promotes wellbeing. Policy implications. WS may have potential as a strategy for improving well‐being in the wider population. As an activity that cultivates social connectedness, it could form part of a social prescription for those identified as being at risk of loneliness. Additionally, WS may have potential as a complementary, nature‐based therapeutic intervention. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.