Open Water Swimming vs Wild Swimming
Published by My Mind is Racing
Open water swimming and wild swimming both describe swimming in natural bodies of water — lakes, rivers, and the sea — rather than in a pool. The two terms overlap almost completely. The difference is mostly one of framing and region rather than the activity itself: "open water swimming" leans sporting and competitive, while "wild swimming" leans recreational and nature-focused.
What is open water swimming?
Open water swimming is swimming in any natural body of water outside a pool, usually with a sporting or training framing. The term covers timed races, distance challenges, and the swim leg of a triathlon, and it is the standard label used by event organizers and governing bodies worldwide. Marathon swimming — the 10 km open water event — has been an Olympic discipline since 2008, while open water races at shorter distances, such as the 5 km and 25 km World Aquatics events, are common at lakes and along coastlines. If a swim has a start line, a distance, and a result, it is almost always called open water swimming.
What is wild swimming?
Wild swimming is swimming in natural water for recreation, adventure, and wellbeing rather than competition. The term carries a cold-water, nature-immersion flavour: a dip in a tarn, a river, or the sea, often valued for the scenery and the mental-health benefits rather than for any time on the clock. It is closely associated with cold-water and winter swimming, and the phrase has surged in popularity, particularly in the United Kingdom, where books and media helped repopularise it over the past two decades.
How are open water and wild swimming similar?
In practice, a wild swimmer and an open water swimmer in the same lake are doing the same thing. Both happen in the same places — lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and the sea — and both rely on the same core skills and safety habits: judging water temperature, respecting currents and tides, sighting without a black line to follow, managing cold-water shock, and not swimming alone. The kit overlaps too, from a wetsuit to a brightly coloured tow float and goggles. Strip away the labels and the activity is identical.
How do open water and wild swimming differ?
The difference is mostly connotation. Open water swimming tends to imply a sporting context — races, timed events, measured distances, and triathlon swim legs — and a focus on training and performance. Wild swimming tends to imply the opposite: an unhurried dip, cold-water immersion, and time spent in nature with no result to record. The line between them is soft, and plenty of swimmers do both: a structured race one weekend and a quiet sunrise swim the next.
Is the difference just regional?
To a large extent, yes. "Wild swimming" is chiefly a British and broader Commonwealth coinage whose modern popularity is widely credited to Roger Deakin's 1999 book Waterlog; it spread further through nature writing and the outdoor swimming revival of the 2000s and 2010s. In North America and in international sport, the standard term is "open water swimming". The two are not perfectly interchangeable: "open water swimming" is the neutral, globally understood label that governing bodies and race organizers use, while "wild swimming" carries a recreational, romantic flavour and is rarely used to describe a competition. But for someone swimming across a lake on a Saturday morning, the words point at the same stretch of water and the same activity.
Which one are you looking for?
If you want a timed race, a distance challenge, or a triathlon swim leg, search for open water swimming events. If you are after a relaxed dip, a cold-water immersion, or a nature swim with no clock, "wild swimming" describes the experience you have in mind — though the organised events you find may still be listed under the open water label, because that is the term most organizers use. On this site, swims in natural water are tagged Open Water.
Notable open water swims
These are real open water swimming events, not triathlons that merely include a swim leg:
- Across the Lake Swim Kelowna (Kelowna, British Columbia) — a long-running lake crossing.
- Point to La Pointe Open Water Swim (Bayfield, Wisconsin) — an open water swim across Lake Superior's Chequamegon Bay.
- Bring on the Bay 1.5K & 3K Open Water Swim (Ottawa, Ontario) — a choose-your-distance bay swim.
- Sylvan Lake Open Water Swim (Sylvan Lake, Alberta) — a central-Alberta lake swim.
- Mahogany Beach 2 Beach Open Water Swim (Calgary, Alberta) — a lake swim in Calgary's Mahogany community.
- Collingwood Open Water Swim (Collingwood, Ontario) — a Georgian Bay swim.
- Welland Canal Open Water Swim (Welland, Ontario) — a swim on the historic Welland Canal.
- LOST Swimming Open Water Group Swim (Oakville, Ontario) — a Lake Ontario group swim run by the Lake Ontario Swim Team (LOST).
- Meridian Swim Ruataniwha (Twizel, New Zealand) — a South Island lake swim.
- Wreck2Reef Open Water Swim (St Leonards, Victoria, Australia) — a coastal swim on the Bellarine Peninsula.
Upcoming races
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FeaturedEvery Saturday at 8:00 AM (June-August)
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Sun, Aug 09, 2026 at 5:00 AMSee full details
Race Start Time and Location:
Our 18th Annual Rocco Laurie Memorial Staten Island Triathlon/Duathlon on 8/9/26 is one of our biggest events this season, last year bringing near 400 competitors! The race is popular not only because of an expertly designed closed course, but is also an event dedicated to honoring Rocco Laurie, a Vietnam veteran and NYPD officer, who lost his life while serving his fellow New Yorkers in 1972. Larry Ambrosino, chair of the Rocco Laurie Scholarship Fund, came up with the idea for a race in Staten Island to remember his Mariners Harbor roots and friend.
This is also a great race for those training for longer events later in the year, such as Jones Beach Ironman 70.3 on 9/26. The Staten Island Triathlon is a perfect race to condition yourself for an event like a Half Ironman.
Thanks to NYPD, this race has a completely closed off bike course on Father Capodanno Blvd. The water and current condition of Midland Beach has always been calmer than some of our other open water swims. Wet suits are optional. Lifeguards & NYPD Water Patrol will be on duty to ensure a safe and successful swim for all triathletes.
Here is what you can expect on race day: Race start is 7:30AM sharp at the transition area by the baseball field, at the west end of the Father Capodanno Blvd. Parking is at Lot 9, by the Lincoln Ave, not too far from the transition area. Triathletes will head to the beach for their swim start, .25 miles to the East of the Transition area. Duathletes will start their first run on the Franklin D Roosevelt boardwalk by the Comfort Station, in the Transition area.
At the end of the 400 meter swim, Triathletes will head back to the Transition through the open area near the smaller and shorter jetty. Duathletes will turn around turn around at 1.5 mile near the parking lot 5 and make their way back to the Transition. Both Triathletes and Duathletes will then begin the 12 mile bike portion of the race.
The bike segment is on Father Capodanno Blvd from the baseball field (hairpin turn) to Sand Lane, and back to the Transition area. Riding 3 loops (12 miles), 4 miles per loop. The course is flat and with no significant elevation gain.
The final segment of the race is a 3 mile run for both Triathletes and Duathletes. You will be running on the Franklin D Roosevelt Boardwalk. You will start from the Transition area outside of the baseball field and heading East. Turn around at 1.5 mile near the parking lot 5, and make your way back to the finish by the Transition area, running through the finish flags.
Remember to read our Race FAQs if you haven’t done so.
Staten Island Triathlon distance:
Swim distance is 400 meters.
Bike distance is 12 miles (3 loops on the Father Capodanno Blvd).
Run distance is 3 miles.
Staten Island Duathlon distance:
Run distance is 3 miles.
Bike distance is 12 miles (3 loops on the Father Capodanno Blvd).
Run distance is 3 miles.
Volunteers:
You are needed from 5:00 am to 11 am. Our races start at 7:30am unless stated the otherwise. Once you arrived, report to our Race Director Victor. He will go over your race duty as well as where you need to be. Don’t leave until the race is finished. You have to sign out to earn your race credit for your next race.
The Staten Island Triathlon/Duathlon is not USAT certified or sanctioned. USAT racing license isn’t required to compete in our race.
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Sun, Aug 09, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Are you a Mermaid or Merman or just want to enjoy an organized and safe open water swim? Our 12th annual ocean swim will be offering four great distances again! The swim will be held at the pristine beach in Stuart, Florida.
Five Distances Include:
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Two Mile Swim
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One Mile Swim
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Half-Mile Swim
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Lil' Mermaid Splash (200 yards OWS)
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Virtual Swim
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Sun, Aug 09, 2026 at 8:00 AMSee full details
This annual community open water swim event typically attracts an average of 200 swimmers split between three different distances. The temperature of the water is typically about 66 degrees F. The swim takes place in a calm, protected cove, and is well supported with at least a dozen volunteers in kayaks/paddleboarders. Cozy unisex t-shirts will be guaranteed for all participants pre-registered by August 1st. Latex swim caps will be provided for all swimmers. If you are allergic to latex, please feel free to bring your own.
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Sun, Aug 09, 2026 at 9:00 AM
The Beaton Classic
August 09, 2026
The Beaton is one of the oldest multisport events in Canada, consisting of open water swim, cycle, solo canoe and running stages. It can be done solo or as teams of two or four.
Find an open water swim near you
Browse upcoming races filtered by this format.
Browse racesFrequently Asked Questions
Is wild swimming the same as open water swimming?
Largely yes. Both mean swimming in natural water outside a pool. The difference is framing and region: open water swimming leans sporting and competitive, while wild swimming leans recreational and nature-focused, but the activity is the same.
What is the difference between open water swimming and wild swimming?
The difference is mostly connotation. Open water swimming implies races, timed events, distances, and triathlon swim legs, while wild swimming implies an unhurried dip, cold-water immersion, and time in nature with no clock. Many swimmers do both.
Where did the term wild swimming come from?
Wild swimming is chiefly a British and Commonwealth term whose modern popularity is widely credited to Roger Deakin's 1999 book Waterlog, alongside the broader outdoor swimming revival of the 2000s and 2010s. In North America and international sport, open water swimming is the standard label.
Is open water swimming a competitive sport?
Yes. Marathon swimming, the 10 km open water event, has been an Olympic discipline since 2008, and open water races at shorter distances such as 5 km and 25 km are common at lakes and coastlines. Open water swimming is also the format used for the swim leg of a triathlon.
Do you need a wetsuit for open water or wild swimming?
It depends on the water temperature and the event rules. Many swimmers wear a wetsuit for warmth and buoyancy in cold water, while others swim skins. A brightly coloured tow float is widely recommended for visibility and safety in both.
How do I find an open water swim near me?
Use our event listing filtered by the Open Water tag to see upcoming open water swims by location and date.