Joining the NOWCA Wild Sub10 Club!

Do you love swimming in cold temperatures? I have slowly built up to it over the years and still struggle but I really love it when the numbers creep down to single digits. It’s hard to get in but always so, so worth it!

It can be tricky finding the willpower to dip throughout the winter season, so I love being part of a swimming group such as the Bluetits Chill Swimmers. They give me the peer pressure I need (ha ha!) to get my butt out of bed on a frosty morning.

Joining Swim Challenges and Events

The other way I like to stay motivated is through challenges and signing up for events. I loved training last year for the SLSC UK Cold Water Swimming Championships 2025, held at Tooting Bec Lido. The water at this lido in January was around 1-5ºC and I trained for this by swimming throughout winter without gloves or shoes.

My next adventure is going to Lapland in March 2026 to take part in the International Winter Swimming Association Winter Swimming World Championships. Taking place in Oulu, Finland, the air temperature is expected to be below -10 C and the average water temperature at 0.2 C! Swim distances will range from 25m up to 450m and the competition rules require wearing a standard swimming costume/trunks, plus a standard swim cap only.

I also enjoy a challenge – I love a badge! The Bluetits Winter Challenge, for example, is about keeping each other going through the winter, one dip at a time. I’ve also just joined a club; the Wild Sub10 Club, run by NOWCA. NOWCA is the UK’s largest network of safe open water swimming venues, with over 40 locations nationwide.

The Sub10 Club is NOWCA’s cold water community that swims through the cold months, when water temperatures are most likely to drop below 10°C.  The ethos is to help and support like-minded swimmers, and to enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of cold water swimming in a safe setting.

It is really simple and a fantastic way to maintain your winter cold water swimming experience.

There are two options to enable you to join;

Option 1: Swim at NOWCA Sub10 Venues

Option 2: Swim anywhere with NOWCA Wild

What is the NOWCA Sub10 Club?

In this club, you just book sessions via NOWCA’s booking system (on the ACTiO app) at participating venues. There are several of these to choose from, you can find them all on the app. Just swim at any NOWCA venue between 1^st November 1st and 31st March, when the water temperatures are below 10°C. The app is free to download and there are some free features. To take part in Wild Sub10, you need to be a NOWCA member which means you need to upgrade to Premium on the app.

Your first sub-10°C swim enrolls you in the Sub10 Club. Any swim that you complete at a registered Sub10 venue will count towards your total. You will appear on the Sub10 scoreboard and when you achieve milestones, such as 10 swims, 25 swims or 50 swims you will be rewarded with an embroidered badge at your 10, 25 and 50 Sub10 swim milestones for the season!

This initiative promotes self-awareness in cold water through education and stringent safety practices. Therefore, there are no minimum or maximum number of swims for any period of time. You can read more here: https://nowca.org/winter-swimming/

What is Wild Sub10 Club?

So what do you do if you don't have a NOWCA venue nearby? You can join the Wild Sub10 Club! NOWCA has now expanded the Sub10 Club to NOWCA Wild – enabling every swimmer to take part and be rewarded for safe winter swimming.

Wild Sub10 Club is a dedicated space to share experiences, connect, and celebrate the joy of winter swimming. Every swim in water below 10°C is logged and contributes to your personal tally, unlocking milestone digital badges along the way. As with the Sub10 Club, there are no minimum swim times, just embracing the raw beauty of winter swimming. Log swims from any location - lakes, rivers, the sea. Perfect for wild swimmers who want complete freedom.

All you have to do is download the free NOWCA Wild app to get started. Join the NOWCA Wild group: Sub10 Club (app.nowcawild.co.uk/tabs/groups/60). Simply log every swim on the NOWCA Wild app to keep a diary of your progress. START and FINISH your swim on the NOWCA Wild app, add the water temperature and swim notes.

Your Sub10 plunge is then recorded and added to your personal tally to earn your virtual Sub10 badges. You can also use the app to find swimming groups near you and join them for a cold water swim.

Celebrate your Achievements

NOWCA Wild brings you into a community of cold-water swimmers, united to inspire, support, and share this journey together. Swimming in sub10 water is a big deal! When you have completed your swims, shout about it, share your experience, and motivate others to start their journey.

Add your photos and videos to the Wild Sub10 - search NOWCA WILD SUB10 CLUB on Facebook.

You can also commemorate your Sub10 Club participation and celebrate your achievement with official Sub10 merch.

​Prepare for Cold Water

When dipping in very cold temperatures, preparation is key. NOWCA recommends that you use their resources to help you learn more about cold water swimming and how to manage your swims safely this winter - especially if you wish to participate in their Wild Sub10 Club. Read the cold water safety guide, complete the online cold water induction and test your knowledge with the free cold water quiz.

So if you want to connect with others that enjoy cold water swimming in a safe and beautiful setting, sign up now. https://www.nowcawild.co.uk/sub-10-club