Bournemouth woman calls for people to join her weekly sea swim

A Bournemouth woman who launched a sea swimming group six months ago is appealing for new members to join its weekly dip.

Anna Carina Jacobs started swimming at Branksome Chine every Sunday morning in April and is now joined by more than a dozen other people who heard about the group through social media.

She is hoping to expand the group even further in a bid to improve people’s physical and mental health.

Anna said: “The sea is an amazing thing and just my best friend in a way.”

She started the group after moving to Bournemouth from Buckinghamshire as a way of getting to know people in her new location. 

They gather for their swim at 9.30am and plan to continue throughout the winter.

Around a half a dozen people were involved in the early stages, but it has only increased since then to an average of around 13, thanks to Anna’s Facebook posts. 

Anna added that the group is open to all ages and abilities.

According to the findings of The Lancet Psychiatry’s mental health and exercise study, regular physical activity is associated with better mental health. 

In addition to boosting your mental health, Anna claimed that the action can help increase circulation, provide endorphins, and apparently reduce Alzheimer’s. 

Anna added: “Obviously there’s the opposite side of the scale where you have to think about not getting too cold.

“But I say to everyone, it’s everyone’s own responsibility to look after themselves because I can’t manage such a big group by myself.”