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How cold is the arctic ocean?

Why do I get so cold in the ocean/water? (Colder than others) And how can I stay warmer?

  • I seem to get colder than most people when I swim. I shake and shiver uncontrollably sometimes, which my friend tells me is the beginning stages of hypothermia. It's not that the water is that cold, because other people don't seem to notice. Could it be body fat? Mine is very low (I'm a 19 year old male and weight about 100lbs). I recently tried a rash guard and it helped, but I was still cold and shivering while my friend wasn't. How can I experience swimming in the ocean comfortably? Is it something I need to adjust to? Any tips for staying warm? Thanks! =)

  • Answer:

    Heat is lost more quickly in water than on land. Water temperatures that would be quite reasonable as outdoor air temperatures can lead to hypothermia. A water temperature of 50 °F often leads to death in one hour, and water temperatures hovering at freezing can lead to death in as little as 15 minutes. Your low body mass may be a factor in your getting colder quicker than your friend, but your friend would eventually get cold as well. As for staying warm, wet suits aren't terribly expensive.

Joey at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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Yeah, I pretty much have the same problem as you except not to that extreme. I definitely think it's because of your body fat. 100 pounds is pretty light. Whenever I swim my bigger friends usually end up staying warmer. My solution to you is either go somewhere else, gain some more weight, or put on a wet/dry suit. The ocean will generally always be gold unless you are down south or in the tropics. It also helps to have a towel ready! there is nothing worse than having a blast of wind when you're wet.

Andy T

Either gain 50 pounds or wear a wetsuit.

emgee79

You need to get a wetsuit. Check out http://www.wakeboards.us/. They have an excellent selection on there.

Kevin

Yup, low body fat is your heat problem. Fat acts as both an insulator and for the production of thermal energy. My skinny sister used to have the same problem, even in the summer in heated pools. Best solution is to wear a springsuit, one of the shorty wetsuits that surfers use. I have one from American Wave that I use for kayaking and scuba diving that makes cool water really comfortable. They are nice looking and well made suits and the company has them on sale now for under $45: http://www.americanwave.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=0B35401 You can also get wetsuit vests, a sleeveless top that you can wear over your swimsuit (American Wave sells those too). Just keeping your torso warm makes a big difference.

c_kayak_fun

def get a wetsuit

Jason

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