Today, on January 6, Ukrainians celebrate Epiphany. Some plunge into the freezing water for health and longevity but the State Emergency Service divers do that routinely to save lives.
Liked, restacked & shared to Bluesky (as always). Can't help feeling that the baptism of Jesus took place in a pleasantly cool river in the fierce sun of the Middle East - brave to swim in such cold water!
Well, here in the Chihuahuan Desert, it is sunny and a balmy 76F/24C, so no cold plunge. Thanks to y'all's reporting, my thoughts are with those brave EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) divers like Volodymyr who brave cold water and possible violent death for the sake of their country. My nephew served as a U.S. Navy EOD/Dive Officer until he retired a few years ago.
People in the city where I gree up (Appleton, Wisconsin in the northern U.S.) plunge onto freezing water on New Year's Day. I never did, but with the right group of suitably foolish friends, I would have.
When you come out of super cold water, you need to have a way to warm up VERY quickly. Temperatures below zero Fahrenheit (about 20 below Celsius) are dangerous.
When I was in college, a friend's boyfriend participated in the Greek Orthodox plunge on Epiphany. This was in the Long Beach, California area, so not freezing. However, even in the summer, the ocean of the coast of California is never warm. A current from the north keeps the water cold and the nearby land comfortable. I think the guys that did the plunge were each trying to retrieve a cross that had been thrown in.
I think it was a competition as part of the cold water plunge. But then, I'm not Greek or Greek Orthodox so I may not understand. This is a recollection from decades ago.
I did the “polar bear plunge” into Lake Erie once about twenty years ago. That year I was a college sophomore, if I remember correctly. Nonetheless, it was pre-9/11.
Liked, restacked & shared to Bluesky (as always). Can't help feeling that the baptism of Jesus took place in a pleasantly cool river in the fierce sun of the Middle East - brave to swim in such cold water!
Well, here in the Chihuahuan Desert, it is sunny and a balmy 76F/24C, so no cold plunge. Thanks to y'all's reporting, my thoughts are with those brave EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) divers like Volodymyr who brave cold water and possible violent death for the sake of their country. My nephew served as a U.S. Navy EOD/Dive Officer until he retired a few years ago.
People in the city where I gree up (Appleton, Wisconsin in the northern U.S.) plunge onto freezing water on New Year's Day. I never did, but with the right group of suitably foolish friends, I would have.
When you come out of super cold water, you need to have a way to warm up VERY quickly. Temperatures below zero Fahrenheit (about 20 below Celsius) are dangerous.
Would you still consider ever doing it?
I liked the writing of this that artfully juxtaposed an ancient water ritual with modern rescue and mine clearance diving.
When I was in college, a friend's boyfriend participated in the Greek Orthodox plunge on Epiphany. This was in the Long Beach, California area, so not freezing. However, even in the summer, the ocean of the coast of California is never warm. A current from the north keeps the water cold and the nearby land comfortable. I think the guys that did the plunge were each trying to retrieve a cross that had been thrown in.
Sounds very interesting! Do you know what was the point of retrieving the cross?
I think it was a competition as part of the cold water plunge. But then, I'm not Greek or Greek Orthodox so I may not understand. This is a recollection from decades ago.
I did this once on January 1, 2001, during the summer in Antarctica.
Once was enough for me . . .
Thanks for sharing your experience, what was the temperature at the time?
Since there was water below and ice above, the water should have been 0 °C (32°F). The air temperature was probably about 2 °C higher.
I did the “polar bear plunge” into Lake Erie once about twenty years ago. That year I was a college sophomore, if I remember correctly. Nonetheless, it was pre-9/11.