whitby, england   september 24 members of the whitby wild swimming group enter the north sea for a swim on september 24, 2019 in whitby, england whitby wild swimming group was set up in may and meet twice a week the group has members with a range of abilities from people who have never swam in the sea before to a former channel swimmer most of the group are working towards ‘skin swimming’ where only swimming costumes are worn rather than wetsuits the group swim each time they meet unless sea conditions prove to be too hazardous sea swimming is said to benefit health by increasing the metabolism, boosting the immune system, improving circulation and the cold water stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system which is responsible for repairing the body photo by ian forsythgetty images