Jump in! The Water's Fine!

by Michele Poff, PhD

There’s something irresistible about the sea. From the moment our toes touch the water, we begin to feel transported to another realm. Here in the Central Coast area, you’ve just got to get into the water. Swimming in the sea benefits your whole being in a way few other activities do. Have you ever wondered why surfers have their own kind of vibe, and it defines “chill”? There are scientific reasons for this!

A Natural Boost for the Body

The minerals in seawater—magnesium, potassium, and iodine—are absorbed through the skin. This brings an overall sense of calm and ease, and helps reduce 

inflammation and soothe conditions like 

eczema and arthritis. Even wading or floating in the water stimulates circulation and can leave you feeling energized long after you’ve dried off. If you can find a deep tide pool, definitely sit and soak for a while.

Mental Clarity and Emotional Calm

The rhythmic movement of the waves together with the gentle breezes and warm sunshine out there have a meditative effect. 

Studies show that spending time in or near the ocean lowers cortisol levels, reducing stress and anxiety. The negative ions abundant in sea air are believed to enhance serotonin production, improving mood and promoting restful sleep. Whether you’re floating on your back and listening to the muffled sounds 

beneath the surface, hanging out with a school of fish swimming around your feet, or watching sunlight dance on the water and enjoying the pelicans and butterflies flittering by, the sea invites a state of mindfulness that’s hard to replicate elsewhere. If you’re “going through something”, let the sea water cleanse away that old skin you want to shed. Breathe deeply out there! This is sheer energetic cleansing and life rejuvenation. 

And it’s free!

A Prescription for Modern Life

The sun tells the hour, and the moon and tide tell the day. In a world dominated by screens and clocks, the ocean offers a much-needed antidote. Spending time in the sea calls on us to unplug, slow down, and reconnect with the natural rhythms of life. All you need is a 

willingness to get wet and let the water transport you to a place of calm and peace. 

If you think you’re not a water person, you especially need to jump in and hang out for an hour. You’ll emerge feeling amazed.

Sea Safety

Before you venture into the mighty Pacific all inspired to reap its benefits to your body mind and soul, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Rip currents are real, and they will pull you out much further than you want to go, faster than you can think. Those currents are strong; human strength is no match. The seasoned eye knows how to spot them, but normal people don’t. They’re hard to see. If you step into the water and feel strongly pulled out against your legs, rethink that spot for getting in and try again 50 feet down the beach. If you do get caught in a rip current, DO NOT TRY TO SWIM FOR SHORE. You will exhaust yourself swimming against the current, and drowning is imminent. You need to swim out the side, parallel to the beach, or wait until the rip current pulls you all the way out and spits you to one side or the other, then swim in.

Stay out of the water at high tide unless you really know what you’re doing. Dead-low tide also brings very strong currents. Check the tide chart and pay attention to the water line in the sand.

Lots of sea critters love to play in the waves.  Stingrays are common. They hang out in shallow waters just beneath the sand. If you step on one, you WILL be sorry. Those stings make grown men cry. Avoid these stings by shuffling your feet across the sand rather than taking normal steps. Rays are playful and friendly, and will move if nudged, but they do not like to be stepped on. 

Pay attention to the ocean before you step into it. Some days are vicious out there—the Costa Ricans say el mar e bravo: the sea is angry. On these days, stay knee-deep max, if you have to get in at all. Other days, the ocean looks like a lake, with gentle waves lapping onto the shore. Such a luscious invitation.

Please, don’t get into the ocean after a couple of drinks. So many people drown that way. These beaches don’t usually have lifeguards.

Finally, unless you’re a very strong swimmer, don’t go out into the waves without a real floatation device like a boogie board or surfboard or good life jacket. Again, human strength is nothing against the Mighty Pacific, and exhaustion comes quickly.

Whether you swim, surf, snorkel, soak, or simply float, the sea has something to offer everyone. It heals, it energizes, and it inspires. When in Costa Rica, you simply must get into the water. The ocean is waiting. And it has more to offer you than you can imagine.

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Michele is a professional writer and editor living in the Central Coast region. She works primarily with nonfiction projects, often science-based. She also offers a well-being program to individuals and organizations that combines microlessons on critical well-being topics like emotional intelligence with live meditations for maximum empowerment and peace: www.thealignmentportal.com.