Sea therapy

Over the past few years we have welcomed more than 8,000 passengers onboard our family boat trips. Students have also shared sea experiences with us during that time. Children and adults have often faced the challenge that open seas can pose to many of us: first time at sea, anxiety when facing deep waters, discomfort with waves and wind or sea sickness.

Drawn from our own experience as a team, we examine some of the most common challenges we face when meeting the sea and the many benefits you can derive from overcoming your fears. Let us help you do just that so that you may make the sea part of your vital wellbeing.

Overcoming fears of deep waters

If you’re not used to it, it’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed at the prospect of swimming in deep waters.

With our experienced team and our strict safety procedures, you can trust that you are in the perfect environment to start to challenge this fear and embrace swimming in the sea!

It’s also very common for both children and adults to be uncomfortable swimming beyond the sand over the darker seabeds. We’ll teach you all about the incredibly important marine life growing in these patches of sea, particularly ‘posidonia oceanica’ or ‘Neptune grass’, which – far from being dangerous – is actually making a huge difference in the struggle against climate change!

“Never in a million years did I think my children would swim in the sea […] This trip has definitely boosted their confidence and opened their eyes to the sea.

Remi, Tripadvisor, 2022

“I can’t recommend this trip enough, it has given us both so much more confidence in the deep waters, and we will definitely be doing it again next summer.”

Remi, Tripadvisor, 2022

Understanding sea creatures

The digital age has brought so much information about the sea to our fingertips, and we’re excited to help you learn more!

Unfortunately, a lot of the stories shared around the internet seem to be the scariest tales of dangerous creatures, giving people even more reason to be afraid of the water. On the way out to our snorkelling trips, we field many questions about sharks and jellyfish, but after a day learning about marine life, we’re never asked the same questions on the way back! Our guided snorkeling tour is the safe way to see marine life firsthand and to learn that the water is not as scary as it might seem.

“Our little one went from being nervous to even enter the sea to swimming around amongst hundreds of fish!”

Haley, Tripadvisor, 2023

“We had a 10 year old who was afraid of fish the day before and yet was loving swimming with all sorts of marine life by the end of the trip”

David, Tripadvisor, 2022

Improving risk assessment skills

While a lot of our educational material focuses on helping people overcome their fears, it’s also incredibly important for people to understand the actual risks and spend time in the sea wisely.

Rather than sensational stories of sea monsters, we’ll teach you about how different waves, weather, winds and tides affect your safety at sea so you can trust your own judgement and stay safe.

“From the minute we stepped foot on the boat, the children were put at ease and lots of fears cleared from their minds”

Janine, Tripadvisor, 2024

“The team are fantastic, any nervous sea swimmers are easily made to feel confident.”

Cally, Tripadvisor, 2023

Building self confidence

Swimming in the sea is outside a lot of people’s comfort zones, but the benefits are huge.

Everyday our team helps children and adults conquer their fears in a safe, well-organised environment, knowing that support is right there if it’s needed. We’ve heard back from parents of children who have been too frightened to venture beyond dry land who are now excited to spend as much time swimming in the sea as possible, and from adults who started the day unable to step foot in the sea who end up not wanting to get out! If you have any concerns, our team will be right there to support you. There’s never any pressure for anyone to leave the boat, but we’ve seen so many people make enormous progress in just a few hours by challenging themselves to face their fears.

“Our recently turned 11 year old son developed a confidence in the water with Greg that we never thought possible”

Graeme, Tripadvisor, 2024

“the confidence gained from this trip meant I was happy to swim and lounge in the sea on holiday earlier this week where before I wouldn’t have gone in past my knees!”

Mark, Tripadvisor, 2023

Sea therapy research

What does current research say about the benefits of the sea?

If you’ve ever felt calmer, happier, or more peaceful after spending time near the sea, you’re not alone. Studies have shown that even just looking at pictures of the water or hearing recorded sounds of waves can be hugely soothing to our mental state – but the benefits the sea brings to our health don’t stop there. Spending time in or near the sea can offer huge improvements to both our mental and physical wellbeing, as shown by an ever-growing body of scientific research.

Blue Mind

One of the most influential works in this field is the 2014 book ‘Blue Mind’ by Wallace J. Nichols. This book looks at human evolution and neuroscience to trace why the water can be so beneficial to our mental health. As Nichols writes, ‘Whether searching the universe or roaming here at home humans have always sought to be by or near water’ – with this in mind, maybe it shouldn’t be so surprising that being around the sea can offer so much to people’s wellbeing.

Lots of emerging research points to open-water swimming as a great option to help people with a range of mental health difficulties.
  • A 2023 study, which found that open-water swimming helped improve wellbeing and reduce negative mood states, such as tension, anger and fatigue
  • Case studies from 2018 and 2024 which found substantial improvements for participants with conditions including major depressive disorder, chronic pain, and low-self worth
  • Studies from 2009 and 2012  which found that the sensory input from aquatic environments had positive effects for people with ADHD and autism
  • A 2022 study that found swimming in the sea helped reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety
Other studies have looked more closely at the way the sea can help people with physical health conditions.

In 2024, researchers Michele Antonelli and Davide Donelli reviewed 566 different articles which looked at ‘thalassotherapy’, or ways that exposure to the sea can help people’s health. They highlighted a few key conditions that have the strongest evidence that thalassotherapy can help with, including:

Eczema

Studies in 2005 and 2019 found significant improvements in the condition and symptoms of people with atopic dermatitis after treatment in the Dead Sea, thanks to the minerals in the water. thalassotherapy can help with, including:

Psoriasis

A 2020 study found that time in the Dead Sea had immediate benefits to people’s conditions and lead to improvements in their quality of life.

Types of arthiritis

Climatotherapy in the Mediterranean Sea led to significant improvements in spinal mobility and a reduction in symptoms for people with ankylosing spondylitis, as found by a 2011 study.

Vitiligo

2011 study of 436 patients found that climatotherapy in the Dead Sea lead to good repigmentation in 81.4% of participants and complete repigmentation in 3.9% of participants

Types of chronic pain

Studies from 20052007 and 2008 found that thalassotherapy lead to substantial improvements in mood, pain and overall quality of life for people with fibromyalgia

With all these benefits the sea has to offer, you can see why we’re keen to help people overcome their fear of the water so they can make the most of this incredible environment.

Knowing that people will leave our boat trips with a newfound appreciation of the sea is why we love our work so much – so whether you’re ready to jump off the boat as soon as we arrive or if you need to take your time, rest assured that we’ll be there to help and support you while you embrace the wonders waiting for you out at sea.