Cold water is the emergency

Air temperature lies to you in May and October. What immersion actually does, and how to dress for the water you might swim in.

The deadliest paddling days are beautiful ones: 75°F air, 55°F water. You dress for the air. The water does not care.

The first minute

Cold shock — the gasp reflex — is involuntary and happens in the first minute of immersion. It is why PFDs matter more in spring than in July: you cannot swim through a gasp.

The 120 rule

If air plus water temperature is under 120°F combined, wear thermal protection. Splashtag shows a cold-water banner at exactly this threshold, with the water temperature paddlers reported — free, always, because this is the feature that matters.

Dress for the swim

Wetsuit or drysuit under 60°F water, leash on the board, phone in a chest-mounted dry pouch. Tell someone your plan — or let the app do it for you.

Conditions and rules for every launch mentioned live in the spot directory.