Winter swimming: Sub10 Club
Our Sub10 Club runs from 1 Nov until 31 March each year
Join our NOWCA Wild group (SUB10 CLUB) for all the latest news and announcements.
Sub10 Scoreboard
The scoreboard is updated daily so you can track your cold water swims and sub10 milestones.
Sub10 Highlights
Check out photos from Sub10 Club for this & past seasons on our Facebook group! Remember to tag us.
Merch Shop
Commemorate your Sub10 Club participation and celebrate your achievement with official Sub10 merch!
Register Your Venue
Join the NOWCA Venue Network and participate in the Sub10 Club. No cost to join and it’s hassle-free!
What is Sub10?
Sub10 refers to water temperature that drops below 10°C.
The Sub10 Club is our cold water community that swim through the Winter when water temperatures are most likely to drop below 10°C. The ethos is to help and support like minded swimmers and to enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of cold water swimming in a safe setting.
As part of the Sub10 Club, we tally each member’s winter swim and reward swimmers with woven/digital badge at certain swim milestones for this season – as well as centurion milestones accumulated over all Sub10 seasons!
Distance and timed swims DO NOT form part of the Sub10 requirements. This initiative promotes self-awareness in cold water through education and stringent safety practices. There is also no minimum or maximum number of swims for any period of time.
The purpose is to connect with others that enjoy cold water swimming in a safe and beautiful setting.
Venue or Wild?
Joining the Sub10 Club is free and welcomes all swim abilities and experience, but you must have a current NOWCA membership to take part.
We now offer two clubs – Venue Sub10 and Wild Sub10. Members can participate in one or both clubs.
Venue Sub10 Club
The Venue Sub10 Club counts your swims completed at Sub10 participating venues.
It is FREE to join this club, but registration is no longer automatic – you must sign up via the ACTiO app (search the venue: SUB10 CLUB).
By signing up, you will be listed on the official scoreboard and be eligible to receive the free Sub10 milestone woven badges (seasonal and centurion).
For the swim to qualify, you must tap-in and tap-out of your session. If the water temperature is 10°C or below, a tally will be added against your name on the scoreboard.
Milestones are based on all swims completed at Sub10 participating venues. If you swim at multiple venues, every eligible swim will be added to your tally.
‘Activities’ with a swimming element is eligible to be counted toward your Sub10 tally – eg. open water swimming, sauna & dip, ice bath, etc.
Swimming ‘Events’ are not eligible for a Sub10 Club tally.
Wild Sub10 Club
The Wild Sub10 Club counts swims you’ve logged via the NOWCA Wild app.
It is FREE to join this club, but you must opt-in via the NOWCA Wild app (in your profile settings).
Once you opt-in, you will be listed on the official scoreboard and begin unlocking your Sub10 milestone digital badges (seasonal, centurion and temperature tracker).
For the swim to qualify, you must log your swim on the NOWCA Wild app – and you MUST enter your water temperature. If the water temperature is 10°C or below, a tally will be added against your name on the scoreboard.
As a wild swimmer, you are not limited to any specific location – so long as you log your swim in the NOWCA Wild app. You can swim anywhere in the world!
Sub10 woven badges are available to purchase at the NOWCA online shop.
Sub10 Scoreboard
Award Badges 2026/27
Our award badges recognise your Sub10 achievements for the season and cumulatively.
For Venue Sub10 Club, you will be eligible to receive a free woven badge when you reach a seasonal or centurion milestone (excluding Sub10 participation badge and temperature tracker badges – these are available for purchase at the NOWCA online shop.)
For Wild Sub10 Club, your digital badges will be unlocked in your profile on the NOWCA Wild app. All woven badges are available to puchase via the NOWCA online shop.
NEW!
Participation Badge
This year, we introduce the new participation badge which is the centrepiece that completes the seasonal milestone badge set.
The participation badge is unlocked digitally for Wild Sub10 Club members who opt in.
The woven badge is also available for purchase at our online shop.
***For Venue Sub10 Club – this is not included as part of your free milestone badges. You must purchase this badge separately.
NEW DESIGN!
Seasonal Badges
Seasonal badges are awarded when you achieve 10, 25, 50 or 100 swims within the current season (Nov – Mar).
Reach all four milestones this season to complete the full Sub10 badge set.
Woven badges are free for Venue Sub10 Club members.
***For Wild Sub10 Club – woven badges are available for purchase at the NOWCA online shop.
NEW for WILD SUB10!
Temperature Tracker Badges
This year we are launching our new temperature tracker badge set to help you track every Sub10 degree.
Temperature badges will be unlocked digitally for Wild Sub10 Club members.
They are also available as woven badges – purchase them individually or as a full set at the NOWCA online shop.
FRESH LOOK!
Centurion Badges
We are excited to launch a fresh new design for our range of Centurion badges.
Centurion badges are awarded when you achieve 100+ swims – accumulated from your first ever Sub10 swim.
Woven badges are free for Venue Sub10 Club members.
***For Wild Sub10 Club – woven badges are available for purchase at the NOWCA online shop.
Participating Venues 2026/27
Many venues remain open all year round and can safely assist your cold water swims over winter. Here are the venues that participate in our Classic Sub10 Club. If your venue is not listed but would like to join the Sub10 Club, please ask them to get in contact with us.
For Wild Sub10 Club, there are no locations restrictions – just make sure you log your swim on the NOWCA Wild app.
Chelmarsh Sailing Club
Bridgnorth, Shropshire
WV16 6BL
Cliff Lakes
Tamworth, Warwickshire
B78 2DL
Field Head Farm
Uttoxeter, Staffordshire
ST14 5JA
Frisby Lakes
Asfordby, Melton
LE14 3TL
HOWL The Haven
Feltham, London
TW15 1AX
Love Open Water London Royal Docks
Victoria Dock, London
E16 1AH
Love Open Water Nottingham
Hoveringham, Nottingham
NG14 7JX
Luxborough Lakes
Chigwell, Essex
IG7 5DF
Manley Mere
Manley/Frodsham, Cheshire
WA6 0PE
Milton Country Park
Milton, Cambridge
CB24 6AZ
Netherton Open Water
Netherton, Dudley
DY2 0HL
Orchard Holiday Park & Fishery
Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire
WR15 8TW
Peak Open Water Sports - Fritton Lake
Fritton, Norfolk
NR31 9HA
Peak Open Water Sports - Lowestoft Beach
Lowestoft, Suffolk
NR33 0FH
Peak Open Water Sports - Salhouse Broad
Salhouse, Norfolk
NR13 6RX
Pillaton Hall Farm
Pillaton, Penkridge
ST19 5RZ
Pitsford Open Water Swimming
Brixworth, Northampton
NN6 9DG
St Andrews Lakes
Halling, Kent
ME2 1BA
Still Water Retreat
Crewe, Cheshire
CW3 9RE
Swim Pennington
Lowton, Warrington
WA3 1BJ
Swim Six Hills
Six Hills, Leicestershire
LE14 3PR
Taplow Lakeside
Taplow, Buckinghamshire
SL6 0EA
Wild Leisure - Cleveland Lakes
Cirencester, Oxfordshire
SN6 6QW
Register Your Venue
Join the NOWCA Venue Network and participate in the Sub10 Club.
No cost to join and it’s hassle-free!
Don't have a venue nearby?
Join Wild Sub10 Club
We have now expanded the Sub10 Club to NOWCA Wild – enabling every swimmer to take part and be rewarded for safe winter swimming.
Sub10 Merch
Online shop is now open!
Commemorate your Sub10 Club participation and celebrate your achievement!
Check out our range of Sub10 Club, Milestone and Centurion merch.
Prices from only £10
Preparing for Cold Water Swimming
Cold Water Swimming is an amazing activity with many benefits but is also higher risk than summer swimming.
We recommend all members read our Cold Water Safety Guide to help prepare for Winter swimming.
We also offer a Cold Water Induction online course, created to ensure swimmers are fully equipped to swim safely in cold water. It’s an opportunity to dispel common myths whilst providing swimmers with the information needed to mitigate risks associated with cold water swimming such as hypothermia and the dangers associated with the body’s cold-water shock response.
As well as looking at the mental health benefits this course also focuses on cold water shock and the body’s physiological response to exposure to cold water. You will learn about vital safety information, self monitoring, recognising warning signs, post swim recovery, what to do (and not to do) in an emergency, neoprene vs skin swimming, safe entry, acclimatisation, and what equipment you will need.
The course is £20 for non-members – NOWCA members get it for only £5 via NOWCA Perks.
A Cold Water Induction is mandatory at some venues, so if you plan to swim throughout Winter, start preparing now.
Some venues may offer an ONSITE Cold Water Induction.
Check directly with the venue to understand their cold water requirements and winter swimming policy.
