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Tara Loader Wilkinson

What does your Sunday morning look like?
For many in Hong Kong, it will be spent nursing a hangover or indulging in a lie-in. For California-born, Hong Kong-based art adviser and open water swimming sensation Edie Hu, Sunday finds her swim-suited on the beach at Repulse Bay at 8.15am, ready for 90 minutes in the sea with a group of like-minded early birds.
It is her regular date with the ocean that she never misses.
Discovering open water swimming changed her life, Hu, 49, says. She swam competitively as a child until she went to university, where she played water polo for her college.

But she “burned out” and, for the best part of 15 years, she stopped swimming as she climbed the corporate ladder with jobs at Citi Private Bank and Sotheby’s auction house.
She was introduced to open water swimming in 2009 when she took part in a two-kilometre (1.2-mile) race held annually in July in the Hong Kong village of Shek O, organised by Doug Woodring, founder of non-governmental organisation Ocean Recovery Alliance.
A few years later, around 2012, when many of her friends had left the city and she was feeling lonely, she started joining a Sunday swimming group – Southside Swimming Hong Kong, which now has about 3,100 members on Facebook.

“I hadn’t really considered there was an alternative swimming to the structured, monotonous and competitive type of swimming I had experienced in my youth, but here it was,” she says.
“I just showed up without having trained. It was fun. Slowly but surely, I started to get to know the community and they invited me on their swims. I realised there were no barriers, it was a way to get to know Hong Kong’s natural beauty better and make friends, which was all good for my mental health.”
Their destination from Repulse Bay changes; sometimes they swim to Middle Island or Chung Hom Kok or Round Island. Afterwards, they go for coffee. Every year at Halloween they swim at night – carrying a light – and go for dinner.
Joining those sessions and going longer distances helped set her up for some astonishing open water swimming feats: in November 2018, she swam the 45km around Hong Kong Island to raise funds for Hong Kong charity Splash, which teaches domestic helpers and others to swim free of charge.
In July, she became the ninth and the fastest person to swim the Oresund Strait, breaking the record for swimming the 20km stretch of sea that separates Denmark and Sweden by finishing in five hours, 10 minutes and 18 seconds.
After I finish, I always feel fantastic, even under the hardest conditions. It’s a natural high
Edie Hu, art adviser and swimmer
In August 2022 she also swam solo the 33km English Channel that separates southern England from northern France; in September 2023 the 32.3km Catalina Channel off the coast of Southern California; and in October 2023 the 14.4km Strait of Gibraltar between Spain and Morocco.
Hu feels the benefits of open water swimming are hugely underrated, especially in Hong Kong, which has ideal conditions for year-round sea swimming.
“Where else in the world can you live in an international financial centre which is 15 minutes from the beach?” she asks. “We are so lucky. The water is warm enough to swim in winter even without a wetsuit, there aren’t any sharks, and we have all these beautiful hidden islands with white sand beaches.”
As a low-impact activity, open water swimming provides good cardiovascular exercise without putting stress on joints. It engages multiple muscle groups, improves flexibility and enhances overall physical fitness.
The natural resistance of water also makes it an effective form of strength training – and it is affordable and accessible. And in cooler seasons, the cold-water benefits kick in – such as activating the body’s brown fat cells, which are responsible for burning calories to generate heat.

While swimming, Hu does not listen to music. After a near collision with a motorised fishing boat, which she was able to hear because she was not wearing earpods, she urges other swimmers to stay safe and not to wear them, either.
Instead, she focuses on her breath and the movement of her arms to fall into a type of meditation. It is the perfect way to put a barrier between yourself and all-pervasive devices, she adds.
“You get the odd thought like, ‘Oh I must send that email or call so-and-so’, but you can’t pick up your phone. So the thought quickly passes, and you refocus.”
During group swims, Hu does take her phone in case of emergencies and for an occasional photograph. It goes into a floating orange buoy tethered to her, making her more visible to passing vessels. The buoy also holds water, electrolyte drinks, snacks and gummies to refuel mid-swim.
“After I finish, I always feel fantastic, even under the hardest conditions. It’s a natural high,” she says.

Olivier Courret, 50, is a Hong Kong-based psychologist, clinical hypnotherapist and triathlete who can also attest to the many benefits of open water swimming for mental health.
He is a member of Open Water Swimmers of Hong Kong, which has over 3,200 members. They swim Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 6.30am and Saturdays at 8.30am, also at Repulse Bay.
“I always feel refreshed, invigorated and mentally reset after a swim,” Courret says.
He describes how the full sensory experience of open water swimming deepens your connection with your body and the environment, which can help get you “out of your head”.
“As you swim, you become acutely aware of the water’s temperature on your skin, the buoyancy of your body and the rhythm of your strokes,” he says.
“You hear underwater sounds and the splash of water above. Your sight constantly adjusts to navigate your surroundings, from other swimmers to the landscape. Even taste plays a role with the saltiness of the water.”
Whether it’s dealing with unexpected waves, currents, or simply the vastness of open water, swimmers develop emotional resilience and [learn] how to remain calm under pressure
Olivier Courret, psychologist, hypnotherapist and triathlete
Adapting to the unpredictable nature of open water can contribute to improved emotional awareness and resilience as well as overcoming fears.
“Open water can trigger emotions, from pure joy to apprehension to intimidation,” he says. “Swimmers learn to recognise these feelings and manage them effectively.
“Whether it’s dealing with unexpected waves, currents, or simply the vastness of open water, swimmers develop emotional resilience and [learn] how to remain calm under pressure or change.”
Building confidence and overcoming fear in the water often translates to courage in other areas of life, Courret says.
The activity also supports body acceptance and inclusivity. In the water, he adds, body type does not dictate performance as much as it might in other sports. And the importance of social connection and community support cannot be underestimated.
“Swimmers bond over shared experiences, support each other, and often socialise, which helps develop social skills and build friendships.”

A common concern is keeping up with the group, Courret notes.
“However, if you can swim in a pool, you can adapt to open water with proper safety protocols. I recommend starting within safety nets to build familiarity and confidence before joining structured group swims.”
Another concern is sharks, probably because of the presence of shark nets, he says. But according to conservancy group WWF, most shark species in Hong Kong are now locally extinct. And there has not been a shark attack in Hong Kong since 1995.
As for the question of cleanliness, the Environmental Protection Department monitors water quality at 44 beaches in Hong Kong three times a month. The city’s beaches have been 100 per cent compliant with bacteriological water quality guidelines for 12 years in a row.
“Overall, we have excellent water quality for open water swimming,” says Courret. “In my thousands of swims, I’ve only experienced a few minor stomach upsets.”

The more significant environmental issues Hong Kong swimmers face are the trash that blows in when the wind changes, and red algae blooms, says Hu, who does not let them stop her swimming.
“We are lucky that the water conditions have gotten cleaner each year with education and conservation efforts,” she says.
As Hu can attest, starting with small swims can lead to great things. She is turning 50 in 2025 and hopes to mark the occasion with a 50km swim. She will not need persuading to train.
“I’ve never once regretted a swim,” she says. “And I doubt I ever will.”
Like what you read? Follow SCMP Lifestyle on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also sign up for our eNewsletter here.


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Edie Hu, left, on an early morning outing with fellow swimmer Janis Mok. 
Photo: Instagram/edieswimshongkong/

Edie Hu is an open water swimming sensation. She describes how group open water swimming is great for health and why Hong Kong is the perfect place for it. Photo: Amy Miao

Open water swimmer Edie Hu says discovering the sport changed her life. Photo: Edie Hu

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Hu, left, on an early morning outing with fellow swimmer Janis Mok. Photo:Instagram/@edieswimshongkong

Hong Kong-based psychologist and triathlete Olivier Courret can attest to the many benefits of open water swimming for mental health. Photo: Olivier Courret 

Courret poses with the Open Water Swimmers of Hong Kong members in Repulse Bay. Photo: Olivier Courret

Hu is turning 50 in 2025 and hopes to mark the occasion with a 50km swim.

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Health & Wellness

Health

Two open water swimmers describe how group open water swimming is great for improving health, and why Hong Kong is the perfect place for it


Two open water swimmers describe how group open water swimming is great for improving health, and why Hong Kong is the perfect place for it.
