I was in Mallorca last week and swimming in the Med is different to here... a lot more salt makes it a lot easier to float and not sink, even when not actually using a swimmiing stroke.
Winter swimming is possible for very strong swimmers, the sea-swells are as high as 8/9 feet. The Winter temp is about 6 degrees at it's lowest as compared to a summer high of about 15 degrees. Our coastal waters are 'warmed' by the north atlantic drift.
RE: What are your 'non negotiables'
And back to talking about tictacs again