but I think most of us wouldn ’ t be put off by that , even in the height of summer ! The sea temperature had dropped to 10 ° C , but I find that as long as you can alter your wetsuit from summer to winter you can remain warm and comfortable , since our seas don ’ t tend to change more than by about six degrees throughout the year [ Editor ’ s note : I ’ d say it ’ s more like 10-12 degrees , but this is an interesting debate ]. Although the wind and waves were negligible , there was a slight swell caused by the winds offshore through the night . This made timing our swim through the man-made archways crucial , to reach the deep , tidal pool beyond without undue effort . We had to keep a few metres clear of the rocks , which were enveloped in bubbles in the swell , with water cascading down each time the sea retreated and creating a ‘ Champagne ’ effect . I admit to getting a little close at one point , drawn in by the mesmerising spectacle . I am thankful that my 5mm wetsuit also doubles as whole-body impact protection layer . We had to be especially careful of ‘ sets ’ of waves coming in . Waves often come in ‘ sets ’. These are groups of bigger waves – usually two or three but sometimes more – that can arrive regularly from a half a minute to 15 minutes apart . The change in power as a set arrived became obvious when Daan had positioned me in a crack at about four metres . He wanted a photograph of the mini-maelstrom above my head as I looked on , safe and clear in the deeper waters beneath . We ’ d had a few successful goes when the first wave in a small set came in . It was nothing too fierce , but suddenly the bubbles from above reached down to me and I was lost in the fizz . I hung on as the wave tried to push me into the crack before it switched course , then I relaxed and allowed the ocean to spit me clear . I surfaced , mask filling with water due to my laughter , to be greeted by Daan in similar good humour . And , as if scripted , the cloud broke and a rainbow appeared behind us . Who says winter is no fun ? �
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