In obvious news: It’s hot outside. The Earth is so warm even Antarctica is melting. And when Floridians head to the beach to cool off, guess what? The ocean is too hot. What’s a human to do when the temperature is intolerable? Lose the clothes and jump in the water, that’s what. Maybe it’s time to go skinny dipping.
There are some misconceptions about swimming in the nude, with some states like Montana punishing those who display their genitals in public places with a fine and six months in jail for their first offense. Third strike? Up to a century behind bars.
“Nudity is a taboo in America because we primarily equate nudity or nakedness with sexuality, and we have taboos about sexuality,” Matthew Westra, a psychology professor at Longview Community College in Missouri, tells National Geographic. So how does one get around these laws and misunderstandings about what is actually a healthy and liberating activity? Read on for tips on how to make the most of your skinny dipping experience.
- Bring a friend: If no one knows you went skinny dipping, did it really happen? According to Insider, diving in the buff together can make a lifetime of memories, strengthen friendships, and helps you lose any self-conscious feelings you may have.
- Swim sober: Speaking of self-consciousness, if you need a few libations to jump in the water sans pants, you might not remember the experience—and it can be dangerous. Alcohol affects your balance, raising your chance of getting injured, which means you’ll have more than the police to worry about. Drunkenness also equals loudness, increasing the probability you’ll get caught.
- Undress underwater: If you’re skinny dipping for the health benefits (free vitamin D, among others, according to this article), you can leave your bathing suit area covered until you are neck-deep in the water. Then stealthily remove your clothing and wrap it around your wrist. When finished, put everything back on, and no one is the wiser.
- Or take a dip in the dark: First-timers may want to swim under the dark of night when there’s more privacy. However, you can still be spotted by the light of the moon. But if you’re worried about being visible, check a lunar calendar to see how much the moon will affect your swim.
- Hide your clothes and towel: Merry pranksters may attempt to sabotage your swim, so put your clothes, towels, and other items in a spot where they can’t be easily seen. Having your clothes stolen means a long walk back to your car; and if you need to scurry in a hurry, you can get dressed before the law comes by to ruin your fun.
- No pictures: It goes without saying, but if you’re thinking you want to capture the moment for the ‘Gram, don’t. Your friends might be self-conscious already, and this moment is a story better told than shown.
- Keep your hands to yourself: As we stated above, skinny dipping is meant to be liberating and not a sexual act. Don’t make it that way by putting your palms where they don’t belong. As the blog Volonté explains, not only does it make the water unsafe, the act can be considered assault.
- For the ladies: You can skinny dip while on your period. Volonté suggests wearing a tampon or a menstrual cup, with the blog strongly recommending the latter, as the disc fits completely inside the vagina.
- Do what makes you comfortable: If you’re uncomfortable being naked in the water around your friends, you’ll stand out more than if you were wearing a bathing suit. If the thought of going skinny dipping makes you nervous, decline the invitation. Writer Blair Braverman said it best in Outside: “You never have to be naked around anyone you don’t want to. Period.”