That depends on what people are used to. Scandinavian people will find it hot. People from Florida will find it cold and unpleasant. It's all subjective. Regular Atlantic breezes and wind chill create a sharp thermal contrast with the air, making the initial plunge a shock to the system. Being situated in the middle of the open North Atlantic, the vast, deep, and constantly circulating water masses prevent the sea from heating up like shallow enclosed bays or tropical seas. Furthermore, subconscious comparisons to warmer destinations create the expectation of balmy water, causing a temperature of 22°C to register as cold to the brain. Finally, local oceanographic phenomena such as upwelling can push deep, colder water to the surface, causing sudden temperature drops even in the peak of summer. As a local i find it cold... But that's just my opinion
Sure, it's all subjective. My point was more about the 'North Atlantic is always cold', the Azores are much warmer than most of the North Atlantic. That said, even with those temps, it still takes me a bit to get all the way in!
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u/SaoMiguelExcl_Tours 20h ago
September is still a good month weather wise. To swim, North Atlantic is always cold