Should You Bring Your Phone Into Open Water?
If you’ve ever stood at the edge of a glittering lake or a chalk stream, phone in hand, debating whether to snap a quick underwater selfie, you’re far from alone. With smartphones now boasting impressive IP ratings and manufacturers loudly advertising water resistance, more and more wild swimmers are tempted to treat their devices as aquatic companions. But before you wade in with your iPhone tucked into your swimsuit, there are a few things every open-water enthusiast really ought to know.
Understanding IP Ratings: What Do They Actually Mean?
Most modern flagship smartphones carry an IP67 or IP68 rating. The “IP” stands for Ingress Protection, and the numbers tell you how resistant the device is to solids and liquids. An IP68 rating, for example, means the manufacturer has tested the phone to withstand submersion at a certain depth — often between one and six metres — for up to 30 minutes under controlled laboratory conditions.
Here’s the crucial word: controlled. Those tests are carried out in still, clean, fresh water at a standardised temperature. Wild swimming, as any seasoned open-water swimmer knows, is the very opposite of controlled. You’re dealing with:
- Varying water temperatures, sometimes bitterly cold
- Moving currents and wave action
- Sediment, organic matter, and algae
- Variable water pressure if you dive or tumble
- Salt, minerals, and chemical compounds in natural water bodies
All of these factors can compromise a seal that would hold perfectly well in a laboratory tank. Water resistance degrades over time too — drops, knocks, and general wear and tear can all damage the gaskets and seals that keep water out.
The Hidden Risks of Natural Water on Your Device
It’s Not Just About Depth
Many swimmers focus entirely on depth when thinking about their phone’s safety, but the composition of the water matters just as much. Sea water is highly corrosive due to its salt content. Rivers and lakes may contain sediment that works its way into ports and speakers. Peaty upland tarns can be surprisingly acidic. Even the most water-resistant phone can suffer internal corrosion from prolonged or repeated exposure to these environments, even if it doesn’t immediately show signs of damage.
Thermal Shock and Cold Water
Wild swimmers in the UK are well acquainted with cold water — our rivers and lakes rarely reach balmy temperatures, and in winter, a dip in a Highland loch is a serious cold-water challenge. Rapid temperature changes can cause the materials inside a phone to contract and expand at different rates, potentially compromising seals that were perfectly intact when you entered the water.
Why Wild Swimmers Should Think Beyond Their Phone
Here’s the thing — if you’re thinking carefully about protecting your phone from the water, it’s worth flipping that question around: what is the water doing to you?
Open water in the UK is beautiful, invigorating, and increasingly popular, but it isn’t always clean. Agricultural run-off, sewage overflow events, blue-green algae blooms, and general pollution can all pose real health risks to swimmers. Swallowing even small amounts of contaminated water can cause stomach upsets, ear infections, and in some cases more serious illnesses.
Testing the water before you swim is one of the most sensible habits any wild swimmer can develop. Just as you’d check weather conditions or water temperature before heading out, knowing the microbiological quality of your swimming spot gives you genuinely useful information to make an informed decision. It’s the kind of preparation that separates cautious, confident swimmers from those who stumble into avoidable problems.
Practical Tips for Swimming With Your Phone
- Use a dedicated waterproof case rather than relying solely on the manufacturer’s IP rating — especially in open water.
- Rinse your phone with fresh water after any swim in salt water, peaty water, or anywhere with visible sediment.
- Don’t charge your phone immediately after it has been wet — allow it to dry thoroughly first.
- Consider leaving your phone on dry land and investing in a waterproof action camera if underwater photography is your goal.
- Never rely on your phone as your sole safety device — always swim with a buddy or let someone know your plans.
Make Water Quality Testing Part of Your Pre-Swim Routine
At Wild Swimming Tests, we believe that preparation is part of the joy of wild swimming. Knowing your spot is as safe as possible means you can focus entirely on the pleasure of the swim itself. Our easy-to-use water quality test kits let you check for harmful bacteria and other indicators of poor water quality before you get in — giving you confidence and peace of mind wherever you choose to swim.
Ready to swim smarter? Browse our full range of water quality test kits at wildswimmingtests.co.uk/shop and make water testing a natural part of every wild swimming adventure.
The Bottom Line
Whether or not your phone survives a dip in the river is ultimately a question for the manufacturer. Whether you thrive in open water — that’s a question you can actively influence. Swim with knowledge, swim with preparation, and swim with confidence.
📷 Photo by Erik Dungan on Unsplash
