Last updated 2026-10-20
Berlin winters and why this community exists
How Ice Dippers began as a way through the dark Berlin winters, told as a story and without promising that cold water treats depression.
Our story
Jonas Wind started Ice Dippers in 2017 after several long Berlin winters, looking for something that would get him outside. Many people in the group tell us that after a few weeks of Saturday dips they sleep better and find January a little less grey, but that is anecdote, and the research on cold water is mixed, while the breathing exercises carry their own risks such as fainting. If you are in a mental health crisis, please reach out to medical and crisis services, because a weekend circle with tea at the lake cannot replace proper care.