Sea water in Russia’s Black Sea cities has warmed up enough to swim in. In Gelendzhyk area it is already 20 degrees C (68 F), and in Sochi it will reach 20C in the next couple of days. 18 degrees C is a good temperature to start swimming season.

Growing up in Sochi we’d always compete who will start swimming season earliest. My record was somewhere in March, at 11 degrees C 🙂