Oops, again, Cyprus, Cyprus, Cyprus...
I was thinking that you might have had the occasion to dip at night. Waters often are perceived warmer in contrast to cooler night air. The experience of an under world in the body in water and another over world in air, with sight, might have been yours.
The evening darkness especially without the moon can cloak in stealth. I once dunked myself into my folks pool when we first arrived in Tucson and it came with the rental. The parents were out for the evening and I was trying skinnydipping. It was very dark. I swam and bumped into something very icky and mysterious.
I got out and grabbed a flashlight. I had done face plant with a drowned soggy squirrel, which could have been there a couple of days rotting. One of those trauma memories that pop out in dark waters for the last 50 years.
Hey, good news is that often you can't see what someone is wearing, or not.
So, yea, about the seemingly small drape of cloth making a huge difference. It does produce lots of drag and so when that is eliminated it is remarkable. My body feels whole, liberated, efficient the definition of "natural mobility." There is a difference in chi flow, which is cut off, even in the sun and air. The body's complex system to regulate its temperatures and no longer segmented is suddenly whole, a complete force of nature. The most sensitive, alive aware region in a body, the one that gets priority because it reproduces is noting sensation with particularly sensitive alertness after being treated as a region to be ignored, dumbed down, even rejected and shamed. A prisoner is released and contrasting freedom is potent when it is first realized. We are meant to be sensitive there and it is often virgin untouched territory. It is a first time, or a forgotten experience of a dulled memory. It is simply repressed and clothing is normalized even though a less natural state.
My perspective comes from an opposite. My norm is nude. I had a swim suit on twenty years ago and just got out of the pool and dressed. I have had maybe two minutes of that here and there since and can't remember wearing one before that, didn't own such a costume since maybe the 60's. So, when those afore mentioned experiences arrived, when a borrowed suit floated up around my waist like a jellyfish and the drag...it was ridiculous, uncomfortable, silly, no it was just plain stupid.
I did have a speedo to swim at the local exercise club for awhile. It was less ridiculous, made not to drag, but its grasp in my waist and upper thighs left a mark and indentation. What was it there for? The bulge is obvious. I still felt that clammy sensation as it was pulled off, and the consequent good feeling of air finally visiting my crotch. So obviously, it still has a remarkable negative effect in spite of its diminutive size and agua-dynamics.
The body has an amazing way of dealing with bacteria, it sweats, and dries and breathes through the skin transferring all sorts of waste, and goodness. It does its well adapted tricks in air and in water. It can't in a swimming suit, especially for time periods and in and out of a pool.
Then, that weirdness of a thong cording, stuffing up my butt crack and rubbing as well! It is absurd. It is uncomfortable.
Oh, yea, nude feels good, feels better, it feels as it obviously should. I haven't heard different from anybody who has ever gone skinny dipping.