Dan Martin, global triathlete
Kate Rew meets Dan Martin, who is inviting OSS members to do a last swim with him before he embarks on his swim across the Atlantic on May 8th. At the OSS, we are going to be watching Dan Martin closely over the next few months - as closely as it i... More >
Kate Rew meets Dan Martin, who is inviting OSS members to do a last swim with him before he embarks on his swim across the Atlantic on May 8th. At the OSS, we are going to be watching Dan Martin closely over the next few months - as closely as it i... More >
Great island swims: the world
Last month, Matt Newbury gave us five of his favourite literary island swims in Europe. This month, he talks us through five more, further flung, great island swims.My passion for island swimming was first awakened when I swam from Alcatraz a couple of yea... More >
Last month, Matt Newbury gave us five of his favourite literary island swims in Europe. This month, he talks us through five more, further flung, great island swims.My passion for island swimming was first awakened when I swam from Alcatraz a couple of yea... More >
25 ways to swim better
Kate Rew has interviewed a host of Olympic swimmers and triathlon champions for a feature on pro performance training in this month’s 220 Triathlon magazine. Here are five of the top tips from the pros.“KEEP YOUR ELBOWS HIGH,” says OSS Pa... More >
Kate Rew has interviewed a host of Olympic swimmers and triathlon champions for a feature on pro performance training in this month’s 220 Triathlon magazine. Here are five of the top tips from the pros.“KEEP YOUR ELBOWS HIGH,” says OSS Pa... More >
Hung out to dry: swimming and British culture
OSS member Brandon High reviews Chris Ayriss’ new book. Hung Out To Dry: Swimming and British Culture is part history and part polemic. Its purpose is to show why open water swimming has become marginalised over the years. The explicit message of the... More >
OSS member Brandon High reviews Chris Ayriss’ new book. Hung Out To Dry: Swimming and British Culture is part history and part polemic. Its purpose is to show why open water swimming has become marginalised over the years. The explicit message of the... More >
Island art: Antti Laitinen at the Royal Academy
Finnish artist Antti Laitinen caused a splash at the Royal Academy recently with his work 'It's my island'. For the work, which consists of three simultaneous videos as well as photographs, Laitinen constructed his own island in the Baltic sea, dragging t... More >
Finnish artist Antti Laitinen caused a splash at the Royal Academy recently with his work 'It's my island'. For the work, which consists of three simultaneous videos as well as photographs, Laitinen constructed his own island in the Baltic sea, dragging t... More >
'The undiscovered nearby': Robert Macfarlane documentary on wild places
On Wednesday 10th February the BBC screened OSS patron Robert Macfarlane's documentary on 'The Wild Places of Essex' as part of their Natural World series. As part of the documentary, Robert visits the old house of Roger Deakin - legendary wild swim... More >
On Wednesday 10th February the BBC screened OSS patron Robert Macfarlane's documentary on 'The Wild Places of Essex' as part of their Natural World series. As part of the documentary, Robert visits the old house of Roger Deakin - legendary wild swim... More >
Kate Rew named among Monocle magazine's 2010 heroes
In a sign that the message of the OSS is now gaining serious traction, founder Kate Rew was named second place in Monocle magazine's list of 20 people worldwide who it feels deserve a bigger stage in 2010. The quality monthly magazine, which covers global... More >
In a sign that the message of the OSS is now gaining serious traction, founder Kate Rew was named second place in Monocle magazine's list of 20 people worldwide who it feels deserve a bigger stage in 2010. The quality monthly magazine, which covers global... More >
Olympian David Davis supports OSS Right to Swim campaign
Olympic silver medallist and open water swimmer David Davies is just one of the many swimmers waiting with baited breath for the 25 February, when the National Assembly for Wales committee announces the result of the public enquiry into access to inland wa... More >
Olympic silver medallist and open water swimmer David Davies is just one of the many swimmers waiting with baited breath for the 25 February, when the National Assembly for Wales committee announces the result of the public enquiry into access to inland wa... More >
MPs' battle for winter swimming access
2010 began with a political victory for outdoor swimming, as MPs tabled questions in the House of Commons to defend the historic freedom to swim year round in Hyde Park's Serpentine Lake. Conservative MPs Desmond Swayne and Edward Leigh (the latter pictur... More >
2010 began with a political victory for outdoor swimming, as MPs tabled questions in the House of Commons to defend the historic freedom to swim year round in Hyde Park's Serpentine Lake. Conservative MPs Desmond Swayne and Edward Leigh (the latter pictur... More >
Winter swimming in the Czech Republic
Jack Bright is a British extreme swimmer living in the Czech Republic. He is a documentary film maker and runs the Extreme Winter Swimming website. He shares with us the joy and attitude towards winter swimming in his adoptive country.It’s been a bus... More >
Jack Bright is a British extreme swimmer living in the Czech Republic. He is a documentary film maker and runs the Extreme Winter Swimming website. He shares with us the joy and attitude towards winter swimming in his adoptive country.It’s been a bus... More >
Great Island swims: Europe
Islands invoke something magical in people’s imaginations thanks to a literary legacy that spans many hundreds of years, taking in castaways and pirates, buried treasure and children who refuse to grow up. From Treasure Island, Robinson Crusoe and Th... More >
Islands invoke something magical in people’s imaginations thanks to a literary legacy that spans many hundreds of years, taking in castaways and pirates, buried treasure and children who refuse to grow up. From Treasure Island, Robinson Crusoe and Th... More >
Swimmers display art at the Rebecca Adlington centre
OSS muse Kari Furre and fellow Devon-based swimmer-artist Amanda Bluglass have created a major new piece of public art which is set to adorn the outside of the newly redeveloped Rebecca Adlington Swimming Centre in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.They beat seve... More >
OSS muse Kari Furre and fellow Devon-based swimmer-artist Amanda Bluglass have created a major new piece of public art which is set to adorn the outside of the newly redeveloped Rebecca Adlington Swimming Centre in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.They beat seve... More >
Channel swimming 12 year-olds
In August 2010, six 12 year-olds from Bristol will swim across 21 miles of the busiest shipping lane in the world, battling cold waters, rough seas, darkness and fluthers of jellyfish to enter the Guinness Book of World Records.The children (who are curren... More >
In August 2010, six 12 year-olds from Bristol will swim across 21 miles of the busiest shipping lane in the world, battling cold waters, rough seas, darkness and fluthers of jellyfish to enter the Guinness Book of World Records.The children (who are curren... More >
Help us to help you: volunteering for the OSS
Thank you for the brilliant response we had to the recent call for volunteers. We have eight new recruits who are going to start work on exciting watery projects over the coming months, details of which will be revealed in future newsletters... More >
Thank you for the brilliant response we had to the recent call for volunteers. We have eight new recruits who are going to start work on exciting watery projects over the coming months, details of which will be revealed in future newsletters... More >
World Winter Swimming Championships, Bled 2010
700 people took part in the World Winter Swimming Championships in Bled in Slovenia in January 2010. Patricia Baker, a member of the Outdoor Swimming Society and the South London Swimming Club spoke to Anna Morell about the swimmers at Tooting, and the clu... More >
700 people took part in the World Winter Swimming Championships in Bled in Slovenia in January 2010. Patricia Baker, a member of the Outdoor Swimming Society and the South London Swimming Club spoke to Anna Morell about the swimmers at Tooting, and the clu... More >
Welcome
JUMP IN & JOIN US: The Outdoor Swimming Society is dedicated to increasing the numbers of people who experience the joy of swimming safely in the UK's lakes, rivers, lidos and sea. Membership to the Outdoor Swimming Society is free. Sign up to our newsletter to receive monthly tips of the best places to swim outdoors this summer, swims around the country, technique and training tips, water-related art projects and literature, aquatic ecology and more.
CALLING ALL GREAT SWIMMERS: We will be launching a new fitness course in Ipswich on 24th April. See the Events page for more information.
OSS WILD SWIM: DERWENT ISLAND We're back, with our first mass swim since 2007. Join us for a swim to start the summer in the Lake District on the 23rd May - plus, there are technique clinics so you start as you mean to go on, the previous day.
OSS VOLUNTEER VACANCIES: Our new 37-strong man and woman team leading the open water charge still has room for a few more: writers, a lead designer, a film festival organiser, a content uploader, a Big Jump event organiser, a video producer and someone to answer society emails. To join our dynamic and creative team and increase the amount of fun and freedom in the world, see the jobs page and contact Laura Tomlinson.
FIGHTING FOR YOUR RIGHT TO SWIM: Love swimming? Want to see fewer 'no swimming' signs tacked on to trees? (Poor trees). The OSS is fighting for your right to swim. See video footage of the OSS giving evidence at the Welsh Assembly, and read the February news stories - Olympian David Davies and MPs are now supporting our campaign.
OSS ON FILM! Guardian Films online now. Also, catch the OSS December Dip on Youtube (2009 and 2008) and our first Breastrokes charity swim (2006).
SWIM RESPONSIBLITY STATEMENT: Greater rights for swimmers means greater responsibility - to swim at your own risk. By signing up to join any swim or acting on any of the inspiration or information in this website, you confirm that you are a member of the OSS and have read and accepted the terms of the OSS swim responsibility statement.
MEDIA WATCH:
- Aussie MP jumps in river to demonstrate safety Express Advocate, 10.3.10
- Options assessed for Aberdeenshire art deco pool BBC News, 2.3.10
- Swimming: the ultimate exercise Independent, 23.2.10
- Plymouth Hoe diving board dismantled BBC News, 17.2.10
- Atlantic swimmer Dan Martin on BBC breakfast BBC News, 8.2.10
- New lease of life for oldest swimming club in Bolton, The Bolton News, 28.01.10
- Swimming pools: asthma risk? ABC Australia, 28.01.10
- Morecambe RNLI crew charity swim, The Visitor 27.01.10
- Pensioner learns ‘to swim with grandson’, Halifax Evening Courier 27.01.10
- Heated debate over Ruislip Lido, Uxbridge Gazette 25.01.10
- Epiphany swimming, Wall Street Journal, 22.01.10
- Push to re-open Lymington Lido, Southern Daily Echo, 22.01.10
- Afan Lido ‘to be demolished’, BBC News, 18.01.10
- Swimming in the Serpentine, BBC News 08.01.10
- Breaking the ice at the Serpentine, Daily Telegraph, early January 2010
- Christmas swim in the Serpentine, BBC Radio 4, 24.12.09
- Otters return to Leicestershire's clean rivers Leicester Mercury 1.2.10
- First Great Barrier Reef Swim Whitsunday Times, 28.1.10
- Parliamentary questions on Serpentine closure Daily Mail 23.1.10
- Aussie to swim Japan-California ‘tide of filth’ NZ Herald 22.12.09
- Free swim lessons in Liverpool Liverpool Echo 21.12.09
- Kids ‘Jaws’ fin float success Daily Mail 21.12.09
- Brockwell bathers break the ice Streatham Guardian 21.12.09
- Eight year-old’s Xmas Weymouth harbour swim for cancer friend Dorset Echo 21.12.09
- Gran, 93, still in the swim South Yorkshire Star 21.12.09
- Brockwell icicle pictures londonist.com 19.12.09
- Plans for British Swimming Open Daily Telegraph 18.12.09
- Robson Green’s Wild Swimming adventure review Guardian 09.12.09
- Robson Green’s Wild Swimming Adventure review Guardian blogs 08.12.09
- Robson Green’s Wild Swimming Adventure review Mirror 08.12.09
- Shooting Stars stars bond over swim Press Association 24.11.09
- Coventry pensioners notch up 75 years’ swimming Coventry Evening Telegraph 24.11.09
- Edinburgh pool crèches to close BBC 24.11.09
- Wild swimming spots getting cleaner Edie 24.11.09
- Michigan man plans 24-hour swim Christian News Wire 23.11.09
- New pool for Wakefield BBC 22.11.09
- Calls for new Ilkley pool Ilkley Gazette 19.11.09
- Naturist Olympics skinny dip feature Daily Mail 13.11.09
- Swimmer portrait wins award BBC 04.11.09
- OSS gives evidence in favour of the right to swim at Welsh Assembly. BBC Democracy Live. 12.11.09.
- Swimming in the NE & Cumbria - see OSS swimmers and more on film. BBC Inside Out. 11.11.09.
- Millions take up free swimming offer Press Association 27.10.09
- Rare footage found of Ipswich’s Broomhill Lido Evening Star 21.10.09
- A first-person take on learning to swim as an adult. The Guardian 15.10.09
- Fight to keep Holywell Mead pool open Bucks Free Press 13.10.09
- The Guardian compares seal-swimming to speed dating. 11.10.09
- The plastic bottle boat The Guardian 11.10.09
- Frank Chalmers is first to swim the Pentland Firth. The Sun 10.10.09
- Swimming San Francisco Bay. Wall Street Journal 26.09.09
- The Lundy to Woolacombe swim. Youtube 23.08.09
- Tide turns for the river dolphin in Ganges clean-up. Times. 30.09.09
- Lewis Gordon Pugh set to swim in a glacial lake 17,000ft up Mount Everest. BBC, 22.09.2009.
- How I got my body: Keri Anne Payne, Beijing medallist. Guardian, 20.09.2009
- Children who regularly use indoor swimming pools may be more likely to develop asthma. Daily Mail, 16.09.2009.
- Suffolk naturists seek a new beach after their previous base was ‘de-designated’ due to coastal erosion. The Times, 01.09.2009.
- Big River Man is now showing in cinemas. ‘Unbelievable’ and ‘hilarious’ say critics. News of the World 31/08/09
- Dive into the great outdoors, it's brrrrrilliant for your health. Daily Mail on the 'Blue Gym'. 15.08.09
- The lure of the English Channel explained. The Telegraph. 12.08.09
- The Guardian explains the prevalence of titchy swimming trunks in French pools (they’re compulsory). 12.08.09
- The ten best literary swimming scenes according to Guardian. 01.08.09