With more wetsuits than business suits, Tim Bond has successfully built up a large network of Oxfordshire based swimmers, encouraging them to share their swim plans and organize their own social swims.

Since being dropped into Waterbaby Swimming class at a very early age, sailing, and kayaking as a child in the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District, he progressed to SCUBA diving whilst at university, teaching and leading diving expeditions round the world. Tim now works in operational support for a large oceanography research group and in his 'other life'  can be found chasing storms around the USA.

Tom had only began open water swimming in the spring of 2009, as a diversion of training in the pool and immediately realising what he'd been missing.

Since then hes taken every opportunity to get into the water, whatever the weather or temperature.

Tom says that through the OSS, he's met some great people and swam in some beautiful places and wants to expand on this in the future. He  is very much looking forward to exploring more of East Anglia as well as fresh and salt water swims further afield.

After spending a glorious year swimming in the seas around Australia, Jo came back to the UK thinking her outdoor swimming days were over and resigned herself to pools for the next 10 years... until she got roped into a triathlon swim in a wild and choppy Semer Water 3 years ago which re-lit the spark - now there is no stopping her!

Jo intends to build on the existing OSS social swims and informal training swims in the Dales and Lakes, and hopes to link in with other events organised through the Arragons Cumbrian Triathlon Club of which she is a member and other swimming networks. 

Jo is a busy mum who runs her own Orthopaedic Massage practice.  When she's not doing all that she's entering some triathlon or cycling event, and when she's finished all of those, she heads for water to find some serenity and peace and restore some balance to life!

Being the event volunteer organiser means that I gather together people to assist in the great events the Outdoor Swimming Society organizes, such as the December dip and the stalls for the Great Swims. I try to make sure people have a good time whilst raising the excellent profile of the OSS and raising funds.

In my other life I support families affected by cancer and to balance that, I swim anywhere outdoors I can but especially on the Northern Ireland coast where I live. I also organise social swims what ever season within Northern Ireland. Join us and the seals .

If you want to contact me about volunteering at events or swimming in Northern Ireland please email me.

Julian is something of an enigma to the OSS: he's been checking in from internet cafes around the South Seas, Atlantic Sea and Pacific since November 2008 to run our International Swim Events section, so that members can find a swim wherever they go (a position he relates to, clearly) as he's never - as far as we know - actually in the UK.

If you are an organiser with an event you would like to see on the site, please write up in the format of the other entries and email him.

Until recently, Lee had never swum front crawl, but when he moved to Eastbourne after his sons moved to Scotland with their mum, he decided he wanted to get back into his childhood love of jumping into outdoor pools, lakes and seas.

He discovered the OSS and in 2010 joined the team to make sure thousands more can do the same by increasing our presence online and creating links with other relevant organisations.

Lee works by the Thames as a Senior Relationship Manager for a business support and advisory website.

He hopes to help the OSS's presence on the web grow in 2010, by pouring over trends and data and telling interesting stories.

He says he will be 'setting targets' and challenging everyone within the OSS to find ways to beat those targets - "..just like we do when we aim to get to the other side of a dark, cold lake on a new swim."

Lee is now swimming with a club, taking lessons, pondering the channel and planning a summer of swims as regional rep for East Sussex.

Scott joined the Outdoor Swimming Society in January to build relationships with other Outdoor Swimming Clubs and help raise the profile of the OSS.

Scott has swum outdoors in Scotland, Croatia and Slovenia and also takes part in triathlons, fell running and 'tough guy' challenges.

In 2010 Scott hopes to run a survey with all members of the OSS to help build relationships with other organisations to increase the scope and the popularity of outdoor swimming.

Rob Popper joined the raft of OSS Swimfit coaches recently, and has brought a much-loved combination of passion and technique to the poolside. A true Pisces, he loves swimming any time, anywhere, hot or cold, rain or shine.  He is a keen triathlete, having worked his way up to half-Ironman distances in this, his seventh year of racing, is planning to tackle a full Ironman next year.

Rob is a BTA-certified triathlon coach and has been coaching with various clubs around London for the past 3 years, most especially with Swim for Tri in both open water and pool-based sessions.

An ASA Qualified swim teacher, Maria has been coaching for the OSS since October 2009 helping beginner, improver and intermediate swimmers with their confidence in the water,  improving stroke techniques and overall swim-fitness.
 
Nearly three years ago Maria joined East London Triathletes club (with the swim being her best leg of course) and has since worked her way up to Olympic distance swimming and is now contemplating a half-Ironman.

She also assists SwimForTri in their open water sessions, on triathlon holidays abroad and also coaches fellow Triathletes in their swim fitness sessions in her club.

All swimmers that come to her sessions enjoy them so much that many sign up for further courses with her.

Imogen started training OSS swimfit sessions in Spring 2009 and is a much valued member of the team. She is an Ironman podium finisher, GB triathlon age-grouper, and Swimtrek guide.

For someone so petite, she is living testament that swimming fast isn't just about muscling your way through but moving well within the water.

She loves the adventure of outdoor swimming, and is happiest duck-diving in the sea.