'A jewel of a book, a paean to the wonders of water and our place within it' James Nestor, bestselling of author of Breath 'Glorious' The New York Times Take a dive into the deep and discover what it is about water that seduces us, heals us and brings us together. Join writer and swimmer Bonnie Tsui as she explores the unique skill of swimming from the five angles of survival, wellbeing, community, competition and flow. Propelled by stories of polar swim champions, a Baghdad swim club, Olympian athletes and modern-day samurai swimmers, Why We Swim takes us around the globe in a remarkable, all-encompassing account of the world of swimming. This is a joyous meditation on our innate connection to water and a true celebration of the wonders of swimming.

From novelty tricks in swim classes, through the Aquacades and movies, to the highly complex Olympic competitions - this history of synchronized swimming tells how the sport grew, examines the role the United States has played in its worldwide development, and describes the status of synchronized swimming in world sporting events today. Among the topics covered are competition development, development around the United States, rules and technical changes, and leadership (from volunteers to a National Office). Four appendices list major award winners, U.S. National Champions, the results of major international competitions, and U.S. participation in international events. The work boasts photographs from the first competition in 1939 to the World Championships of 2003, as well as a full bibliography.

This completely revised and greatly expanded Second Edition of the popular Diver's Guide to Marine Life of Britain and Ireland, covers almost 300 individual species and groups of species seen underwater, from tiny fragile sea spiders to the massive plankton-feeding Basking Shark. This guide aims to introduce divers and snorkellers to the most common and identifiable animals and plants they will encounter underwater, both widely distributed species and some of the specialities of different areas. - 265 individual species descriptions, each with information on habitat, size, depth range and distribution in easy to use icon format - Text emphasising the key features for identification of each species and possible confusions - Underwater photographs showing each species as the diver or snorkeller would see it - A unique `confidence guide' to identify which species are easily recognised and which are likely to require confirmation - Over 30 additional groups of plants and animals that cannot be identified individually underwater, but can be important features of the living community - Information on marine habitats, conservation status and non-native species in British and Irish waters.

"Full of brilliant insights . . . an inspiring book" Stylist Christmas Gift Guide 2022 "It's all the encouragement you need to dip a toe in icy waters" Woman & Home "Packed with stunning photography" Red Magazine "A perfect gift" My Weekly A beautifully illustrated exploration of cold-water traditions in Scandinavia and around the world, and a factual, scientific account of why winter swimming gives such a boost to body and soul. Whether in lake, lido, river or sea, we know the benefits of swimming outdoors and in nature - environmentally friendly and accessible, it can influence our happiness, our energy and our inner tranquility, and give us that winter glow. Danish scientist Dr Susanna Soberg leads us step by step into the icy water and explains the "cold-shock response", the massive endorphin rush as our body reacts and adapts to very cold temperatures through the winter season. Not only do our circulation, heart, lungs and skin respond positively, but our immune system, metabolism and mental health too. In particular she explains how our "brown fat" is activated to benefit multiple health conditions. "Take an uplifting dip into Winter Swimming" Stylist's "Ultra List" Winter swimming is fast becoming one of our most popular pastimes. This beautifully illustrated exploration of cold-water traditions in Scandinavia and around the world shows how it can have a significant positive impact on our physical and mental health, confidence and well-being, providing such a boost to body and soul. "A blend of how, and why, and what . . . A beautiful celebration . . . Visual inspiration for anyone hovering on the edge" Sunday Independent Translated from the Danish by Elizabeth DeNoma

The fourth edition of this classic book provides a comprehensive treatise on the design and construction of swimming pools, both public and private. Significantly revised, it covers planning, materials, design, construction and finishing, water circulation and treatment, energy conservation, maintenance and repairs. This is a standard book for all civil engineers who need to design and construct swimming pools, and a useful reference on the design of water-retaining structures.

eBook available with sample pages: 020347788X

In 1927, Mercedes Gleitze became the first British woman to swim the English Channel, transforming her from a humble working-class typist into one of the most iconic sportswomen of her age. Fiercely independent and with no financial backing, Mercedes was at the forefront in the struggle to break through the existing prejudices against women taking part in sport. Over a ten-year period and a large number of pioneering, record-setting swims around the world, she achieved celebrity status, helped make Rolex famous, and was regularly in the spotlight of the worldwide press. While pursuing her dream she led by example, showing that women deserved recognition for their sporting achievements - though she herself was very modest about her success, barely talking about it even to her own children. Here, Mercedes' daughter documents the remarkable story of her early life and subsequent swimming career, using Mercedes' personal records and pictures, recollections from acquaintances and newspaper articles of the time.

Sometimes the best things in life happen when you dare to get out of your depth. Abby lives and works in the heart of the Lake District. She splits her time between bringing up her daughter, working in the Plum Pie Bakery - and dreaming of the time before her husband, Ben, left. Lori is on holiday from the States, hoping to find her way to the lake that she's looked at for years in a picture on her wall back home. Rebecca is contemplating taking the plunge too. Despite her immaculate appearance Rebecca is keeping quiet about a childhood trauma which has left her scared of the water. Clarissa is the founder of The Wildwater Women. An all-year-round open-water swimming veteran, and with a fearsome manner, she knows the lakes like no one else and her boundless energy defies her years. Four women, all from very different lives, all with reason to step into the water and wash away their past. But will the friendship they build be enough to keep them afloat when they each must face their fears?

Rip currents are among the most dangerous coastal hazards for the bathing public, and contribute to the highest portion of beach rescues all over the world. In order to help life guards in planning and preparing rescue resources so that casualties can be minimized, information about where and when rip currents may occur is needed. This can be provided by a predictive tool which combines meteorological forecasts, hydrodynamic models and remote-sensed observations. In this thesis, a methodology which can provide rip current forecasts for swimmer safety is developed and tested for Egmond aan Zee beach in the Netherlands. The approach uses the numerical model system CoSMoS, combined with daily estimates of nearshore-scale bathymetry obtained from a system called cBathy, which infers depths by estimating wave celerities from video imaging. Furthermore, in order to gain more knowledge on occurrences of rips at Egmond beach, a numerical study on the kinematics of rip currents and the safety implications for swimmers is presented as well. Coupling the video bathymetry estimates with CoSMoS in forecast mode shows that dangerous rips were correctly predicted. This thesis demonstrates the potential application of the proposed system for providing rip current forecasts at Egmond aan Zee.

'What would it mean to name this place I'm in, to map it? To say: this is the landscape. It looks like this, smells like this, at night these are the sounds that carry on the wind. Almost-motherhood . . .' When Miranda Ward and her husband decided to have a baby, they were young and optimistic. But five years, three miscarriages and one ectopic pregnancy later, she is still dealing with the ongoing aftermath of that decision, and the shadow it's cast over her relationship to her partner, her body and her future. In this searing, lyrical and radically honest memoir, Ward charts her journey through the uncertain landscape of almost-motherhood, asking questions of geography on the most intimate scale. How can we learn to be at home in our own bodies, even when we feel adrift from them? What language do we have for the spaces in between, the periods of wanting and waiting? And how do we maintain hope as we navigate towards an unknown future?

THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER Meet Rosemary, 86, and Kate, 26: dreamers, campaigners, outdoor swimmers... Rosemary has lived in Brixton all her life, but everything she knows is changing. Only the local lido, where she swims every day, remains a constant reminder of the past and her beloved husband George. Kate has just moved and feels adrift in a city that is too big for her. She's on the bottom rung of her career as a local journalist, and is determined to make something of it. So when the lido is threatened with closure, Kate knows this story could be her chance to shine. But for Rosemary, it could be the end of everything. Together they are determined to make a stand, and to prove that the pool is more than just a place to swim - it is the heart of the community. 'Feel-good and uplifting, this charming novel is full of heart' LUCY DIAMOND

'I love this book ...' Louise Minchin 'The perfect companion for anyone who wants to swim outdoors.' Your Healthy Living This is the ultimate practical guide to get you swimming outdoors, 365 days a year. Whether you want to take your first tentative dip in your local wild swimming spot or take on a long-distance swimming challenge, you'll find everything you need to embrace outdoor swimming and enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits it offers. Have you ever wondered what kit you need for winter swimming or how to fall in love with the cold? This book includes dedicated information about each season, ensuring you have everything you need to make outdoor swimming something you can enjoy safely all year round. Discover how to overcome your outdoor swimming fears and why becoming an outdoor swimmer can help you cope better with the ups and downs of daily life. Find out the differences between swimming in oceans, rivers and lakes, learn how to become a stronger swimmer and how to design your own training plans. Featuring case studies from people with a wide range of backgrounds who have embraced the outdoor swimming lifestyle, including people living with physical disabilities and mental health challenges, this is the book for anyone who wants to swim outdoors.

This title presents a story of race riots, shrinking swimsuits, and conspicuous leisure. From nineteenth-century public baths to today's private backyard havens, swimming pools have long been a provocative symbol of American life. In this social and cultural history of swimming pools in the United States, Jeff Wiltse relates how, over the years, pools have served as asylums for the urban poor, leisure resorts for the masses, and private clubs for middle-class suburbanites. As sites of race riots, shrinking swimsuits, and conspicuous leisure, swimming pools reflect many of the tensions and transformations that have given rise to modern America.

Shortlisted: TGO Magazine Outdoor Book of the Year Swimming Wild in the Lake District by Suzanna Cruickshank is an informative and inspiring book for both new and experienced wild swimmers, exploring the larger lakes in the beautiful Lake District National Park. The book explores secluded wild swimming locations in the tourist hotspots of Windermere and Derwent Water and takes you to the tranquil hidden gems of Bassenthwaite, Crummock Water and Devoke Water, with the emphasis on taking time to enjoy the stunning surroundings. Imagine yourself gliding through clear, still water, surrounded by rugged fells, with only the sound of birdsong to accompany you. The book is full of useful tips for both new and experienced wild swimmers; it contains sections on getting started in wild swimming, how to look after your own safety and impartial advice on all the essential kit you'll need, as well as what you don't need. Illustrated with stunning photography, and featuring overview maps, the book has all the practical information you need to plan your wild swimming adventure, including access to the lakes by car or public transport where possible, thorough information about the best wild swimming locations on all the featured lakes and details of the best pubs and cafes for a much-needed post-swim drink or meal. Suzanna vividly describes her wild swimming experiences and brings the characteristics of each lake to life. Whether you're an experienced wild swimmer or just dipping your toes in the water for the first time you'll find plenty to inspire your next adventure.

Rip currents are among the most dangerous coastal hazards for the bathing public, and contribute to the highest portion of beach rescues all over the world. In order to help life guards in planning and preparing rescue resources so that casualties can be minimized, information about where and when rip currents may occur is needed. This can be provided by a predictive tool which combines meteorological forecasts, hydrodynamic models and remote-sensed observations. In this thesis, a methodology which can provide rip current forecasts for swimmer safety is developed and tested for Egmond aan Zee beach in the Netherlands. The approach uses the numerical model system CoSMoS, combined with daily estimates of nearshore-scale bathymetry obtained from a system called cBathy, which infers depths by estimating wave celerities from video imaging. Furthermore, in order to gain more knowledge on occurrences of rips at Egmond beach, a numerical study on the kinematics of rip currents and the safety implications for swimmers is presented as well. Coupling the video bathymetry estimates with CoSMoS in forecast mode shows that dangerous rips were correctly predicted. This thesis demonstrates the potential application of the proposed system for providing rip current forecasts at Egmond aan Zee.

Immersion is about the extreme sport of marathon swimming. Drawing on extensive (auto)ethnographic data, Immersion explores the embodied and social processes of becoming a marathon swimmer and investigates how social belonging is produced and policed. Using marathon swimming as a lens, this foundation provides the basis for an exploration of what constitutes the 'good' body in contemporary neoliberal society across a range of sites including charitable swimming, fatness, gender and health. The book argues that the self-representations of marathon swimming are at odds with its lived realities, and that this reflects the entrenched and limited discursive resources available for thinking about the sporting body in the wider social and cultural context. The book is aimed primarily at readers at undergraduate level and upwards with an interest in sociology, the sociology of the body, the sociology of sport, gender and the sociology of health and illness. -- .

While the effects of pressure change are readily quantified in physics, chemistry, and engineering applications, the physiology, medicine, and biology of pressure changes in living systems are much more complicated. This complex science translated to technical diving is discussed in a five-part series, with each topic self-contained and strategically developed in relationship to diving, spanning many disciplines and focusing on a number of technical areas. A suite of application exercises is provided at strategic points in the text. Additional material focusing on diving data, statistical correlations, underwater tests, and risk is included.

'The world is not neatly divided into two camps of women, those who wanted to reproduce and did, and those who didn't want to, and didn't. So many of us are caught here, in between, neither one thing nor the other, drifting towards a receding horizon, in our own camp . . .' When Miranda Ward and her husband decided to have a baby, they were optimistic. There was no reason not to be: they were both young, they were both healthy. But five years, three miscarriages and one ectopic pregnancy later, Ward finds herself still dealing with the ongoing aftermath of that decision: the waiting, the doubting, the despairing, the hoping. ADRIFT is a memoir about the unique place of almost-motherhood. Some people pass through it without even noticing; others languish there, held safe, held prisoner, by the walls of not-knowing - for as long as there is still a question mark, an open ending, there is a chance of escape. Inspired by her childhood on the California coast, Ward turns to the water, seeking solace in a landscape of a different kind - the swimming pool. Hoping to make sense of the uncertainty, she begins to ask questions of geography on the most intimate scale. How do we learn to feel at home in our own bodies, even when they disobey? How can we find our way, even when we feel adrift? What language do we have for the spaces in between? Charting a journey through territory at once deeply personal and widely shared, Ward offers a searing, lyrical and radically honest narrative of fertility and motherhood that is less often told.

0n this book Tony Groom provides a fascinating, no-holds-barred account of his remarkable life and of the world of professional naval and civilian divers. His story is gripping, humbling and highly amusing in equal measure- all the more for the matter-of-fact manner in which he tells it. From clearing unexploded bombs lodged in ships during the Falklands War, to hair-raising exploits in the oil fields of the North Sea, he shines a light on a calling that demands the coolest of heads and extreme courage.

1001 Outdoor Swimming Tips by Calum Maclean is a light-hearted and informative guide to all kinds of outdoor and wild swimming. This is no standard instruction manual - it is much more useful than that. This is a huge collection of small tips to make a real difference to your outdoor swimming, whether you're planning your first forays into swimming outdoors or enjoy icy swims in the depths of winter - this book will take you through everything you need to know. The vast range of topics covered includes everything from biosecurity and the safety of others to cold-water swimming, recovery, night swimming, swimming with children, the essential gear you'll need, training and how to get that perfect underwater photo. Whether you're a wild swimming novice or have plenty of experience in water, Calum's entertaining and knowledgeable advice will inspire you and help to enrich your time in the water.

'Roger Deakin is the perfect companion for an invigorating armchair swim. Engaging, thoughtful and candid' Telegraph Waterlog celebrates the magic of water and the beauty and eccentricity of Britain. In 1996 Roger Deakin, the late, great nature writer, set out to swim through the British Isles. From the sea, from rock pools, from rivers and streams, tarns, lakes, lochs, ponds, lidos, swimming pools and spas, from fens, dykes, moats, aqueducts, waterfalls, flooded quarries, even canals, Deakin gains a fascinating perspective on modern Britain. Detained by water bailiffs in Winchester, intercepted in the Fowey estuary by coastguards, mistaken for a suicide on Camber sands, confronting the Corryvreckan whirlpool in the Hebrides, he discovers just how much of an outsider the native swimmer is to his landlocked, fully-dressed fellow citizens. This is a personal journey, a bold assertion of the native swimmer's right to roam, and an unforgettable celebration of the magic of water.

Discover the hidden wild side of Europe's most popular holiday destination. From deserted beaches and emerald coves to sunset viewpoints, spectacular caves and ancient ruins. Over 1000 secret places. Filled with dazzling photography and engaging travel writing. A beautiful book to appeal to armchair adventurers and families as well as the hardiest of explorers. * Sleep beneath shooting stars in the glow of a driftwood beach fire * Dive into the turquoise waters of a giant sea crater or a sinkhole abyss * Snorkel amidst ancient Roman pillars * Trek astonishing gorges and lesser-known peaks * Discover lost ruins of mountain monasteries and hermit caves * Find secret waterfalls in deep forests by ancient olive groves * Savour fresh octopus, farm-to-table cooking and artisanal raki * Watch golden eagles from a mountain refuge *

Covering a time of great social and technological change, this history traces the development of the four classic aquatic disciplines of competitive swimming, diving, synchronized swimming and water polo, with its main focus on racing. Working from the beginnings of municipal recreational swimming, the book fully explores the links between swimming and other aspects of English life society including class, education, gender, municipal governance, sexuality and the Victorian invention of the sports amateur-professional divide. Uniquely focused on swimming -often neglected in analytic sports histories- this is the first study of its kind and will be an important landmark in the establishment of swimming history as a topic of scholarly investigation. This book was previously published as a special issue of the International Journal of the History of Sport.

'I absolutely loved it - what a wise, brilliant book - so well observed on families and love and the secrets we keep.' RACHAEL LUCAS, author of The State of Grace ***** 'I wish I could buy a ticket and visit Polperran . . . A wonderfully sweet and authentic reminder of what we should treasure in life' Meggy, Chocolate'n'Waffles ***** 'Lived up to all my expectations and more. I could not stop reading . . . Lovely, touching, compelling' Sophie, Book Drunk Sophie ***** 'It's only right that you do yourselves a favour and treat yourself to this book . . . Touching and heartwarming' Karen, Books and Me ***** 'A novel that just felt like a literary warm hug. The world needs more kindness especially just now, and this is the perfect book' Netgalley reviewer ***** 'Reminded me of Rosamund Pilcher's novels . . . I can't recommend it enough' Netgalley reviewer ***** 'At the top of my book buying gift list for friends & family . . . Loved it!' Amazon reviewer Step 1. Help the lonely baker start again Step 2. Find the true calling of the village shop owner Step 3. Call a truce on a decades-old feud Step 4. Forgive me . . . ? The locals of the Cornish village of Polperran are grieving the sudden loss of Bea Kimbrel, a cornerstone of their small community. Now her reclusive, estranged daughter Alice has turned up, keen to tie up Bea's affairs and move on. But Alice receives a strange bequest from Bea - a collection of unfinished tasks to help out those in Polperran most in need. As each little act brings her closer to understanding her mother, it also begins to offer Alice the courage to open her clamped-shut heart. Perhaps Bea's project will finally unlock the powerful secrets both women have been keeping . . . THE KINDNESS PROJECT will draw you deep into the lives of two compelling women who should never have missed their chance to say goodbye. It will break your heart - and piece it back together again . . .