THE DIP | Swimsuits for all bodies | How to care for your wetsuit | Swimmers wanted for river quality monitoring

Published: Sat, 04/27/24

Updated: Wed, 05/01/24

Your weekly edit from

Dear fellow swimmers

There are some common questions swimmers have asked us over the years and for a while we've wanted to tackle some of them in a video series. As we head into the open water season, it seemed natural to tackle wetsuits first. Do you need a wetsuit? How do I know which one to buy when there are so many choices? How do I get it on? Do I have to swim differently? In our new video series, we hope to address these questions and more. If you have an outdoor swimming question, issue or mystery you’d like us to unravel next, please do get in touch!

A heartfelt thank you to Zoggs for supporting us in this venture. To celebrate the release of our fourth video, exploring how to care for and maintain your wetsuit, Zoggs are offering Outdoor Swimmer readers an incredible 25% off their wetsuits with code ‘DIP25’.

Elsewhere in The Dip, we review open water swimsuits for all bodies (men's swimwear is coming next week!), artist Rosalind Hobley shares her remarkable cyanotypes of swimmers and environment charity Wildfish invites citizen science volunteers to monitor river water quality. As always, scroll down to our Tip of the Week.

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HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR OPEN WATER SWIMMING WETSUIT

In this video, we talk about how to care for and maintain your wetsuit, covering how to wash a wetsuit, dry and store it carefully. How to repair tears and snags as they happen to prevent further wear and tear. Plus, how to recycle your wetsuit when it reaches the end of its life to save it from landfill.

To celebrate the release of our fourth video, Zoggs are offering Outdoor Swimmer readers an incredible 25% off their wetsuits with code ‘DIP25’.

WATCH THE SERIES

GET 25% OFF ZOGGS WETSUITS

GEAR

Open water swimwear for all bodies

Whether you’re looking for spaghetti strap training suits or modest coverage, longer lengths and body positive styles or thermal fabrics, we have found your next swimsuit!

FEATURE

Into the Blue

We speak to cyanotypes artist Rosalind Hobley about how she created her work using this historic medium, and the joy she finds in her swimming community.

OUTDOOR SWIMMER EXTRA

How to maintain your outdoor swimming kit

How not to be an “all the gear and no idea” swimmer. Simon Griffiths has your guide to maintaining goggles, swimwear, hats and wetsuits. (Premium content)

STAY INFORMED & SWIM RESPONSIBLY

SWIMMERS WANTED!

Environment charity Wildfish needs citizen science volunteers to monitor invertebrate levels in our rivers.

EARTH DAY SHOWCASE

The Marine Conservation Society has unveiled photos to graphically highlight our rich variety of marine life.

NEW EUROPEAN SWIM MARATHON

Are you ready to take on three European river marathons? Read more about the new Marathon River Swim Series, which includes events in Frances, Spain and the UK.

SWIM FASTER NEXT YEAR

I know, you want to swim faster this year. By tomorrow, preferably. But focus on general fitness and health and you can make long-term improvements in your swimming.

NEW RANKING SYSTEM FOR SWIMRUN

The aim of new not-for-profit organisation British Swimrun is to promote and develop swimrun across the British Isles and to administer the British Swimrun rankings.

HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR WETSUIT

Watch our latest video to understand how to wash and store a wetsuit; how to repair tears and snags as they occur; and finally how to recycle it to save it from landfill.

Watch The Video

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MAY 2024 - THE GEAR ISSUE

16 pages of gear reviews from swimwear to wetsuits and shorties.
“Help! I don’t understand training jargon" Olympian Cassie Patten has your guide.
How to plan ahead and make the most of event this season.
The history of swimming kit and Channel grease.
Learn how to swim in challenging conditions with confidence.

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WIN GREAT PRIZES

WIN an adventure bundle from Seashell – worth £450

Whether you’re plunging into the ocean or exploring hidden waterfalls, this package has everything you need: an adult changing robe; a kids changing robe, 25l drybag, two towelling robes and two merino beanies.

Enter now...

WIN a team entry to a 24hr Swim Relay

Level Water is giving you the chance to win a free team entry, for four people, to a 24hr Swim Relay of your choice! There are six events to choose from, all at beautiful lakes across the UK.

Enter now...

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EVENTS COMING SOON

KESWICK MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL (750m, 1.5km, 3.6km)
17-19 May | Derwentwater, Lake District
Find out more...

ULTRASWIM 33.3 #3 CROATIA (33.3km over 4 days)
17-20 May | Stari Grad, Croatia
Find out more...

GAELFORCE GREAT RIVER SWIM (5.8km, 3.1km, 800m)

18 May | Lanesborough, Co. Longford, Ireland
Find out more...

GREATER MANCHESTER SWIM! (500m, 1 mile, 3 miles)

18 May | Dock 9, Salford Quays
Find out more...

BEST FEST 2024 (7 swims over 7 days: 5k, 1.9/3.8k, 1.5k, 2.5k, 3k, 7/10k and 4x500m)
25 May | Colonia Sant Jordi, Mallorca, Spain
Find out more...

GREAT NORTH SWIM (250m, half male, 1 mile, 2 miles, 5km, 10km)

7-9 June | Windermere, Lake District
Find out more...

24HR SWIM RELAYS (24hr challenge)

8 June | Shepperton

15 June | Clevedon

22 June | Bedford
Find out more...

BHF BOURNEMOUTH PIER TO PIER SWIM (1.4 miles)

29 June | Bournemouth
Find out more...

Browse our full list of events. To promote your event here, please email [email protected].

TIP OF THE WEEK: WALK MORE TO SWIM FASTER

If you spend a lot of time sitting, then you may be able to get faster at swimming not by swimming more but by moving more. How could you add more movement into your day? Take every opportunity to walk or go up and down the stairs. And consider cycling more too. Low intensity movement supports your fitness and health and will therefore help your swimming. Read more about how you can swim faster next year.

Ella, Simon and the Outdoor Swimmer team

Main image: Rosalind Hobley

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