When the sweltering summer sunshine gets too much for you, and an ice lolly just won't do the trick, don a bathing suit and take a dive into a local open water river near you. If you are tentative about venturing into waters unknown then save the date July 11th as across England and Europe thousands will be making waves with you for the
Big Jump.
The Big Jump is organized by the
Outdoor Swimming Society as a means of encouraging land locked city dwellers across the continent to enjoy the freedom of the open waters. During its inaugural year in 2005 around 300,000 participants across 22 countries took part creating a tsunami of open water lovers. The organizers are hoping that this years event at 3:00 pm on the 11th of July will be the biggest yet.
Make a day of it, take a picnic, join a group for an official jump and relax by one of the stunning rivers, lakes or oceans near you. If the fear of Cholera or Salmonella is putting off you Thames restrained Londoners, fear not, as the organizers at the Outdoor Swimming Society have created a
safety guide to appease all of your health and safety concerns. The guide also features an essential list of safe swimming zones, which shockingly does not include anywhere near the "stunningly" rubbish laden brown waters of Westminster. Make a splash this summer because, you never know, you may just fall in love with open water swimming.
