Swimming can be a fantastic recreational activity with countless health benefits that is also a lot of fun. The embedded PDF outlines some of the key health benefits that can be gained from swimming.
Not only is swimming good for us, it can take us to some of the most beautiful places in the world and help us witness miraculous sights that we would otherwise be unaware of.
Razi Salih counts swimming as one of his favourite hobbies along with a variety of other sports, and he enjoys travelling to new places for new experiences linked to these hobbies. The world has many areas of amazing natural beauty that are best experienced from a swimmer’s perspective.
Beaches
One of the first things most people imagine when thinking about beautiful places to swim is a pristine beach with glistening turquoise waters and long stretches of golden sands. Indeed, there are many exquisitely beautiful beaches in the world for swimming, from isolated coves to vast expanses of water and sand stretching as far as the eye can see.
The Marine Life Conservation Area of Hanauma Bay in Hawaii not only offers spectacular scenery, but also a unique opportunity to swim with green sea turtles.
Macarella Beach on the island of Menorca off the coast of mainland Spain is completely sheltered by the hill surrounding it, making for idyllic still waters that are calm and clear.
The Galapagos Islands are surrounded by crystalline turquoise waters and white sand beaches, with Gardner Bay on Hood Island being home to a large seal population that can often be seen basking in the sun on the beach while you swim.
Lakes and Pools
Lakeside landscapes offer something different from coastal regions, often providing soaring mountain views to complement the stunning waters. While the temperature of the water at Lake Louise in Canada’s Alberta region may be glacial for much of the year, the fairy tale views of magnificent mountains make up for the chill.
In Greece, the Aegean Sea fills the Giola Natural Pool to create a tranquil, still lagoon on the island of Thassos, home in mythology to the Sirens.
Quebrada les Gachas in Colombia is home to a series of natural plunge pools made up of rocky plates creating wells of water.
Some statistics for swimming in England can be found in the embedded infographic.
Lagoons
The Blue Lagoon in Iceland is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country, featuring a series of geothermal spas with water temperatures of around 100 degrees Fahrenheit, contrasting with the air temperature which is often below freezing.
Another Blue Lagoon can be found in Malta just off Comino Island, which is where the Knights of Malta were exiled. The Blue Lagoon area is largely uninhabited today but attracts many day-trippers looking to bask in the warm waters and soak up the views.
Waterfalls
The majestic Buracao Falls in Brazil can be reached by swimming through a series of narrow canyons for a spectacular end to a swimming journey.
Thrill-seekers may want to visit Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, where you can swim in the Devil’s Pool at the edge of the famous landmark.
For a truly unusual swimming experience, you could visit the Dead Sea, where the high salt content makes it possible to float all the way between Israel and Jordan. More information about the Dead Sea can be found by watching the attached short video.