Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Florence Williams recently wrote The Nature Fix where she describes how doses of greenery can sharpen one’s memory, increase one’s creativity, lower stress levels, and counter negative thoughts. Williams, a contributing editor at Outside Magazine, talks about the exponential mind and body benefits of immersion in the natural world […]

Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. In the fall of 2010, Southern Illinois University swim coach Rick Walker was honored with the Adolph Kiefer Safety Commendation award at the annual United States Aquatic Sports convention for heroically saving the life of an Australian swimmer at the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome, Italy. Walker was

Upper photo courtesy of Michael Eaton, Chiang Rai, Thailand. Lower photos show Britta Kamrau in Melbourne, Australia. Australia anaesthetist and underwater cave explorer Richard Harris was the last person to exit the flooded Tham Luang cave complex in the northern province of Chiang Rai, Thailand this week after one of the world’s most dramatic and

Courtesy of Brenton Williams, Jeffreys Bay, South Africa. The JBay Winterfest continued despite the Corona Open being placed on hold as over 50 swimmers took on the challenge of completing the Cold Water Swim Classic presented by Nicholas Melck. The 12°C water was always going to take its toll, with four swimmers having to withdraw

Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Answer: Dan Clarke, a naturalist at Wild Whales Vancouver from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Among the new 2018 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is open water swimmer Alex Kostich, perhaps the only marathon swimmer in the Academy [under confirmation]. Membership in the Academy is

Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. “For decades, we have covered inspirational and incredible individual feats of speed and stamina in oceans, lakes, bays, rivers and seas around the world,” explains Steven Munatones. “From icons like Lynne Cox and Sarah Thomas or world-renowned personalities from Lewis Pugh to Ram Barkai, people are pushing themselves to