United Kingdom

Devon

Wild Swimming

Azeema

Azeema is a community and platform that celebrates women and non-binary folk within the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, diasporas and beyond. They create a space to explore heritage, beauty and strength of women of colour, resulting in a refreshing and all too necessary perspective that reclaims their culture and identity. Read the collective’s guide for where to connect with water in and around London, from the late British-Iraqi Architect, Zaha Hadid’s creation The London Aquatic Centre to Divers Cove the backdrop of their recent Nike Swim shoot.

 & Open Waters, celebrating the diversity of people and experiences that connect you with water.

Divers Cove is an open water, wild swimming location in Surrey. Divers Cove is special because it’s quiet and hidden away. Even though it is a manmade lake it’s a very natural environment surrounded by trees, it feels wild but also safe. 

The water is clean and shines a blue-green colour in the light reflecting the stone/sand of the ex-quarry and the hues of the sky. This place is particularly special as we chose this location for our NIKE SWIM shoot. Through the shoot we wanted to showcase the effects that swimming can have on our friendships, our interdependent relationship with nature, and the gratitude we feel for our bodies. 

The group of five Muslim women photographed – Zaineb Abelque, Memunatu Barrie, Tasneem Elnayal, Maz Ullah, and Rania Qaddoura – were able to swim freely with the help of Nike’s Victory Swim line, a modest swimwear collection for women of various modesties. What’s less common than seeing Muslim women represented positively at all in the media is seeing them represented in all their diversity. 

This location also has a hot tub and sauna and can also be hired for private bookings. A female lifeguard can also be requested.


The beaches at the Pier side of Walton/Frinton stretch out far at low tide and the water is shallow and sandy suitable for all ages. Towards the Naze tower/cliffs it gets wilder and quieter. If you like adventure and less crowds then this side of Walton is best for you. The beaches here have the remains of 2nd world war Pillboxes that have fallen from the top of the cliffs and as you go further to where the cliffs melt away the beach becomes even more wild and narrower. This area of Sussex the sedimentary composition is sandstone and clay so don’t be surprised if you get clay squidged between your toes. Be careful of the tides if you venture down to swim here! 

A peaceful watery haven in the middle of North London for an open water swim. You have to book a time slot via the website, but this spot is better than Hampstead ponds. No mud and a refreshing swim. This swimming location is probably best for more confident swimmers, although there are lifeguards standing watch. 

There are also full facilities & changing rooms. 

If you don’t fancy swimming this is still a lovely place to visit and walk around, there are two reservoirs, one for swimming and one that is a nature reserve. Both are beautiful. 

This area of Devon is so stunning and green. The beaches here are mostly pebble beaches with some sandy in places. Though those end up being commercialised and very busy for that reason. Away from the crowds, one cove in particular you get to by walking past/through Goodrington Sands and up over the field track to where it winds down to a secluded beach. Here you will find people having BBQ's, local parties and locals hanging out. This is a well known spot for the people who live in the area.

Going for a quick swim here when the sun is coming down over the beach is magical. The water is cool but refreshing and crystal clear. Wear beach shoes in the water as the ground can be uneven/rocky in places.

Elberry cove is just one of many coves in Devon, there are so many rocky coves and tucked away beaches to explore and swim with friends.

No 5. Was going to be Crystal Palace Swimming pool (this is another location we have used for a swim project with Nike. Featuring Swimmer and Equestrian Ghaida, Directed by Nadira Amrani.) However the iconic pool is currently under renovation. 

So the final recommendation will be the late British-Iraqi Architect, Zaha Hadid’s creation. The London Aquatic Centre. Both cavernous and futuristic, Its architecture is inspired by the fluid geometry of water in motion and encompasses a breaking wave. 

Swimming here is quite simply epic.

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