The water, to my swim mates and me, is a place where everyone is welcome.

Because of this, it can be viewed as one of many equalizers when it comes to diversity and inclusion, including for the LGBT community of which I am a proud member. 

In fact, during LGBT History Month, I have been reflecting on my own journey as a gay individual, including how the water has helped me be more confident and visible.

We may be a bit bias but swimming is the best sport. it great for both your mental and physical health. Swimming is an all-round exercise that can be easy, inexpensive and everyone can go at their own pace. Most beaches around Australia have open water pools and many Aquatic centres are opening up in time for summer. 

Here are the top reasons why swimming is good for your health!

TIPS TO KEEP YOU SWIMMING

Our team has been asked on many occasions, how do we stay motivated to swim? When trying to juggle life, kids, responsibilities and now the added stress of COVID-19 it makes it hard to get in the pool to exercise. To make things easier for you, we have some helpful tips to keep you on track. 

Check out the newest top 10 reasons to take up OPEN WATER SWIMMING - Courtesy of Adam Walker

Physical activity can have a positive impact on mental health regardless of age or ability. Swimming is a great all round exercise which will make you feel stronger and healthier. It benefits the whole body and its an ideal way to strengthen your muscles. The benefits of swimming goes beyond just the physical benefits it is also hugely beneficial for your mental health. 

If you're looking to improve your swimming technique, have a watch of our training videos, all of which feature James Goddard. James is an award winning British competitive and backstroke swimmer who represented Great Britain in the Olympics, FINA world championships and European championships. He swam for England in the Commonwealth Games and also runs regular swim training camps throughout Europe.

We've included 6 swimming technique videos that will help you improve your stroke. From freestyle (front crawl), freestyle breathing and tumble turns to mastering that breaststroke,

According to a new study from YouGov, commissioned by Swim England, swimming significantly reduces the symptoms of anxiety and depression for 1.4 million adults in Britain. Almost half a million of these adults (492,000) say swimming has resulted in fewer visits to a medical professional regarding their mental health. It was also revealed 490,000 people have either stopped or reduced medication for their mental health condition because of swimming.

The health benefits of swimming are widely known. Whether you want to feel stronger and healthier, relax and reduce stress or burn those calories, it's a great all round exercise. With October being National Cholesterol Month, we thought we'd take a look at how swimming and eating more healthily can help reduce the risk of heart disease.

Coronary heart disease is caused when your heart's blood supply is blocked by a build-up of fatty substances in the coronary arteries. Adopting an active lifestyle and swimming can significantly reduce the risks. Even if you swim

Swimming is an exercise that benefits the whole body and it's ideal way to strengthen your muscles. Accessible to everyone, regardless of age or ability, swimming makes you feel stronger and healthier. What's more if you mix your strokes, you can target different parts of your body. Front crawl for example is great for the upper body and strengthening muscles in your back, abdomen and torso with breaststroke good for the lower limbs. Because it's low impact and supports up to 90% of the body, swimming is also ideal for injured athletes. The perfect way to keep fit and stay active.