Wild swimming’s popularity is soaring—but its carbon footprint, water pollution, and gear waste reveal a hidden environmental cost.
Travel, Exploration and Adventure
Ben Hooper is a British ocean adventurer, mental health advocate and former police officer whose record-setting swim across the Atlantic has earned him international acclaim. He is the only person to hold a verified attempt, recognised by the World Open Water Swimming Association, to swim every mile of the Atlantic Ocean – a feat Sir Ranulph Fiennes OBE once described as “the last great bastion to be conquered.”
Founder of the Swim the Big Blue expedition, Ben’s journey from Senegal to Brazil was ultimately halted mid-Atlantic by severe weather damage to his support vessel, following a near-death encounter with Portuguese Man O’War tentacles. Despite this, his endurance, ambition and resilience continue to inspire audiences around the world.
Ben now writes for The European on travel, endurance and adventure, drawing on personal experience to explore the mindset behind extreme exploration.
The cold truth: why wild swimming is riskier than you think
Cold water kills — wild swimming’s popularity masks the real physiological dangers, warns environmental physiologist Professor Mike Tipton.
Will the Great Icelandic Swim break Ross Edgley?
Ross Edgley faces extreme cold and physical strain attempting a 1,000-mile solo swim around icy Iceland’s coast.
Exclusive: Breaking boundaries at the top of the world
Ten students with additional needs journey to the Arctic — proving adventure belongs to everyone.
Diving in to…Berlin
Discover Berlin’s top wild swimming lakes and vibrant city life, from chilly dips to historic landmarks and great food.
