'Immerse yourself in the wonderful world of wild swimming - you won't regret it.'
DR RANGAN CHATTERJEE

Each of us is just a drop. But together we create ripples.

Wild swimming isn't just an activity. It has been a movement, a wave that has surged in popularity across Britain, rippling out and spreading joy. And at the centre of it all are the groups and communities that gather at the water's edge... to dip together, scream together, laugh together, and share stories and support.

From menopausal mermaids to student dippers, male mental health groups to Wim Hof enthusiasts, addiction recovery communities to skinny dippers, The Ripple Effect dives into what makes these groups tick and why so many people say it's not just about the water but the marvellous pods of people they find themselves swimming with.

Anna Deacon (Author)
Anna Deacon is a photographer and writer based in Edinburgh, specialising in environmental portraiture, wild swimming, nature, wellbeing and travel. Her photography and written features have appeared widely across national publications including the Guardian, The Telegraph, Stylist and The Scotsman. Since 2019, she has co-written seven books with Vicky Allan including Taking The Plunge, For The Love of Trees, The Art of Wild Swimming series, The Ripple Effect and Swimming Wild Ireland, along with The Wild Guide Balearic Islands, co-authored with her sister Lizzie Graham. Her work is driven by a deep connection to landscape, storytelling and the restorative power of time spent outdoors. Alongside her books, Anna continues to share her work and love of nature through her instagram @thewildfix.

Vicky Allan (Author)
Vicky Allan is the environment writer for the Herald, and has won awards for her travel-writing and features. She has written six books on wild swimming with co-author Anna Deacon, including The Art of Wild Swimming: Scotland and Taking the Plunge, as well For the Love of Trees, a celebration of the connections between people and trees. With author Milo Clenshaw, she recently co-wrote the historical novel, Murray Hall. She regularly swims in a corner of sea on the shoreline of Edinburgh.