Recently I have been enjoying swimmers posting pictures of not just their dips, but also the flowers and wildlife around them. As outdoor enthusiasts, we often notice gentle changes in our environment and in the seasons. A common thread this year though is how many swimmers have captioned pictures of snowdrops, daffodils and budding trees with the word 'hope'. Maybe we are all seeking it a bit more, but the comfort of spring is something I look forward to. It even smells better outdoors at this time of year!

This month’s magazine has taken a different shape as with the arrival of spring in the northern hemisphere comes the arrival of autumn and cooler months in the south. Ever wondered what it is like to live on the other side of the world? In this issue we celebrate the arrival of spring in the first part of the magazine, then look at a global view of swimming mid-way before asking you all to 'tilt & turn' your magazine to go south. We have a double cover too, to make it extra fun (or confusing)! 

I am really excited to share our new Hemispheres issue with you. If you don't already subscribe to Outdoor Swimmer, the Hemispheres issue is a great place to start. Wherever you are swimming and whoever you like to swim with, we hope this issue captivates your international curiosity, captures the joy of swimming outdoors and maybe even teaches you something about swimming across the world. 

What's in the Hemispheres issue? Find out below... 

Ella Foote, Editor

What's in the Hemispheres issue?

• Meet the swimmer who followed grey whales from their calving lagoons off Mexico to the Arctic
• Academic Karen Eva Carr shares a fascinating social history of swimming through the ages
• Discover why Cape Town, South Africa, is a playground for open water swimmers
• Training sessions for the solar equinox – designed for any time of the year – plus our guide to help you decipher pool training abbreviations
• Explore the crystalline cenotes of the Yucatán Peninsula
• A brief history of timekeeping and swimming
• Ice swimming adventures in Morocco, Slovenia and Scotland
• Plus all the regulars, including health news, outdoor swimming news, training, swim locations, technique, travel, event listings, gear news and kit reviews.