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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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Dive into the Best Spots in the South with Azeema

Swim Dem Crew

Swim Dem founders, Peigh and Nathanial, give us the low-down on their top swim spots in London. This unique swimming club places emphasis on the power of community, using the sport as a tool for empowerment, as well as an opportunity for some good old-fashioned fun. "

This is the pool where it all began for us five years ago, so it’s gotta go to the top! It’s the perfect location for a quick dip in the Summer or a spot of sunbathing in East.


This has been our home for the last two years. We see this pool more than we see our family and to be able to swim in a pool that Olympians regularly grace is pretty special.

Nathaniel’s personal favourite, it’s the only pool we’ve swum in that had marble tiles. MARBLE. You feel like royalty in there even if the cherub statues are a bit weird.

Peigh’s personal favourite. Its grand design makes it feel like a church, so we call it the cathedral of swimming. You can do every sport here, even beach volley ball.

This pool is tucked away near Silicon roundabout, but doesn’t disappoint. It’s been refurbished, but still keeps its old wooden viewing seats from 1931 when it was built that just add to its grand aesthetic.

Brockwell Lido is the perfect pool for summertime. While sunbathing you’ll hear the exercise classes in the background, kids playing and see people eating delicious food at the cafe.

This pool is spacious and beautiful. Its huge windows let plenty of natural light in that add to the experience. You HAVE to go to Mario’s Cafe for breakfast afterwards. It’s on one of London’s most famous roads because of the colourful houses.

This is the only pool in London made entirely out of metal! In the summertime, you’ll see the sun rays glisten through this metal basin and give you a tan twice as quick.

This is a proper local pool that’s in the need of some TLC, but it does get the job done. Its location is perfect for a Sunday swim followed by breakfast at Cafe 338 and a stroll through Columbia Road Market.

The Best Swim Spots to Cool Off with Swim Dem Crew

Julia Lebosse

London based ex-swimmer turned swim teacher 

, is the founder of Sneakers by Women, a digital space dedicated to telling untold stories about women in the sneaker, design, and fashion industries, which she runs whilst juggling a degree on the side.

She finds herself continuously being pulled in by the electric and chaotic energy of the city saying “It’s the hub for everything, whether that be exploring creativity through fashion, art, and music, or mastering a sport like swimming, basketball, or climbing… which keeps me constantly inspired and eager to discover all that the city has to offer!” But most importantly, it's where she found her community in the footwear industry, as well as being home to one of her all-time favourite pools, the London Aquatics Centre.

Check out her guide to the pools and leisure centres that have shaped her journey in the water. Brought to you in partnership with 

 & Open Waters, helping people from all backgrounds navigate the water.

First up is the Basingstoke Aquadrome. It's a place with three pools—a 25-metre pool, a shallow 20-metre teaching pool, and a lagoon pool with a variety of fun slides—as well as a gym for all you gym rats. The Leisure Centre is situated within the Basingstoke Leisure Park, which provides a wide range of activities and everything you could possibly need within walking distance, including indoor diving and skiing, bowling, ice skating, and a Premier Inn. There are also a few food options, including Costa, McDonald's, and KFC.
A place of several firsts for me, including the home of the first club I joined, competition, medal, Swimathon, and (slight flex) the pool in which I went sub-minute in the 100 Freestyle.
This pool is very special to me, because from the age of nine to seventeen, I spent more hours here than I did at home! A place of several firsts for me, including the home of the first club I joined, competition, medal, Swimathon, and (slight flex) the pool in which I went sub-minute in the 100 Freestyle. It was essentially my second home for almost a decade, and it still holds a special place in my heart to this day.
So, while this town may not be the life of the party, if you're looking for a leisurely swim suitable for all abilities or want to simulate the action of falling from the sky, plan a cheeky trip to Basingstoke.

If you haven't heard of this pool, you've most likely been living under a rock because it's one of the best in the country. Built specifically for the Summer Olympics in 2012, it is now a space for both peak athletic performance and casual stronger swimmers. The centre is located in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, London, and was expertly designed by architect Zaha Hadid to serve as the Olympic Park's "main stage."
When I think of this pool, many words come to mind, but I always come back to "wow." It's one of those places that you simply must see in person to fully appreciate the magnificent architecture, both inside and out. The huge venue includes two 50-metre swimming pools as well as a deep 25-metre pool with a moveable floor for synchro and diving.
I used to compete there when I was younger, and I remember it being absolutely freezing! It's kept at a fairly low 27 degrees as it's an Olympic standard pool. This is truly a blessing because there is nothing more refreshing than diving into cold water and instantly feeling awake. It's almost euphoric.

Last but not least, the spot where my competitive swimming career ended on a bittersweet note. The pool here is 50m long, though it is occasionally split in two, and the building also includes diving platforms, a gym, and squash courts. This pool is situated within the Army training grounds in Farnborough, so it's not surprising to see soldiers in training walking around the area.
This pool is also home to the Rushmoor Royals Swimming Club, which I briefly joined and thoroughly enjoyed for nearly a year. It was the closest 50m to where I lived, so I swam there frequently throughout my time in competitive swimming. One end is extremely deep, designed for diving and synchronised swimming, while the other end is surprisingly shallow and warm at times, which is definitely welcome during the colder months of the year.
There was a road circling the venue, and our coach used to have us run around it as a warm-up for morning training (which I very much despised haha).

Another location where many memories were made, far too many to count, was the Mountbatten Leisure Centre's 50m pool. Situated in Hilsea, the centre includes a swimming and teaching pool, as well as a squash court, dance studios, an all-weather pitch, a number of tennis and netball courts, as well as a cafe. This pool, like the London Aquatics Centre, has beautiful architecture, with a dramatic wave-like roof that sweeps down to cover the pool, an absolute treat to look at when swimming backstroke. Many Hampshire competitions were held here a few years ago, including County Championships, Easter Weekend Competitions, and Area Leagues. It's simply because it's a wonderful pool, and a fast one at that (if you know, you know).

Not to forget the windows on the far side of the pool which look out onto Alexandra Park. During competitions, this park was a place me and my teammates would often flee to for our lunch breaks. On the other side of the building, you can stroll down the Hilsea Shore Path, which overlooks Tipner Lake, which is part of the historic Portsmouth Harbour. The path has been reconstructed with a new seawall, information signs, a variety of plantings, and plenty of seating, perfect for getting some fresh air post-swim.

London Aquatics Centre

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