Swimming is one of the healthiest recreational activities there is, burning an average of 250 calories per 30 minutes, according to Swimming.org. Because of this, a lot of people looking to lose weight go on swimming trips during the holiday. Swimming is a fun, low-impact form of exercise.
Touring the world looking for great places to take a dip in allows you to experience some of the most wonderful sights this water-filled world has to offer. Here are three amazing examples of such swimming spots.
3 Amazing Swimming Spots You Might Not Have Heard Of
The Devil’s Pool in Zambia
108 meters above the Zambezi, straddling the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, stands Victoria Falls. Considered the largest waterfall in the world, Victoria Falls is 1708 meters wide and delivers an average of 1088 cubic meters of water to the river every year.
This mighty majesty of a waterfall has been named one of the seven natural wonders of the world Although famed for its tremendous size and power, this poses no obstacle for those who want to experience swimming in the world’s most dangerous infinity pool.
Dubbed the Devil’s Pool, this naturally formed infinity pool appears during the dry season on the Zambian edge of the waterfall. Every year from September to December, tourists make the trek to Livingstone Island, an expanse of rock sitting right on the edge of the waterfalls’ spray.
During this time of year, the current slows down and the water level falls enough for the pool’s rock barrier to come close to the surface. This creates a natural infinity pool overlooking a 108-meter drop into the ever-rushing Zambezi river. The breathtakingly dizzying view from atop this natural wonder is a sight like no other.
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Tulum Beach and Dos Ojos Cenote in Mexico
Jutting out into the Caribbean Sea, the Yucatan Peninsula is covered with prime locations to take a dip in. Tulum Beach is one such swimming spot. But what sets Tulum Beach apart is having one of the best-preserved Mayan walled city ruins as a backdrop.
Perched atop cliffs 12 meters tall, the ruins of Tulum provide the beach below with scenic views on both sides. It was an important trading port for the Maya, and thanks to the surrounding forest, it was left virtually untouched by the Spanish. Exploring one of the most impeccably preserved Mayan cities is a great warmup before swimming. After that, you can simply descend its stone steps to the beach below and have a dip in its shadow.
Get on a local tour in Tulum:
- Tulum and Dos Ojos Cenotes: 5-Hour Guided Tour
- Tulum, Cobá and Hilario Cave Day Trip with Transfer Options
- Tulum, Coba, & Cenote: Full-Day Tour
But its breathtaking beach and marvelous ruins are not the only things here that draw tourists by the droves. The area Tulum is in is also home to some of the most magnificent cenotes in the country. The Dos Ojos Cenote is a favorite of thrill-seekers, as it offers tourists the chance to swim in a pitch-black cave system.
Rental headlamps allow them to navigate the maze of stalagmites untouched by the sun. Note that the site doesn’t have many areas to change into swimming gear, so it’s best to just wear it underneath your regular clothing before setting off. Whether you choose to swim at the beach or in the cenotes, be mindful of the main risk factors that cause drowning, for your own safety.
Australia’s Jervis Bay
As the weather gets warmer in New South Wales, Jervis Bay blooms with dazzling blue light. During these warm nights, billions of microscopic bioluminescent algae wash up onshore to inspire awe in beachgoers. Best observed in the total darkness of the bay’s sheltered beaches, the glow from these little creatures can be enough to see by in the middle of the night.
This can make for some spectacular photographs. This so-called ‘sea of stars’ reaches its peak brightness at around midnight. The water closest to shore is so saturated with the phytoplankton that splashing somebody with it makes them glow too. Jervis Bay shines brightest after a rainy day. The rain flushes the water with nutrients and causes the plankton to flock to shore in even greater numbers.
Going on a swimming holiday is one of the best ways to experience the wonders of nature. The allure of the sea is something that captivates us all. But in case you or someone you know needs a bit of persuading, these amazing swimming spots should show how much excitement there is to be had in traveling the world just to take a dip.
