Make a Splash!
It doesn't matter how far or fast you can swim, or what stroke you use - by joining our sponsored swim you'll make a BIG splash for whales and dolphins!
You can do your BIG Splash Swim challenge anywhere, at any time - even on holiday! Swim on your own or with your pod (friends, family or swimming club). Choose a Dolphin, Whale or Pod Challenge or find your own distance from facts in our species guide.
Get in touch at [email protected] for more information, your fundraising pack or to sign up.
The Challenges
NEW ** NEW ** NEW
THE MERMAID CHALLENGE
Calling all mermaids and merboys!
WDC is delighted to be partnering with Planet Mermaid for a fun, new challenge as part of the Big Splash Swim.
Simply swim as far as you can in your mermaid/merboy tail - if you haven't got one, go to Planet Mermaid and quote WDC10 to receive a 10% discount when you buy one. Join a Big Splash Swim at your nearest Mermaid Swim School and swim with other mermaids and merboys.
Dolphin Challenge
The dolphin is built for swimming.
The curved dorsal fin, the fluke and flippers do make life a lot easier, but with some training you can be more dolphin too.
Small dolphin challenge: 500m
Common bottlenose dolphins may be able to dive up to 500m in search of food – that’s 20 lengths.
If you feel up for a bigger splash, why not double the distance and swim a kilometre?
BIG dolphin challenge: 128km
The distance a dolphin might swim in a day in the wild. Complete 120km over the space of a month –it's a whopping 5,120 lengths!
Whale Challenge
The whale is a deep diver and a long-distance swimmer.
If you're up for a longer distance, try one of these whale-sized challenges instead!
Small whale challenge: 2km
Sperm whales dive to depths of up to 400m (16 lengths) but have been known to reach 2-3km - equivalent to an impressive 80-120 lengths (but you don't have to do it all in one go!)
BIG whale challenge: 4.5km
This is 3x the 1500 metre depths narwhals can reach - a long way down in the ocean! It's equivalent to 60 lengths of a 25 metre swimming pool.
Need more inspiration?
Read Leah's story at the bottom of this page.
Or have a look at our Species Guide for more fantastic facts on whales and dolphins to help you set your distance.
Pod Challenge
Orcas live in families for life and do almost everything together.
Get your family, friends, swimming club or school involved in a pod challenge.
Relay Pod Challenge
Bowhead whales travel in pods of up to 6; fin whales travel in pods of 8. Try a relay of 6 or 8 lengths per swimmer. Go for it!
Small Pod Challenge: 5km
The longest recorded migration for a blue whale was 5,000 km – how about aiming for 5,000 metres? 200 lengths is perfect for a small group.
BIG Pod Challenge: 15km
Gray whales make round trips every year of 15,000-20,000 kilometres. If your pod (school or swimming club) collectively swam 15,000 metres that’s a whopping 600 lengths!
GIANT Pod Challenge: 100km
Orcas live in families of up to 40: 40 swimmers could collectively swim 100km, the distance orcas cover daily.
Leah's whaley big splash
Leah Saunders (11) swam an incredible128km over the course of a month but wanted to do something really special for the last few lengths.
Leah adopts dolphin Spirit and, with her family, she travelled to Scotland to finish her swim in a pool closer to Spirit and to meet WDC Field Officer, Charlie Phillips.
Leah said "I chose to raise money for WDC because I love whales and dolphins and feel strongly against their captivity and wanted to help save them. I swam 128km because that is roughly the distance that a free dolphin can swim in the wild in a day".
"After I had finished I felt truly spectacular; not only had I accomplished my ultimate goal, but I had raised over £420 for an amazing charity".