Meet Bold and Beautiful: Manly Swimming Squad

Looking around Australia, you can understand the call of the ocean. But swimming every day, all year round? Introducing the Bold & Beautiful Swim Squad, a free community group based in Manly, NSW. Founder Julie Isbill tells us more about this growing community of daily swimmers…

When and how was Bold & Beautiful Swim Squad founded?

Bold & Beautiful Swim Squad (B&B) started quite accidentally when I offered to take a friend for a swim on Boxing Day, 2008. We committed to meet the following morning, at 7am. There were five of us that first morning, as my friend had done some ringing around to rally the troops for moral support. Since that day, in just over 16 years, more than 25,000 swimmers (that we know of) have swum with B&B.

How many swimmers do you get each day?

It’s common these days to see at least 150 people swimming on any given morning – come rain, hail or shine. But the number of people participating is still growing.

Collectively B&B have never missed a morning swim since the day we started, thanks to a wonderful team of volunteers who work hard to keep the group running smoothly, 365 days a year for everyone.

As for the average number in summer and winter, this grows each year too. During summer it is common to have 300 swimmers on any given day. As we move into winter, we can expect an average attendance around 150 a day during the week with 250 on the weekends.

Different seasons see swimmers share in different challenges. For example, completing a specific number of swims over winter, with or without wetsuit, to earn a sew-on badge to adorn their B&B hoodie. Or maybe stretching out for a few more strokes in summer, clocking up the kilometres and swimming so much further than they imagined – all for another sew-on badge. It’s truly amazing what grown adults will do for a badge!

What benefits have you found daily group swimming has on people’s physical and mental health?

They’re practically endless. Swimming as a group creates a ripple effect that extends far beyond the water. For many, the daily ritual of meeting up for a swim provides a powerful reason to get out of bed and start the day with purpose. It’s not just about exercise – it’s about connection. With B&B we have fostered a strong sense of community, where friendships are forged, partners meet, and even families grow. The impact is so profound that some people have moved to Manly just to be closer to this vibrant swimming culture. Beyond the personal connections, the group’s presence has also benefited local businesses, with swimmers bringing life to the area at all hours of the day. For some, the experience has been nothing short of lifesaving, offering hope, structure, and a network of support. It’s no wonder group swimming has become a daily addiction for so many.

So, what makes B&B so special – and such an important part of so many people’s lives?

There are many reasons for different people I’m sure, but key to most people is the fact that it’s regular, available, non-competitive and inclusive. It has obviously filled a niche within the community. It gives people a reason to get up in the morning, social contact, and involves them in great exercise with fun and friendly, like-minded people. Not to forget swimming in a stunning part of the world, over a no-take aquatic marine reserve. B&B really does encompass people from all walks of life, and everyone is equal in their cossies. Again, something which is very liberating and beautifully unique.

The fact that B&B is so welcoming and inclusive is I’m sure what makes it part of people’s weekly, if not daily ritual, which you can follow on our daily blog or daily attendance website.

What makes it so welcoming and inclusive?

Every swimmer is welcomed by a fellow swimmer, given information on how to log their swims, connect to our socials, and they’re given a complimentary pink cap courtesy of one of our sponsors; Manly Paradise Beachfront Motel and Apartments.

When 7am strikes, everyone embarks on our swim. Most of us, although not all swimmers these days to be honest, wait at the point before collectively swimming across to Shelly Beach, where everyone waits again for the infamous “Let’s Go!” call before the return swim, followed by a well-earned après-swim coffee.

Later in the morning there’s the daily blog to look forward to reading and commenting on, in which a different swimmer writes and shares photos from the morning, enabling swimmers to look for themselves or see what they missed out on. All part of the daily addiction.

It’s these little points, amongst others, that make people feel they’re part of something special – which they are.

What’s your best advice to encourage people to start ocean swimming?

The first essential is to be a confident swimmer.

Always respect the ocean, swim in conditions you’re comfortable with, and check the forecast before entering the water. Start somewhere protected, swim with friends, and consider one-on-one open water sessions with a qualified coach to build confidence. Pool fins or a well-fitted wetsuit can also help ease you in, especially if you’re nervous about the cold. Whatever it takes, take that first step – you’ll never look back!

And for people who want to set challenges or pursue other swimming goals?

Set your own goal, whether it’s getting into the ocean, swimming a set distance, or tackling an open water race – it doesn’t matter what it is, as long as you start. Don’t let obstacles hold you back; if you believe you can do it, you most likely can. The hardest thing is getting started. My personal mantra, which I wrote on a pub wall after completing my English Channel Swim in 2016, is simple: “Dream, Believe, Do.”

What are you most proud of creating with B&B?

The success of B&B is a credit to every swimmer within it. There are many things I’m proud of, but maybe the three biggest are:

No matter how fast B&B has grown or how large it has become, it hasn’t lost its fundamental ethos; that it’s truly an inclusive community activity for everyone, it has remained free of charge, and it’s not competitive. Even those who can’t yet swim the distance can join in by walking along the foreshore and enjoying the après-swim activities.
So many people work tirelessly behind the scenes as volunteers, ensuring that new swimmers today receive the same (if not improved) personalised touch that they received when they joined, resulting in B&B being as inclusive for the new swimmers today as it has always been.
All of the original swimmers that swam on that very first day, 27th Dec 2008, still swim with B&B regularly to this day!

How can other groups get involved?

If you have a swimming group anywhere in the world, you’re most welcome to come and swim with us one day! Also, if you’d like to capture your own group’s daily attendance, with all the add-on bonuses it offers, please don’t hesitate to contact me. You are most welcome to join in the fun and set up your own swim group using our software, be it open water, pool or both and swim virtually around the world too. (There’s no charge.)

Happy swimming!