Everyday we’ll suggest original stocking fillers for the active person in your life.

Today Waterproof Action Cameras

Today’s suggestion isn’t a product I own or have reviewed but rather something I want (Hint to Santa). Cameras are getting smaller and cheaper so I have been looking for another camera that is particuarly happy getting wet and knocked about whist filming adventurous activities. I have found two such cameras at different ends of the price bracket, but both with great promotional offers this Christmas.

5MP Underwater Digital Camera

If you are not looking for a special underwater camera for scuba diving but just want one for pool parties, the beach, messing about on boats or even just enjoying the snowy wet weather then the Speedo Aquashot digital underwater camera at £100 is a good budget option.

It has a 4x digital zoom held in a highly resistant and waterproof casing allowing you to take any image in water in depths of up to 3 meters and also has video capabilities.

The crystal clear 2.4” TFT LCD screen displays a preview of the image that you are about to capture meaning that none of your images are taken blindly, allowing you to take the best shot possible. It has all the usual features you would have come to expect in a digital camera including flash, self timer, scene settings and auto exposure.

There is also a 9MP version available for £125.

Christmas Offers

Speedo International has 5 Christmas offers which mean you can get some great deals if you are buying a camera as a present this Christmas.

One offer is that you can get a FREE Black 1GB Speedo® Aquabeat Waterproof MP3 player worth £65 when you buy green 5MP Aquashot by using the promo code XMAS5.

A second offer is that if you spend over £100 you can get a FREE green 5MP Aquashot by entering the promo code XMAS3. Meaning that you can receive two for the price of one. The other option could be to buy a 9MP version for £125 and get the 5MP free.

Of course if you are looking for an MP3 player and camera then better use of the promo codes could be to buy a 2GB MP3 player for £90 and an additional item such as a £15 MP3 player armband or a £10 sports towel to make the basket value up to £100 and then get the 5MP camera free.

Ultimate Action Camera plus GPS

But for the ultimate action camera I would love to get my hands on the latest launched by Oregon Scientific: The world’s first HD All Terrain Action Camera with G Sensor and GPS. The New ATC9K HD  is described as being specifically designed for extreme sports enthusiasts and professionals who want to capture every high action moment, on the slopes, on the waves or on the road.

Not only does the camera capture 1080p professional quality high definition video and takes photos of 5MP, its built-in G-sensor can also measure the force of gravity during acceleration, deceleration and hang time. This makes it perfect for extreme sports enthusiasts, sport trainers, professional sportsmen and those who wish to record and review every detail of their performance. Additionally it’s the only action camera water proof to 20m without external casing making it ideal for scuba divers, the self-contain design is also shock resistant.

A built in LCD screen and laser pointer help you line up the camera , with the LCD screen also allowing you to play back the videos where ever you are. The camera also comes with a full set of mounting accessories that enables users to mount it on any handles, bars, and helmets and use it for a wide variety of extreme activities. Simply mount it onto anything such as you bike, car, helmet or attach it arm, strap or sleeve. Recording straight onto a Micro SD (up to 32GB) the all in one design is the ATC9K is you perfect companion, hands free, shock resistant, water proof tough enough to follow you into the most extreme conditions.

As a special offer to celebrate the beginning of the Ski Season Oregon Scientific are offering a free GPS unit worth £50 with every ATC9K.

I love linking my Garmin Forerunner data from my running races to Google Earth and so my favourite part of this bundle is that it comes complete with a unique GPS plug-in that enables you to map your location, speed and distance travelled using Google Maps or Google Earth. While watching the video clip playback on a computer, you will also see your corresponding location, acceleration and altitude on Google Map. Keep track of each trail and race with this useful tool designed for trainers and sports lovers.

The ATC9K including free GPS unit is available for £249.99

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Swimming works the whole body including arms, legs, back, stomach, bum and shoulders without straining your joints and muscles. But aside from it being an essential survival skill and a form of exercise in its own right, being able to swim allows you to participate in many more exciting activities. Waterskiing, white water rafting, scuba diving, windsurfing, canoeing, sailing and aqua aerobics are just some of the sports available to you once you can swim.

Over the last few weeks I’ve been swimming about 3 times a week, yet in the last 2 weeks I have lost 1 pound in weight. I have although, lost half an inch from round my waist and hips so I think swimming has been helping me to tone up. Swimming burns around 3 calories a mile (1600m) per pound of body weight, so if at 130lbs I swim 1000m I work off around 244 calories. Not the highest calorie burning activity. After swimming I often feel hungry after I have finished and I have to be careful that I don’t over compensate for the energy I have just used up by eating too much. This is because after swimming your body temperature is maintained and your metabolism stabilised unlike outdoor sports such as running which increases your body temperature, reducing the immediate desire to eat, whilst increasing your metabolism for up to 18 hours.

The buoyancy of water reduces your body weight by 90%, so whilst swimming is not the best exercise for weight loss or building muscle, it is a great activity to recover from injury as muscles are supported by the water. If you participate in other sporting activities, swimming is great as a form of cross training to regular work outs or help as a cool down moving blood through body to help it recover. Swimming should be combined with other training as it does not prevent osteoporosis because it is not weight bearing.

If you never learnt to swim as a child, or you need more water confidence there are many classes an swimming sessions open to adults. At the pool at I teach at we have timid adult sessions, where you can borrow floats and practise on your own with instructors on the side to offer advice if you require it. Most people swim widths without the fear of swimming in the way of the sprinters who normally swim lengths in adult only sessions. For adults who have never swum before adult beginner classes are great, often with an instructor in the water with you. In the classes I teach there is a great support and friendship developing between the other adult swimmers.

Body fat floats better than muscle and bones, which are dense don’t float well, so women, older people and those who are not very muscular often have more fat and may float more easily. Don’t forget that the density of water is important so floating in the sea which contains salt is easier than in a swimming pool.

Here are the benefits of the 4 main strokes:

Breast Stroke-This is the stroke that burns up the least calories but it is a great stroke to train the heart and lungs. Breast stroke works the chest muscles, whilst training the inner thigh, triceps, hamstrings and shoulder. However, using good technique is important as swimming breast stroke with your head above water is bad for your neck and back.

Back Crawl-Burns more calories than breast stroke and is great for toning you abdominals, bum, legs, arms and shoulders. It’s also good for lengthening and stretching your body.

Front Crawl-This is the fastest stroke and a good calorie burner, tones your bum, abdominals and shoulders.

Butterfly-This is the hardest technical stroke, but burns more than double the calories of back crawl and breast stroke. Important to be able to swim other stokes before you attempt butterfly. You can also cause injuries if your technique is poor so get instruction. Once you can swim butterfly it’s great for developing upper body strength and flexibility, whist toning your chest, abdominals, triceps, and back.

For more information on swimming in your area contact your local leisure centre or British Swimming.