Do Blue
Water, waves and wellbeing
Nick Hounsfield & Abby Richardson
'A beautiful reminder of how and why we should reconnect with water'
– Joe Wicks, The Body Coach and bestselling author of Lean in 15
Surfing, swimming, fishing, we can’t help but spend time in, or near, water. And now, growing scientific evidence for blue health supports what many of us already feel: being around water is good for us.
Nick Hounsfield, the visionary founder of inland surfing lake, The Wave, knows this better than most. Shortly after it opened, he suffered a stroke, at the age of 46. Much of his recovery was in the water.
In Do Blue, Nick tells his inspiring story, alongside Abby Richardson who overcame a fear of waves to find calm in cold water dips. Together they share practical ways to reconnect to blue, wherever you live, and meet the communities and individuals championing wellbeing through water.
From the flow state of surfing, to the mindfulness of fishing and the exhilaration of cold water immersion, Do Blue reveals a multitude of ways to unlock the power of blue. Ready to dive in?
Available to pre-order. Orders will ship just ahead of publication on 16th April 2026.
This paperback purchase includes a free ebook download.
Reviews
Timely and moving. Do Blue blends personal experience with expert insight to show us that water is not just a backdrop to our lives; it’s a living teacher
Dr Easkey Britton, author & marine social scientist
A beautiful reminder of how and why we should reconnect with water. Full of ways to inspire and encourage better mental and physical wellbeing
Joe Wicks MBE, The Body Coach & bestselling author
Do Blue draws on research into the benefits of being by water, including how it activates our parasympathetic nervous systems (the rest and digest part of the nervous system), whether we are walking alongside a river or kayaking on a lake, snorkelling in the sea or just looking at a fountain
The Times
Uplifting and informative. A nudge of encouragement to get outside for your own wellbeing and become an ally to help others access the ocean
Paddler magazine
Authors’ Do Lecture
Building Blutopia
Watch Nick’s talk from the Do Lectures 2024 and hear how he created a world-first surfing destination in a field in Bristol. His story is one of vision, optimism and a bucket-load of resilience – he even overcame a major stroke in early 2020 which took away his ability to speak. Much of his recovery was in water.
About the authors
Nick Hounsfield is the man who brought ‘a slice of the ocean’ to a field near Bristol. The Wave is a world-first inland surfing destination in the UK, where people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities can experience the joy of waves and their many physical and mental health benefits. Starting with just £500, he went on to raise the £30 million needed to make his dream a reality. Shortly after opening, Nick suffered a stroke at the age of 46. Much of his recovery was in water; cementing his belief in the power of blue health. In July 2025, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Social Inclusion from Bath Spa University.
Abby runs the proactive Impact Programme for The Wave, which aims to bring surfing and blue health to more people who need it. Despite being a hopeless surfer, she can be found bobbing around the tidal pools of north Cornwall year-round. Abby is on a mission to help everyone find their own unique connection with blue space, whatever their level of water confidence. Nick and Abby’s new venture is One Blue World which aims to take the concept of blue health to the next level as a foundational part of how we live, work, play and heal. @oneblue.world
Product details
- Published: 16th April 2026
- Dimensions: 120 x 178mm
- Extent: 128 pages
- ISBN: 978-1-914168-67-3
- eBook ISBN: 978-1-914168-68-0
Artwork
Colour photography throughout
Paper & print details
Paperback editions printed by OZGraf Print on Munken, an FSC-certified paper
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