Open water swimming guide

Preparing for Your First Open Water Swim

• Choosing the Right Location: When preparing for your first open water swim, selecting the right location is crucial for a safe and enjoyable experience. Look for designated swimming areas with lifeguards present if possible. Opt for calm waters with minimal boat traffic to enhance your comfort and safety while swimming. Checking local swim guides or online resources can help you find suitable open water swimming locations that meet your needs.
• Understanding Weather and Water Conditions: Understanding the weather and water conditions is essential before embarking on your first open water swim. Check the weather forecast for the day of your swim and be wary of any potential changes. Be aware of factors such as water temperature, currents, and waves, as they can significantly impact your swimming experience. Consider practicing in various conditions to familiarise yourself with different scenarios and build confidence in navigating open water challenges.

Training Tips for Open Water Swimmers

• Building Stamina and Endurance: To excel in open water swimming, it’s crucial to build stamina and endurance in the pool before heading into the open ocean. Ocean swims are typically longer and more challenging due to shifting conditions. A mile in the ocean can be significantly more demanding than a mile in the pool. Therefore, it’s recommended to swim at least two to three times your target open water distance nonstop in the pool. This preparation ensures that fatigue won’t hinder your performance when facing the waves during your swim. If you feel overtired during practice swims, implement a technique known as “resting in motion”. This involves maintaining a consistent swimming tempo while reducing the forcefulness of each stroke, allowing you to take a brief rest without coming to a complete stop.
• Navigation Skills in Open Water: Navigating open water can be tricky, especially when the visibility is compromised. To simulate low-visibility conditions, try swimming with your eyes closed for short intervals while maintaining your stroke count. Lift your goggles, swim a few strokes, pause and tread water, then resume swimming with your goggles back on. This exercise helps you learn to swim forward even with limited or no visibility without sacrificing technique and breath control. Remember, most open waters are cloudier than pool water, so practicing navigation skills without visual cues is essential for a successful open water swim.

Safety Measures for Open Water Swimming

• Understanding Rip Currents and Tides: When it comes to open water swimming, understanding rip currents and tides is crucial for safety. Rip currents are powerful columns of water that move away from the shore, pulling swimmers out to sea. If caught in a rip current, it’s essential to remain calm and go with the flow until it weakens. Once this happens, swim parallel to the shore to escape its pull. Attempting to swim directly against the rip current is futile and exhausting. Similarly, being aware of tidal changes is important, as sudden tides can be dangerous. Getting familiar with the water conditions and tide cycles of the area you’re swimming in can prevent potential disasters.
• Swimming with a Buddy System: One of the best safety measures for open water swimming is to swim with a buddy. Swimming with a partner provides an extra layer of safety, as you can look out for each other and assist in case of emergencies. In case one swimmer gets into difficulty, the other can call for help or provide support. Furthermore, swimming with a buddy can enhance the overall swimming experience by making it more enjoyable and social. Remember, safety should always come first, and having a swim buddy can significantly reduce the risks associated with open water swimming.