10 Things You Need To Know Before Open Water Swimming

While some swimmers take to open water with full enthusiasm, others have a tough time transitioning from the calm, controlled pool environment to less predictable open water.

Whether you’re worried about big waves, scared of unknown creatures lurking below you, or aren’t comfortable with low visibility, it’s normal to feel nervous during your first few open water swims. But don’t let these fears keep you from trying open water swimming at all! Check out our tips for your next swim in a lake, river or ocean.



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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:32 Open water is NOT like a pool
1:24 Plan ahead
2:14 Use the proper gear
3:10 Have a buddy
3:57 Learn to vary your stroke
5:04 Swim in a straight line
6:15 Breathe on both sides
7:08 Swim in a pack
9:00 Relax :)

[myswimpro]

Where's your favorite open water swimming spot? ⬇

[JimmyBlack]

I started teaching myself to swim in the pool in 2020. I got pretty good through daily practice and a lot of help from YouTube videos. In 2023 I decided to take it a notch higher. So I moved to a coastal city and took a home by the sea. And just started swimming in the ocean. Starting in the shallow end, gradually pushing a little bit every day. And I tought myself to swim in the ocean without even any YouTube videos or a fixed schedule. I swim 2kms out in the sea every morning now. Just super happy about my progress and didn’t have any community to share with so thought I’d share it here.

[ruvamsi]

During my first triathlon, I was woefully unprepared for the open water, much less swimming in a large group. I was dropped from the pack almost immediately and us few stragglers/novices meandered our way through the course...it was a good learning experience

[LennonFitness]

Tips: 1 set your watch to alert you at different distances. It helps in a race to know how much further you have to go. 500 meters is a good segment for longer swims. Practice bi lateral sighting and low sighting (eyes only, no breath).

[K.Vee.Shanker]

This is an Eye opener for me. I had always believed that I can swim anywhere because l have learnt swimming in pool. Fortunately, I was awakened from this dangerous assumption when I jumped out of boat into the sea. This video has awakened from my assumption that I can swim in any lake/pond. Now, l will remember that whenever I enter any open poll alone first time, I have danger as my colleague. In deep water, no mistake is tolerated.

My dictim is 'Never go alone and unprepared to a pool, mountain, or any helpless places unless it's necessary'.

Thank you very much! 👍❤

[EarlsChannel]

I moved to Laguna Beach recently and met a dude that ive been swimming with in the ocean daily. Before meeting him, I never really went swimming other than pool parties etc. Before going out with him, I thought Id drown if i was in the Ocean longer then 10 mins. I can Tred water for hours which is awesome! We been doing 50+ laps every day, Such a good workout,

[arturoayala]

I try to bodysurf every day that I can, … given the winter weather and then waiting the day or two for the ocean to calm down. And lane swimming at the local county pool. Santa Cruz, Ca. USA

[straytraffic]

As a pool swimmer, maintaining a straight line was a surprisingly difficult transition to open water swimming.

[denisbueltan]

I've been swimming for almost 3 years in a pool but I never try it in open water, I admit I'm scared to do it but I'm going to do it anyway, thanks for the great video.

[peterhaslund]

I'm more scared now. The only open water I ever did was in Northern Spain and the waves were rolling me sideways, creating an injury that still plagues me to this day

[jonathanward]

You covered it all. Only addition is if you are swimming in cold water, i.e. 50°, use a swim mask instead of goggles as it will protect your face from the cold. I also swim in a surfing wetsuit with an attached hood, rather than a triathlon wetsuit, for the face and neck coverage. Triathlon wetsuits are designed for buoyancy and speed. Surfing wetsuits are designed for warmth. Warmth is key!

[ramonek]

Open water is much easier than pool swimming as I find it much more mentally engaging and relaxing. It is the difference between trudging in the treadmill in your basement vs going on a hike in nature where you walk around all day and enjoy the scenery and before you know it you hiked 20 km. It's as much of a tour as it's a workout. Also the salt in the water helps with buoyancy. This video seems to be directed to people who are afraid of water in the first place. When I was living in a landlocked city where I could only swim in a pool the thing I was most worried about was sighting. Now I live at the Mediterranean and all my swimming is open water and I found out that sighting is simply not a problem. I go swimming by myself all the time with no special equipment than trunks and goggles. I just choose a bay that's maybe 500-700 m wide from one beach to the other and just swim to and fro a couple of times. I enjoy seeing the fish and plants and the surrounding nature.

[AtheosThinker]

This is a great summary...I've been OWS for many years in dark inland lakes. Due to my climate, lakes are available 6 months a year, so split my time between lakes and pool. I encourage anyone who wants to try OWS to start with short casual swims because, as well noted in this video, you have to get used to a lot of things that are not in a pool. After getting used to those sighting and swimming straight is a great help to learn. Agree, that in OWS drafting is usually allowed but many of us consider it obnoxious and somewhat bad etiquette :-)....also, I guess I'm a purist but I don't use a wetsuit...I know a lot do, but let's be honest, it's mostly for the 10-15% time advantage (though some triathletes are using them to train of course).

[gideonjibrin]

It's the part you said, "grab them by the leg" for me, 😆🤣. I finished it off in my brain with, "....and pull them back". I know you were kidding, the whole piece was really informative, thanks.

[estakass]

One more thing, a good reason for a wetsuit is protection from jelly fish and sea lice. My dermatologist has yelled at me so many times. Yes, it’s a hassle to put them on and take them off but you will hate yourself for skipping the neoprene as soon as you start itch.

[colombanni]

Coach Fares, breathing on both sides is not baloney anymore than! Lol.
Now seriously, that choice really blows my mind every time i get into the pool. Bilateral is a much more synchro and confortable swimming. On the other hand one side is a faster stroke but hard to adjust due to neck soreness. Really enjoy this channel

[naoufaltakroumt]

There's a large pool in Rabat Morocco where you can swim for 240m almost at a straight line and it is filled from the ocean water besides it, so we can at least say it's open water minus the waves. Plus visibility isn't that good.

[douglasspickler]

The only thing you didn't mention is the yucky water. 🤢🤮 For example, the Chesapeake Bay swim. Salty dirty water with the diesel fumes from the ships. Not pleasant at all.

[mosman]

I was 145kg (189cm) and in my journy of losing weight i started both open water and pool swimming and thanks to that i lost 47kg, in my 44th yr anniversary i decided to raise the challenge and registered in 5km endurance race in cyprus, im really nervous abt it i feel i rushed into it and i came here looking for tips to help me win the challenge or maybe pull out, my swimming speed is 3-4.5 kmh depending on winds and waves i swimm for 1.5 h daily and i dont know if this qualify me for such a challenge, I hope i will not embarrass myself in front of my kids

[Korixon.]

i currently swim competitively in highschool/club but i am going to florida for a trip so i might try this. i normally am a sprinter but i can still do some longer distance. also this just sounds fun to try out and will keep me swimming on my trip