Open water (OW) swimming in lakes, rivers, bays, and the ocean is a joy that also carries risks. Here are some ways to prepare for open water swimming so you can enjoy the experience, safely.
Know Yourself
If you can’t swim, don’t go in. If you’re a weak swimmer, turn around before you’re nearing fatigue, or swim only where you can touch bottom. Important note: Moving water can dig unexpected channels, and daily tides affect depth.
Know What You’re Getting Into
Many localities have Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO): discharge of sewage directly into waterways. Expect lower water quality after heavy rains. Beneath that water lie other hazards. Never dive if you’re unsure of what’s beneath. Concrete, sandbars, tree parts, old portions of docks, and other items lurk. Top-side, beware watercraft such as boats, jet skis, sailboards, kite and conventional surfers, even sail boats. Also, respect critters. Fish may scare you; but jellyfish, sharks, alligators, and other critters pack more of a punch. Don’t be wimpy, but don’t be stupid either.
Just Say No
Drugs (recreational, and sometimes prescription) and alcohol may impair judgment and endurance, and can cause you to pass out. Every year, recreational swimmers disobey this rule and pay the ultimate price. As you prepare for your next open water swim abstain from drugs and alcohol.
Never Swim Alone
I’ve swum in 39.8 degree water, with icicles hanging off the dock; and finding company was not feasible. I can’t recommend solo swimming for most normal people. A buddy or friend can be a life-saver; but on the other hand, even strong swimmers may not be competent lifeguards. One of the joys of OW swimming is learning self-reliance, so don’t get complacent even if you have a partner. If you can’t find a swim buddy, at least consider a “shore buddy” to keep an eye on you.
Beware the Mammalian Dive Reflex
Cold water on your face causes the pulse to drop, which can make you pass out when combined with vigorous physical activity. If you’re going to enter cold water, splash some on your face first to acclimate. If you’re going to gasp and inhale, at least you’ll do so on land.
Respect Currents and Rip Tides
The best OW swimmers in the world go backwards in a 3-4 MPH current. Storms cause strong currents, as can natural ebb-and-flow of daily tides. I once swam down-stream for 12 minutes, then had to crawl out of the Chickahominy River without successfully making it back despite 35 minutes of intense swimming. Water will win, so don’t fight it.
My simple rules are:
1. Don’t panic. Fear is your friend when it tells you not to do something foolish, but panic is an enemy.
2. In a rip tide, swim parallel to shore, rather than trying to fight your way back to shore; though in a current along a bank, your bailout may actually be directly to shore.
3. Know the path. Rip tides tend to be circular, so an out-bound current may eventually pull you back in.
Respect the Elements
Swimming in high winds with breakers and whitecaps, in icy waters, with poor visibility, is a rush; but it’s not for beginners, and it’s not the safest way to go. Without the right gear, cold (hypothermia) can be a killer that insidiously renders you weak, confused, or even unconscious. Check the weather conditions is key as you prepare for an open water swim. Wind, rain, and fog can make breathing and sighting your base difficult, and they also hide you from boats and windsurfers. You can tempt fate and swim with the lightning and impending tornado, but I can’t recommend it.
Swim in Daylight
If things go wrong at night, you’re harder to rescue; and time may not be your friend if you’re alone or hurt. Yes, there are devices that help make you visible in open water at night, but generally they are used in organized events such as “glow swims” or planned and crewed crossings of large bodies of water.
Get Some Gear
Depending on conditions, I use a variety of gear. I always swim with goggles, but I know some who don’t. A wetsuit provides buoyancy and heat, and can help you withstand temperatures that you couldn’t going “skin”; though when water temperatures climb into the 70’s or even 80’s, it becomes a liability for those exercising vigorously. A swim cap can provide visibility (don’t wear a black one unless you’re a Navy Seal). A neoprene swim cap can provide some warmth, and a swim hood provides tremendous heat retention. Earplugs are useful in the cold, but some like them year-round (but beware not hearing oncoming motorized watercraft). Swim gloves are also handy in the coldest temperatures. Swim booties are useful in cold water, but they also come in handy should you find a fish hook or glass bottle with your foot. Personally I like to swim with a bright orange swim buoy, but I use it for visibility and not flotation (don’t ever rely on a float when you can’t swim). Finally, I’ve seen wrist-mounted air horns that can be used to signal for help. I’m sure there’s someone, somewhere, swimming with a waterproof iPhone too – but me, I prefer the joy of swimming with as little “stuff” as possible, briefly fleeing my land life in favor for a land of open water wonder.
Originally published June 1, 2016