A Beginner’s Guide To Open Water Swimming

If you’ve never done open water swimming before then the prospect may seem a little daunting at first. Open water swimming is very different to swimming in a pool, and comes with its own unique set of challenges. However, if you’re reading this article then we can only assume that you’re up for the challenge?!

So, if you’re considering taking up open water swimming as part of your training for a triathlon or event, or simply for leisure purposes, the following guide should help you get started. In order to help you enter the water safely and with confidence, it’s important to be aware of the following factors.

Build your endurance in the pool

With tides, currents and cold temperatures to contend with, open water swimming is a lot more physically demanding than swimming in a pool. That’s why it’s important to build your physical endurance in the pool before stepping foot in open water. You should be able to swim confidently in the pool for at least 2x the amount of time that you plan to swim in open water. This is because fatigue sets in far quicker when you’re swimming in the sea or a lake, reservoir or river. As you improve your technique as an open water swimmer, you should be able to change your stroke in order to adapt to the changing conditions and counter fatigue.