Open Water Swimming And What Equipment To Use

Open Water Swimming And What Equipment To Use

Open water swimming is something that is getting a lot of attention lately and is a great way of getting the exercise you need. Many people love open water swimming because you have all the space in the world to focus on enjoying your swim.

Alejandra Ezquerro @ Unsplash

Safety First..

When you are in the ocean, there are a lot of things to take in mind. Firstly it is essential to wear a wetsuit, so you can keep warm in the cold water. It will also help you slide easier through the water and give you buoyancy, which helps you float. Secondly, when you are in the open water your visibility is very low. I would therefore recommend using a SwimBuoy bag so your visibility is maximum. Then you can focus on your swimming without having to worry about being hit by a boat or another open water swimmer. When using a Swim Buoy you can even take a break while being in the water. The bags are often floating, so you can hold on to the bag and take a much-needed break.

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Which Technique to Use

The most common technique used in open water swimming is the front crawl. It is the most energy-efficient. But if you're uncomfortable with this technique, then you can also use the technique you prefer. For some, it can even be a bit frightening to be swimming in open water and being so far away from the shore. But a little trick to help you is to set small goals. Let's take an example. The first time set a goal of swimming 40 strokes out into the water and see how you feel about being here before turning around and going back.

Author Bio: 

Oliver Saalbach Ottesen 

www.getwatery.com

Open Water Swimming Infographic For Beginners

Learning to swim is an almost must-have life skill that offers a host of benefits. It is great exercise, working the whole body for improved cardio fitness. It’s also relaxing and fun: There’s little that matches cooling off in a swimming pool during a hot summer day.

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But swimming in a contained, controlled pool is quite different than swimming in open water. There are different risks and rewards to time spent in oceans, lakes, and rivers. That means that there are different strategies when it comes to swimming strokes to help you have a safe swim every time, especially during competitive events such as triathlons.

Most people use the front crawl stroke when competing in open water swimming, and certain physical adjustments will help that technique work more efficiently. In addition, there are open water strategies that can help you capitalize on race conditions. One of the easiest is drafting, which involves following someone faster and larger; that helps you get to the finish line without sighting it yourself.

However much you’re able to master race action plans, you always need to keep open water swimming safety in mind. Currents are particularly important and powerful, and the weather is always an influence. Know what a plan is should an emergency strike, and know what you should do.

Want to learn more about how to transition from a pool to open water? Use this graphic to get a safe start.

Open Water Swimming Infographic For Beginners

Source: Fix.com Blog

Enjoy     
Richard

Teaching kids to swim in the ocean

Teaching kids to swim in the ocean takes more time, patience, and caution than pool or lake swimming does. The ocean’s currents and depths can be frightening even for experienced swimmers, at times. With that in mind, parents shouldn’t try to push kids into situations they are not ready for - they should be allowed to get comfortable with the idea of ocean swimming at their own pace even if it is much slower than pool swim lessons.

Here are a few tips for teaching your children to have fun and respect the ocean’s power at the same time:

Introducing Your Kids to the Ocean

Part of what makes the ocean scary for many is its unfamiliarity. There is nothing else quite like an ocean shore, and kids may feel threatened by the push and pull of the waves. To help them get used to the idea of being in the surf, it’s best to begin their experience at a beach where the waves are gentle and the water is shallow.

Encourage your children to sit and play in the surf but stay near them and as they become familiar with the feeling of the ocean and how the waves work, slowly encourage them to go farther out. Show them how to stay safe in bigger waves as they become more confident by either bobbing over the top of it or ducking underneath it.

Swimming Tips for the Ocean

Swimming in the ocean requires many of the same skills as swimming in calmer water, but it’s a good idea to stay with them as they venture into deeper water for the first time. If they are already familiar with a pool or lake environment, show them how they can transfer their skills to the ocean. Floating and swimming in the ocean is much the same as it is in a still body of water, but it takes special awareness of the waves and the shore. Encourage your kids to always keep an eye on where they are in relationship to the beach, as the current can have a tendency to carry them farther down than they realize.

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When they are ready to head back in, show your kids how they can “ride” the waves to help them get to the shore. This may be scary for kids, so be prepared to show them where they can stand up and run back into the shore.

Ocean Safety Tips

You should be especially cautious when teaching your kids to swim in the ocean. Waves can easily hide your kids from your line of sight—it’s helpful if you have at least one adult for every two kids, if possible. If you can, consider going to a beach that is monitored by a lifeguard. Keep your kids within arm’s reach, especially if you are teaching them to swim in the ocean for the first time.

If your kids are unfamiliar with swimming, make sure they are equipped with a Coast Guard-approved flotation device, even if they are just playing in the surf. Be on the lookout for jellyfish or other ocean creatures, and stay away from boats and piers.

If you follow these tips, you and your kids can enjoy swimming in the ocean together. Just remember to keep things slow, and don’t rush kids into something that they are not prepared for.

Happy swimming!
Teresa Dah

Bio

Teresa Dahl is a blogging enthusiast from the USA who loves to swim in her spare time. She has her kids in swimming lessons through SwimJim. When she’s not blogging or swimming she loves to cook extravagant meals for her hubby.