So it’s summer and your pool is closed, so you want to head out to open water? Or maybe you are planning a race that involves an open water swim? Either way, you need to do your swim practice in open water. There is a number of things you should consider beforehand.
First, here is a list of how to prepare yourself to make sure you can swim in open water safely:
- Are you a strong enough swimmer? – I know that most of us thinking of taking on open water swimming know how to swim. However, open water swimming differs some (see my past post on that). You may want to make sure that you are plenty strong to fend for yourself in the open water
- Can you spot when you’re swimming? – and by that, I mean see where you’re going. This is a challenging skill. During a race, you can mostly follow the crowds, but if you’re on your own, it can be harder. I should know, last time I went I got quite a bit off track 😆. Part of this is being able to see at all. If you wear thick glasses (ok, contacts – I hate glasses) like me, you need to plan for that. In the pool, you’re pretty safe, since markings are easy to see. In the open water, they will be blurrier and probably not that high above water level. Personally, I love my contacts. I know a few people though that have prescription goggles, so that’s another option to consider
- Are you confident enough in the water? – not quite the same thing as being strong enough. Your body may be perfectly fine with an open water swim, but you also have to make sure that your mind is going to work, too. To be fair: you may not be able to tell where you are at on this without actually trying to swim in a lake, river or an ocean, so start slow when you get out
Then there are issues coming from the world around us:
- Where to swim in open water? – find an area where open water swimming is permitted – it may sound silly to many. I know that I grew up with plenty of open water options near home. And then I moved to the DC Metro area. I knew there were lakes around and it’s not that far from the ocean, so it can’t be a problem, right? Wrong! Between DC, VA and MD, there are only like 3 places allowing open water swims (I don’t mean beaches for splashing around, I’m talking proper swim practice) and none of them happens to be close to me. Well, unless you consider 2 hour drive close. I don’t
- Can you bring support crew with you? – this sort of goes together with your strength and confidence in the water. If you are lucky, you may be able to find a family member or a friend who’d be willing to go in a kayak next to you and ensure your safety from boats, jet ski, help you with direction and if you get tired, provide a place to rest or even a transport back to shore
- Are you visible in the water? – when you are out there and alone, it’s helpful to have at least a bit of a safety net. Many swimmers bring a swim buoy (like New Wave Swim Buoy – not a sponsor, but I use their product and enjoy it), which is bright in color, making you more visible. It can also be used as a flotation device. It may not be rescue-grade, but when you are tired, it’s nice to have something to hang onto. Oh, and last but not least: you can put car keys inside and they will stay safe and dry. I think plenty of people put even their phones inside, but I am not that brave
- Is it going to be warm enough? – plan if you will need a wet suit. I have been ‘lucky’ that water around has been plenty warm, so I don’t really need one. Down side: I don’t get too accustomed to it before the race (and that’s a whole another problem)
- What will be water conditions? – temperature is only one aspect of the water in open water swimming. For most part, that’s mostly a comfort concern. Waves and currents, on the other hand, those are the real deal. Check online or with a lifeguard if there are no riptides or anything of the sort to watch out for. Take a look at the waves and whether the water is choppy – this may be a judgement call, but make sure you give it a solid thought. I heard that on a sprint triathlon the day before my 70.3 Gdynia, they had to fish out over 100 people for whom the water conditions turned out to be too much
- Are there any unsafe plants or animals in the water? – and I am not talking just about sharks, although those are worth considering if they are common to your area. How about jelly fish? Ones in the Baltic Sea are just gross, but I heard the ones in the Atlantic can sting pretty badly. Then you can get hit by a stingray. And ton of other sea animals may take issue with you infringing upon your territory. Make sure you know what to expect and act accordingly. It’s less common, but plants in the water may be unsafe as well. I heard that on the Polish coast of the Baltic Sea they have some sort of algae that is very toxic when in bloom. A family friend went for a very early morning swim in the sea and didn’t see any warnings. Well, the lifeguard was putting them up just as the guy was coming out of the water. Yes, he drove himself straight to the hospital (if I recall the story right).
Don’t open water swims sound like fun??? 😜
I know it’s a lot to take in and this article is all about things to be concerned about when going for an open water swim. It’s meant to be a list of things to consider and is not meant to scare you off. Open water swims are truly fabulous and so freeing! Prepare yourself, get out there and enjoy 😊