1 – BE SELF-SUFFICIENT
You must be prepared to handle surprises and be self-sufficient (or not depend on others to save you if something happens). It is important to feel comfortable in open water swimming with Lifeguard course near me so that you can enjoy the activity.
2 – KEEP COMPOSITION
In open water, we usually have nothing to lean on. Before taking on this activity, therefore, answer the following questions: – Would you feel comfortable swimming long distances without any support? – Could you float while coughing because you swallowed water? – Could you swim with cramps? – Could you swim underwater for a few seconds without feeling claustrophobic?
Think carefully about these questions, as the answers are very important. It is essential that the swimmer avoids panic in adverse situations. The biggest challenge when swimming in open water is maintaining your composure, no matter what.
3 – SWIMMING ALWAYS ACCOMPANIED
Even if you’ve tried to prepare for any problems, it’s possible that something unexpected happens and you need help. This is not the time to be alone. Let the lifeguards who accompany the site know of your plans before you hit the water. If there are no lifeguards nearby, swim with someone.
4 – ALWAYS BE VISIBLE
This will help people find you if you need help. Caps, swimsuits and colorful swimwear serve exactly this purpose.
5 – IMPROVE NAVIGATION
Are you able to swim in the same direction when there is no line at the bottom to guide you? Most technicians advise dealing with this dilemma by training your swimming skills in a swimming pool. Try to lift your head and look at the end of the lane. Raise your head at different times during the swim and feel what is most comfortable. By doing this, you will have solved the most important part of open water navigation.
6 – AVOID riots
In open water, there are always a lot of competitors around you. Would you feel comfortable swimming in the middle of 400 arms and legs? If the swimmer’s confusion is too great during any part of the race, move to the outside of the course. This strategy can be especially useful when making a turn, when all competitors get as close to the buoy as possible. If you’re on the inside of the turn, you’ll end up having to fight a crowd.
7 – FIND YOUR SPACE
Imagine a crowd of swimmers or triathletes lined up, just waiting for the race to start. When the start is given, they all pass from the vertical to the horizontal and are thus on top of each other. Result: kicks and elbows are inevitable. To escape this inconvenience, the way is to plan an escape route before the start of the race. Start at the back, where no one else will fight for your space in the water. The problem is that some people get tired after the initial sprint and you will have to navigate between them. Another option is to start from one side or the other. If your strategy is to blend in with other swimmers, be prepared to fight a little to maintain your space. A longer, stronger kick is one method of securing more space – it discourages other competitors who are close to you. Another trick is to keep your stroke a little wider and hold your forearm close to vertical. So you use your forearm to keep other swimmers away from your body.
8 – LEARN TO DEAL WITH WAVES
The waves make you go up and down. If you keep your fingers above the water level, an unexpected wave can hit you, sending your hand into the water below your shoulder. That’s not ideal. To maintain a correct stroke, you need to have a much higher hand recovery when swimming in open water. The less time your hand spends on the surface of the water, the less it will be affected by the waves. Another thing to do is to learn bilateral breathing. Waves generally travel in the same direction. Imagine if they are coming in from your right side and you can only breathe through your right!
9 – OVERCOME THE BURST
For some swimmers, getting past the breaking point is a lot of fun. For others it is the most absolute terror. If you are in the second group, better think twice before swimming in the sea. Observe for a few minutes the size of the waves and where they are breaking. The further away from the surf, the easier it is to swim. So the trick is to get past the surf as quickly as possible. When you’re past the surf or swimming back to shore, remember not to fight the water. She will always win! Don’t be afraid to let the water take you for a while. After all, the sea is much stronger than you.
10 – FACE THE CURRENT
There is no special technique for dealing with currents. Swimming against a weak current can mean substantial delay in completing your course (and you won’t get anywhere swimming against a strong current). On the other hand, you will travel the distance much faster if you can swim with the current. In the case of a continuous current, as in a river, you need to aim above your objective. Some of the effort will go towards reaching the end of the race, while some of it will go towards fighting the current.
11 – PROTECT YOURSELF FROM COLD WATER
When swimming in cold water, your natural reaction will be not to breathe when your face is in the water. Therefore, force the exhalation while your face is still in the water. With this procedure, you will be able to get into a swimming rhythm more quickly. If your resistance to cold water is very low, use a wetsuit and 2 or 3 silicone caps. Do whatever is necessary to avoid hypothermia.
12 – HAVE FUN WHILE NOTHING
One of the best ways to feel comfortable in the water is to have fun. How about catching some good alligators while swimming? Or ride the waves and see the beach from up there? Games like these may seem childish, but they can help you become familiar with the water and feel part of it. Good crossing!