I teach sculling and water safety at a couple
aquatic centers, one I founded where I live
at Clear Lake.
One of the key components I address in my
safety programs, which is used in teaching sculling,
and is the primary component of our kids summer
paddling is becoming comfortable and safe in
open water.
It's a phenomenon I've long been aware of, and indeed
most people SHOULD be frightened out in open
water as they are such unsafe swimmers.
But the phenomenon that intrigues me most are highly
skilled swimmers that panic in open water. I encountered
a former Div I swimmer who was learning to scull that
admitted she completely falls apart in open water.
When I taught my kids to bodysurf, long before I got
them to try catching waves, we first swam out beyond
where the waves were breaking to open sea, and swam
around and tread water, and dove to the bottom. Depending
on the kid, it took a bit of time, but they did become quite
comfortable, and made a enormous difference in learning
how to surf. They were agegroup swimmers, so the swim
skill and fitness was not a limitation, but the fear was.
How common do you think this fear is among good swimmers?
If you moved into open water from the pool, how did
you overcome this fear, and does it sometimes resurface?
I have a lot of stuff I've done in my safety programs, but I
haven't really talked to open water swimmers about it much.
Mike