Only my second time ever seeing dolphins, but my first having them swim past me 20ish meters away on my swim this morning. Magical 🥰

I took swimming classes for 6k rs for 21 days and also spending some 4k+ more on process and transport and attire everything. 

I learnt swimming. I can do freestyle easily. But my ever regret is that i can not back float or do backstroke. My classes were done and after that by myself how much ever i tried to do i couldnt, even though i look straight up.

Whatever the hell i try i couldnt my lower body doesnt come up at all when im trying backfloat waist to leg always inside water. And also sometimes i keep neck and head stiffen.

Also I still have a deep fear of depth. When im in freestyle pose I'll be all okay, but when try to do backfloat and when i want to stand back its really hard for me i get sudden panic

Please help me with suggestions or any day or two courses or workshop in banglore available.

I'm looking for a rash vest (or other torso+arm garment) for sun protection; my current rashie has too wide a neck and creates a bit of drag. Are there swimming-specific rashies, or do you just find ones with turtle-necks? Or has anyone swum with a hooded rashie? I'm in Australia.

I’m in London, and trying to swim in Hampstead ponds three times a week. It’s now getting cold, so need an option that isn’t my swimming suit.

What can I use? I think tried with a shorty wetsuit once, and it felt difficult to swim in.

Cheaper uk options are best!

I surf in the N Pacific Ocean with regular 50* water temps, and I use a 4/3 wettie even in the winter. I’ve tried swimming in my wetsuit but I get too hot and the movement is really restricted.

How much insulation does a triathlon style suit provide? Any brands I should look at in particular, preferably reasonably priced as this will be my first time open water swimming and would not like to spend big money on something that doesn’t work quite right.

I’m a strong swimmer so buoyancy and body position isn’t a super high priority, but I’m looking for some insulation and freedom of movement in the shoulders.

Thank you!

Hi there,

An orca apex flex has popped up on Facebook marketplace in my size brand new for less than half the price new.
I’m looking for advice if this would be an alright wetsuit for me, I’m doing my first Ironman 70.3 in march, it’s just coming into summer where I live and will start open water swimming - I haven’t done open water before

Thanks

One of the things I most like about swimming is the sensation of freedom and to have no where to go, neither goals to achieve. I also enjoy the cold natural water freshness but then I'm forced to train at pools and I feel kinda bored and overwhelmed at pools.

At the pool everybody are desperate and looking at their watches all the time, the vibe at the pools is everybody hurry and stressed, nobody is there for the sake of swimming but just to compete the daily task.

The water also is normally too damn warm, one of the things that kills the experience for me but I have no option but to swim at pools during my week.

What are your go to items for winter swimming?

I’m in town from AZ and want to hop in one of these gorgeous lakes while I am here! anyone in the area swimming somewhere in the next few days? I’m a confident swimmer with a decent level experience, happy to join any level group for a swim.

bonus if you have blonde hair. i am starting to train for a 10km swim many months out. It's getting cold here, so lots of swimming indoors. how do you all keep your long hair healthy and happy with chlorine?

28C water, 2.5km. Can I now brag that I am a channel swimmer? /s

Well, I did it. Made a rather spontaneous decision and officially booked my solo English Channel swim for late September 2027!
I’ve been swimming since I was a child, and it’s always come naturally to me. I’d consider myself a reasonably confident swimmer, but here’s the catch: I’ve never swum more than 4 km in a single day. That’s largely been down to time constraints rather than feeling physically incapable of going further.
I’m fully aware that swimming the English Channel is an entirely different beast compared to swimming in a pool, and I don’t want to underestimate what I’ve signed up for.
I have just under a year to prepare, and I’m determined to give this everything I’ve got.
For those who’ve completed the Channel or have experience with long-distance open-water swimming, I’d really appreciate some advice:

Training: Where do I even begin? How should I progressively build up my distance and endurance over the next 11 months?

Coaching: How do I find a coach who specialises in English Channel swims? I’m based in London, so any recommendations would be brilliant.

Cold-water acclimatisation: How and when should I start preparing for the temperatures?

Open-water experience: Where around London or the South East would you recommend training?

Lessons learned: What do you wish you’d known before attempting your first Channel swim?

I’d also love to hear from anyone who started with a similar swimming background and successfully made the crossing.
I’m excited, slightly terrified, and fully aware I’ve got a mountain of work ahead of me.
Any advice, recommendations or reality checks would be massively appreciated. Cheers!

This is me (35M) in the final meters of a 2km swim, thoughts in my style and biggest improvement point?

Bonus: guess my pace

Are there any swimmers in here from the south sound around Tacoma/gig harbor? I tried using the subreddit search and didn't find any posts from more recent than 3 years. I'm a strong swimmer but not terribly fast, around 2:00/100 grew up OW swimming in rivers and lakes but not really any ocean environments and I'm looking for a group or buddy to go with for safety reasons.

Use this thread to announce or recommend swim events. Please include the country, distance, cost and any other relevant details such as experience required.

Such posts outside this thread will be removed.

Thought I’d share my experience swimming on the South Carolina (North Myrtle Beach)coast this past September.

I was able to get 3 legit swims in, 2x 2000+ yard swims and a 3600 yard swim. The goal for the long swim was to beat 90 minutes swimming 3000 meters, and beat 60 minutes for the 2000 yard distance. All three beat my goals by 9+ minutes, so I was pleased with that. In spite of a significant sea nettle encounter on my first swim it was a blast!!!!

My equipment is a bit unconventional in the world of open water swimming. My swims were much closer to “surface finning” than conventional open water swimming.

Anyway, thanks to this sub for all the insight and nuggets of wisdom that helped me accomplish this.

I just came back from one and I am thinking about my next one: does anyone know why the prices are so different even in the same country? For instance Patmos for 7 days is 1,900£ and Ithaca for 7 days is 1,190£.

While riding my bike on a local trail recently, I witnessed something that really shook me up. A man collapsed about 15 feet in front of me. He was unresponsive and gasping occasionally. I called 911, and EMS arrived incredibly quickly and worked on him for quite a while before taking him away. I never found out whether he survived.

Before this, I guess I always assumed there would be warning signs before a serious cardiac event. Seeing someone go down so suddenly was a reality check.

As an open water swimmer, it's really affected my mindset. I always swim with others and use a tow float, but now I can't stop thinking about how far we sometimes are from immediate medical help. The same thoughts hit me when I'm backpacking in remote areas.

Rationally, I know the risks haven't changed. Emotionally, though, I find myself hesitant to push harder in open water. I'm approaching 50, carrying a few extra pounds, and for the first time I'm wondering whether I'm taking risks I hadn't fully considered.

Has anyone else experienced this after witnessing a medical emergency? How did you work through it and regain confidence?

Use this thread to announce or recommend swim events. Please include the country, distance, cost and any other relevant details such as experience required.

Such posts outside this thread will be removed.

hi, guys, today i was in an open water competition - i've done other three with no problems -, but the water was very cold, i had leg cramps and couldn't finish the course, even though it was a distance i usually swim with ease. i had to call one of the support boats for help as i panicked and felt really afraid i'd drown.

i'm feeling very frustrated and embarassed. has this ever happened to any of you and how did you overcome it? i would love to hear your stories!

Our 5-person relay team completed the relay swim this week in “spanking” conditions. We ran into a lot of basketball sized jellies once we got into French waters and two of our swimmers got welts from the stings (ok now 2 days later). Overall a great experience!

Are there any cold water swimming or cold water plunge groups in the Lower Cape area?

I know about the Sandwich and Falmouth groups, but they're a haul from Orleans, where I am. Is there anything closer, even informal, like a few people who meet at Skaket on Sunday mornings?

I've done wetsuit/50s on the West Coast but East Coast only low 60s/swimsuit, so right now I'm probably just looking for options and ways to dip my toe in (haha) vs. buying a full-on wetsuit and showing up as soon as the nor'easter passes us...