Essential tips to know before swimming in the sea
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Essential tips to know before swimming in the sea

written by Woman and Home Team October 8, 2024
Essential tips to know before swimming in the sea
Many people aspire to move beyond the shore and fully experience the ocean, but it requires the right preparation and skills. Developing proficiency in swimming allows individuals to enjoy the sea with confidence. Learning to float, coordinating arm strokes with feet paddling, and gaining practice in various conditions are key steps to overcoming the fear of open water.
The ultimate test often comes when venturing into the ocean for a full swim, a significant step in building water confidence.

The process typically begins with learning basic swimming techniques.

Floating serves as a critical first step, providing a foundation for overall water comfort. Mastering a rhythm of arm strokes and foot paddling follows, with each movement designed to enhance both balance and propulsion in the water. Once these techniques are in place, continued practice in a controlled environment, such as a pool, helps solidify skills.

For many, the transition to ocean swimming marks a key milestone. Along Durban’s coastline, it is common to see swimmers heading out along the backline, moving confidently among surfers. Equipped with short fins, these swimmers take to the waves, showcasing the benefits of practice and experience in mastering the dynamic environment of the sea.

Unsplash / Jeremy Bishop

Essential tips for swimming in the sea

  1. Check weather conditions: Ensure favourable weather and ocean conditions before entering the water, as strong currents and rough seas pose risks.
  2. Never swim alone: It is essential to swim in areas where others are present, ideally within sight of lifeguards. This provides an added layer of safety and ensures help is available if needed.
  3. Read beach Safety information: Lifeguard schedules, warnings about unsafe areas, and other important information are typically displayed on beach notice boards. Taking the time to review these can help avoid dangerous situations.
  4. Enter the water quickly: Entering the water quickly, rather than wading in slowly, helps the body adjust more rapidly to the temperature, reducing the shock of cold water and enabling faster recovery.
  5. Maintain spatial awareness: While swimming, identifying landmarks like the sun, mountains, or tall structures onshore helps swimmers keep track of their distance from the beach. Briefly looking around while at the crest of a wave can help gauge position without wasting energy.
  6. Use straight-arm recovery: In ocean swimming, straight-arm recovery after each stroke is often more efficient than the bent-arm technique used in pool swimming, as it helps swimmers maintain better momentum in the open water.
  7. Float to recover: If fatigue or panic sets in, floating on the back can be a vital survival strategy. Taking a moment to rest and calm down allows swimmers to regain control before continuing.

Learn to swim: Training resources

Professional instruction is available across South Africa for those seeking to improve their swimming skills. Several swim schools offer lessons tailored to both beginners and more advanced swimmers:

Article originally published by Getaway. 

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Feature Image: Unsplash / Nick Russil

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