Open water swimming - tips and tricks, please

[IceIceBabyBump]

I'm off open water swimming (lake, not sea) tomorrow. I've never done it before so I'm after any tips or tricks that aficionados would recommend, please.

Following with interest

Go in a group.
Only swim in an area which you know is safe
Get into the water gradually- don’t jump or dive. Give yourself time to acclimatise.
Get out before you feel cold/tired.
Dry yourself quickly and put on plenty of clothes.

Have a brilliant time!

Me too! I used to swim in any body of water once it got vaguely sunny as a kid and have such fond memories but feel like a different person now. I’m mainly worried I’ll get to my knees and have to back out.

Assuming you are in a supervised group and know to have a bright hat and a tow float already, then my biggest tip is just to breathe. Which sounds stupid, but it calms you, and though the water is super warm relatively at the moment it can still disrupt your breathing pattern, so as you get in, just focus on breathing.

Why?

Be very careful about jumping in if it's very hot where you are - a big gap between air temp and water temp is extra shocking. Definitely a tow float for anything more than knee deep or anywhere with a current. Be aware that lakes and rivers alike can both have strong currents which can be much harder to see than in the sea. Go in with people who know the area well.

Tell someone where and when you’re going, and when you’ll be back. Phone to tell them you’re finished.
can you take phone in a sealed waterproof bag thing? Do they make them waterproof enough for wild swims ?

Don't go after very heavy rain

These are great tips, thank you.

I'm going with a couple of mates. One of them is a regular but me and other other woman are first-timers. We have brightly coloured hats. No tow floats though 😬

There's nowhere to jump in so we'll most definitely be going in slowly.

It's not meant to rain overnight or tomorrow morning. Please can I ask why you shouldn't go after heavy rain?

A tow float that is also a dry bag is a good idea. I put my phone (wrapped in a zip lock bag) and my keys inside so they are with me.

If you get tired you can hang into your tow float for a rest.

The lake I swim in insists upon them so check before you go if you need one.

If you gave Amazon prime and order quickly there’s some tow floats showing that can be delivered by 10pm tonight.

I've just checked, the lake doesn't mandate tow floats - it just recommends them for under 15s.

Bright hat, tow float, decent polarised goggles, I've got fab ones from Zogg I cant remember what they are called but they are for outdoor swimming and have bigger eyepieces than pool googles so you can spot really easily if you are swimming front crawl.

The lake near me insists on tow floats, check that out.

Cross post!

Wetsuit. Even in this heat, the water will be much colder than you think.

Possibly because it makes the water a lot colder? I swim in a lake pretty much every day during the summer and the water is a lot colder after its rained, but it doesn't stop me - but that's different to someone open water swimming for the first time, I know my lake very well, nothing better than running and jumping in on a hot day, and so much nicer than swimming in a pool or the sea - lake swimming is the absolute best and you will fall in love with it (but don't jump in unknown water, obviously!)

Don't go after heavy rain in case there's storm overflows that discharge sewage into it!!

Oh that's a much more reasonable reason, and a horrid one, urgh sewage.

Yes, the after heavy rain is due to the sewage overflow and also washing farm effulent into the river system.
I think tow floats are a great thing to have (and I always swim with one) due to visibility, being able to have a rest if you get a bit worried, and you can rest your head on them and have a lovely float too . Plus it keeps your phone/keys safe with you

Unless you are a massively strong swimmer (and even then), do not go without a tow float. I would also reccomend a wetsuit.

I would only swim with a tow float unless the water is so shallow I can stand up in it the whole time. You can order one today I imagine or borrow one from a friend?

agree on the rain thing, plus it brings out rats too.

I tend to wear wetsuit boots or water shoes as I don’t like reeds on my feet - sometimes to consider. Some people swim in socks by me too!

I’m quite surprised by this, all OS venues I have ever visited require a tow float for visibility reasons. What kind of venue is it? Is it swimming only or paddle boarders/kayakers too?

Ah, okay, thanks for clarifying about the rain. Nice.

There are other types of water sports there but I think they're in a different part of the lake from where the swimmers are.

The lake is pretty shallow so I'll stick to the areas I can stand up in given I don't have a tow float. I can't get one before I go tomorrow.

Because at 17 I swam all the time. I was strong and confident. Now I am overweight and out of touch. I imagine it will be cold and the ground will be rocky and I’ll wimp out leading to disappointment. Hopefully the hot weather means there will be lots of people so I can take ages and maybe go more than once next week. Im excited too though.