Open Water Swimming Tips From A Pro Coach

Are you new to open-water swimming and unsure of where to start? This beginner's guide will give you the essential tips for preparing for your race day.

You'll learn:

1. Required equipment for open water swim.

2. Safety measurements.

3. Technique tips & drills.

4. And more.

Over the years, I have successfully prepared numerous first-timers for their debut race. Today, I'll share everything I know about swimming in an open body of water and how to prepare and execute the open water event with confidence.

Let's dive right into it.

Open water is different from pool swimming and thus requires a specific set of equipment for safety and comfort .Here my list of only ESSENTIAL equipment you'll need to be ready for open water swim.

When it comes to outdoor swimming, I recommend using mirrored goggles. These goggles help to reduce the sun's glare and protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. Make sure to select goggles with a soft frame for comfortable and practical use. Additionally, shop for goggles with wider lenses, it will help to increase the peripheral vision.

My friends, the art of swimming in the open water is different compared to swimming in the pool. The conditions can vary, with wind, waves, tides, currents, and water temperature affecting your performance and safety.

The buoy is a marker for those who are inside the water and out on the shore to see you. In case of an emergency, hold on to the buoy. It's strong enough to support your weight. It will help you to stay afloat until you are ready to continue your journey in the water.

Besides getting your hair out of the way during swimming, caps can, quite literally, save your life in the open water. Make sure to wear a bright-colored swimming cap. It will make you visible to both people on the shore and other swimmers in the water.

Wetsuit serves multiple functions.

One. It helps your body to stay warm in cold water. If the water temperature drops below 70 degrees Fahrenheit or 20 degrees Celsius, a wetsuit is must have. It will help to waist less energy, and avoid hypothermia.

Two. It gives you extra buoyancy. The materials wetsuits are made of help you to have the sense of ease staying on the surface. It helps those who lack the swimming technique.

Though, be aware that the wetsuit material has certain mobility restrictions on your arms, making your stroke slightly different. Therefore, I recommend putting on a wetsuit before the race day to help you adapt to it.

Swimming in open water is a completely different game comparing to pool swimming. There are no lane lines or walls to help you navigate and take rest. It makes swimming with a straight trajectory a little challenging.

Additionally, most people who have no prior open water experience may experience confusion due to currents, waves, wind, and low visibility, especially when swimming long distances. All those complications can throw newbies off course and swim in a different direction.

To help you avoid those mistakes and nail all the open-water events, I put together a few tips to help you prepare for the race.

The biggest limitation stopping a lot of people from mastering the art of swimming in a lake, river, or ocean is fear of open water. It's totally understandable, given that large bodies of water are less predictable and, in general, pretty intimidating for many pool swimmers.

The good news is you are not alone. Many people struggle with thalassophobia (fear of open waters), and it's less uncommon than you think. The best of it: you can overcome it by following utilizing gradual exposure.

A gradual exposure approach should help you to cope with the stress of being in the ocean, lake, river, or any other open body of water. Face your fear a little bit at a time.

Start by swimming alongside the shore. Don't focus on the distance. Try to relax and embrace this new journey you're on. Eventually, the fear will fade, and you will be able to comfortably swim in the deep end.

Firstly, it would help if you did your homework in the pool. Step up your endurance game, master your sightseeing skills, and improve your overall swimming level. The more confidence you have in your swimming skills, the faster you adjust to open water.

Secondly, a gradual exposure approach should help you to cope with the stress of being in the ocean. Face your fear a little bit at a time. Start with shorter swims closer to the shore. Eventually, the fear will fade, and you will feel comfortable, like a fish in the water.

In order to confidently swim in open water, you should practice swimming in the pool first. Step up your endurance game, practice sighting frequently, and improve your overall swimming level.

The more confidence you have in your skills in the pool, the faster you adjust to open water.

Most open-water swimmers combine pool swimming with open-water training to maximize the results.

Once you get your equipment, you're all geared up to start putting some miles in open water. It's important to get used to the conditions. Among them are waves, wind, water temperature, and currents before the race day comes. Figure out your comfortable breathing pattern and stroke technique.

Sightseeing is an important skill you'll have to practice both in the pool and then in open water. It ultimately will allow you to swim straight by navigating the route and locating the buoys.

Organizers typically provide a prominent buoy during open-water swim events as an orientation point. If you train in open water find the orientation point yourself.

Any static object on the horizon could be a reference point to keep you moving in the right direction. The thing should be big and easy to notice. It might be a building, a tree, a mountain peak, or any other landmark easily visible and unlikely to move.

Swimming in a group is called drafting. It's an important skill. It helps to decrease water resistance and make your swim more effortless.

It takes 30-40 % less effort for a swimmer to stay inside the peloton to keep up with the group. Swimming in a bigger group makes drafting faster because the people in front deal with more water resistance than those who swim behind.

Additionally, swimming in a group is easier to navigate since you don't have to pick your head up as often as if swimming alone.

Swimming in a group helps to ensure the safety of all swimmers. With multiple people in the water, there is a greater chance that someone will notice if someone else is in trouble or needs assistance.

When swimming in a group it is easier to navigate since you don't have to pick your head up as often as if swimming alone.

And finally, it's important to know your own abilities and limitations. By that, I mean your adequate stroke count, breathing pattern, and, ultimately, your pace.


The right training approach will help you define and expand these qualities. Whether you are training alone or have a coach, the race strategy has to be thought through carefully to avoid the most common mistakes beginners make.

Head up drill.

Get your head out of the water and look straight ahead. Make your strokes short and consistent to move forward. Keep your head still and focus your eyes on a fixed point. This drill is crucial for navigation in open water.

Switch side-to-side drill.

Begin by making 3-4 strokes with your face in the water. Then, lift your head and take 2-3 strokes with your head above the water to move to the other side of the lane line. To change your direction, slightly pull your arms outward a few inches away from your torso. If you want to move to your right side, use your left arm; if you're going to drift to your left, use your right arm. This exercise helps you to adjust your trajectory in the open water.

Swim with your eyes closed.

Shut your eyes and attempt to swim in a straight line. Count the number of strokes you can perform before opening your eyes. Focus on enhancing the count of strokes you can take while maintaining a straight path with your eyes closed during swimming. This drill helps to keep a straight trajectory in a setting where the bottom is not visible.

Head up, head down drill.

Make a few strokes with your face in the water, then get your face out to find the orientation point. Practice raising your head every 4th stroke, every 3rd, and every other stroke. This drill is crucial for effective navigation in open water.

Head up, head down drill.

Make a few strokes with your face in the water, then get your face out to find the orientation point. Practice raising your head every 4th stroke, every 3rd, and every other stroke. This drill is crucial for effective navigation in open water.

Swimming around the buoy.

Swimming around a buoy using an inside trajectory in open water can be a valuable strategy for minimizing the total distance covered during a race or training. Practice the pool trajectory to prepare for an open water race. Be aware that you might not be the only one going around the buoy, so be ready for contact with other swimmers.

Now I want to hear from you!

What swimming tip did you find the most valuable?

Have I missed something important?

Let me know in the comments down below!