Open water swimming: top 5 tips for swimming in the sea

Even though a chlorinated pool cannot unfortunately recreate the real conditions of open water, a pool does in fact have many advantages, particularly in terms of swimming technique.

Whatever your goal, your swimming technique goes hand in hand with your success.

As a result, improving your stroke and posture in the pool to prepare yourself for a dip in the sea will be an ultra-efficient way to ensure you get the most out of the experience once immersed in natural waters.

And then, finally, nothing prevents us from recreating certain open water conditions artificially in a swimming pool:

Swimming in open water is one of the best ways to relax and escape the daily grind.

But being tossed around by the waves while enjoying the beauty of natural waters is a risky discipline if you are ill-prepared.

To be able to battle the elements safely, be sure to equip yourself with the right equipment, which includes: 

-          Open water suit if the water temperature is low

-          Supplies in case of fatigue (water, food, etc.)

-          High-visibility accessories (swim cap, open water buoy, etc.)

In any case, if a wave of fatigue hits you without warning and you do not have a buoy, remember to lie on your back. You will be able to float flat effortlessly, and calmly recover.If a pain or cramp strikes, rest in the same way, then set off again, with your back to the waves, using the afflicted limb as little as possible.

For more information on the subject, feel free to take a look through my tips on basic safety in open water!

It's got to be said, the charm of open water swimming goes hand in hand with our insatiable thirst for braving the elements while being at one with nature.

But to tackle the swell and currents, while retaining a smooth and regular stroke, we must adapt our swimming technique to the environment.

Should I increase amplitude or frequency? Such is the dilemma of an open water swimmer.

But in any case, to find your most comfortable swimming rhythm and constantly keep on making progress, you will have to improve the relationship between these two aspects.

In open water, your arms rotate faster than in a swimming pool to avoid leaving your aerobic comfort zone and congesting your muscles too quickly. To achieve this, you should therefore favour frequency over amplitude of movement.

Focusing only on amplitude will not be a safe bet in an environment such as natural waters. Your undulating surroundings can easily make you lose your bearings. As such, you would unfortunately be using up your energy for nothing.

Many coaches agree that a swimmer's first focus in open water should be on mastering their crawl technique and then on their amplitude of movement. Amplitude will depend on your ability to increase and maintain your propulsion phase, whatever the conditions.

As you can see, there is no such thing as a perfect swimming rhythm. Remember, however, that your ideal swimming rhythm is one that you can maintain, constantly and at a steady pace, over long periods of time!