Weeds or sea monsters - Open Water Swimming for novices like me

If you're interested in trying open water swimming, but are scared that it'll be too cold, deep, difficult, splashy, rubbery... then don't be afraid!   For me, swimming in a lake is so much more fun that swimming in a pool and after you've done it once I'm sure you'll agree.  Here are the things I've learnt  in the (very short) time I've been swimming in open water.

Learn to swim
Obviously, don't try learning to swim in open water until you've learnt to swim in a pool and can confidently do at least a few hundred meters without stopping.  You don't need to be a super-strong swimmer so long as you are with other people who are, and remember that a wetsuit really helps with bouyancy, but don't expect to go from a 2-lengths-then-stop pool swimmer straight to a lake swim of 500+ metres.

Get the kit
Don't feel you have to splash out on loads of kit just to try out swimming in a lake or river.  You'll need

• Swimsuit/trunks
• Goggles (not necessary but highly recommended unless the water you're in is very clean)
• Swim cap to keep your head warm/hair dry depending on your priorities. If the water is very cold, wear two
  
• Wetsuit. This is the expensive bit, but there are loads of places that hire out wetsuits now, including some that operate a "try before you buy" scheme where you can either return the wetsuit, or if you want to keep it they keep your deposit.  I got mine from TriUK.com
• Towel, and something warm to wear afterwards
  

Triathletes do it in groups
Find a local triathlon group and ask if you can join their swimming session. This has worked well for me with Oxford Tri, who are very friendly and happy to have new members.  I've also been swimming with Wakefield Triathlon whilst I was visiting relatives in the area.  "Real" triathletes really aren't as intimidating as I thought, so fire up Google and find your local club.

Once you're there, find a couple of people who look friendly (there will be plenty of them), and either introduce yourself to them and ask to join their group or just start swimming with them.   You'll find that others will naturally watch out for you.  Also, because most people seem to stop at each turning point/bouy to check that their group is all there and have a natter, you'll have plenty of time to introduce yourself and make new friends.

Learn to love the feel of rubber
The first time you swim in a wetsuit is a bit different; a bit harder to breathe until you learn to pull it up to an indecent level; the water will also be cold (in the UK at least), but you'll be over the shock in a few seconds.

Getting into the suit can mean a bit of yoga-style acrobatics, and you'll need to find someone to do up your zip first time round (unless you do what I did when trying my hand at surfing in Australia a few years ago and put the wetsuit on with the zip at the front!)

First time wobbles...
Getting out out is a bit tricky, although if you follow the advice I got: to pretend your going through the Evolution of Man phases. You know: come of out the water in a crouch, then slowly get to your feet.  Even though this is a bit slower, it helps prevent the "wobble" that plagues a lot of us novices and lets you get to transition in one piece.

There be Dragons
The thing I never used to like about swimming in the sea or otherwise was the 'things' that you swim through or over.  Weeds, fish, pebbles, sea monsters, etc.  I didn't like the feeling of something "grabbing" at my hands or feet, and everytime I saw something floaty in the water I would panic - "is it a jellyfish?", "is it nessie?"?  Slimy things that go wiggle in the water are just not right.

For this, the only advice I can offer is get over it. 

Once you've tried swimming you'll love it too much about being stung/entangled/eaten.