THIS ARTICLE: Is written by Dan Martin; the guy I like to call Big Ocean Man who is training to swim across the Atlantic as the first stage of his Global Triathlon. If you really need find out more about his credentials for writing this article then visit his website. Otherwise, here is some advice if you’re thinking about trying a first swimming trip:
- Never swim alone.
- NEVER swim alone.
- Don’t over do it. A good open water swim is one where you get out and want to do it again.
- Know your entry and exit points. Get in slowly so as not to shock your system too much.
- Vaseline and sunscreen. Apply vaseline liberally to all your moving parts-especially armpits, neck and groin. Always wear sunscreen.
- Relax, control your breathing. If swimming in the cold is new to you then the temperature will be a shock to your system-calm down and breathe.
- Don’t assume you’re swimming in a straight line-take regular looks up to sight landmarks. Swimming into things is zero fun.
- Acclimatise yourself. Start off with short swims and build up.
- Plan out your post swim procedure before you get in the water. Organise your bag so your towel is on top, then your wooly hat, shirts and jumper; then the rest of your gear. The first few minutes after a swim are key. Don’t chat-get dry and get your layers on.
- Get fat or be fast. If it’s cold don’t hang around-your muscles produce your heat, keep moving!
- Don’t eat yellow snow (or drink yellow water). But if you do then have a coke afterwards. The rivers, lakes and oceans aren’t as polluted as you think but having a coke will take care of most low level nasties!
And here is a short video on good practice for entering cold water, also from Dan:
9 Comments
Jeremy
I am amused that Daniel Martin has become an expert on swimming when he has not actually done anything!
Jeremy
P>S The coke story is an old wives tale!
Tim Moss
Hi Jeremy, thanks for the comment, albeit a rather negative one!
Dan may be yet to swim the Atlantic (!) but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t done a lot of swimming elsewhere (e.g. every lake in the Lake District, relay across The Channel) and he knows infinitely more about it than me (thus qualification enough for writing on my website).
I couldn’t speak for elsewhere but I’ve not claimed here that Dan is an expert. I asked him to write the post for me with some basic tips for someone who has never done a swimming expedition before because I know it’s the sort of thing he does and I like the way he does it, having been out swimming with him myself. I think the post is ace.
Jeremy
Tim, thanks for the feedback on my feedback. A channel relay you say – I could be very sarcastic here but wit and low comes to mind.
Having swum the channel three times solo – including a double I would never give out advice willy-nilly, especially when two of his ‘tips’ are incorrect!
I like your site, I really do but I wish you would spread your net a little wider than sycophantic Twitter and facebook. There are people doing some amazing things out there – not just talking about them – who are worthy of some recognition.
Jez
Tim Moss
Jez, welcome to the blog. With three Channel crossings under your belt you may have more swimming experience than the rest of my readership combined!
All talk and no action is a great scourge of the adventure world and something that I hope I steer largely clear of on this blog, though perhaps not in everyone’s view judging from your comment.
I’m still new to the game and there are only so many people that I know. And it is, of course, easier for me to meet those that are talking about their activities than those that don’t.
However, as time goes by I hope my net will widen. For example, perhaps I can now include in it my first Channel swimmer?
Robin
Hello Jeremy,
Could you please let us know which of the two tips you say are wrong. I’m taking from your second post one of them is about Coke but it would be useful if you let us know about the other one and gave us some insight into why. It would be appreciated.
It’s really good to read all these tips about getting into new forms of excercise on your site and definitely makes you want to go out and try them. Next hurdle… doing them!
Robin
Alex Hibbert
I think Dan is an example of someone who DOES go out there and do things – the opposite of an armchair explorer. Dan is swimming in open-water multiple times a week. As for his advice, surely we all know in sport/expeditions that there’s almost always more than one way to do something properly.
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jill peckvona
Swimming in cold water, in MODERATION, MAYBE. Unfortunately, I became addicted. My body temperature dropped to 88 degrees. I nearly died. I ended up in the hospital for three months at a time, at different intervals. It can be dangerous. I could not exist without cold water. I lost family, friends, and was not part of society any more. This addiction lasted almost 30 years. I have recovered. I wrote a book. Weaving Dreams Publishing is releasing it today. If you want to read how cold water nearly destroyed me, but through faith, and unconditional love and the desire to live, I overcame, then please read my book. Available through the publisher, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, or from me, the author- Jill Peck Vona-https://sites.google.com/site/vonaventures64/