Open Water- NON POOL SWIMMING…lakes, oceans, seas, channels, ponds & creeks upon further investigation.
Get Comfortable- TEMPERATURE, SWIM WEAR, CAP, GOGGLES, WETSUIT, HEAD?
Maintaining Your Composure- DIFFERENT VISIBILITY, KELP, MORE BODIES NOT SWIMMING STRAIT, DIFFERENT FEELING
Don't Swim Alone- BASIC SAFETY…SOMEONE THE SAME SPEED HELPS KEEP EVERYONE ON TASK AND SPEED
Make Yourself Visible- BRIGHT CAP TO BE SPOTTED FROM SHORE OR BOAT OR HELIUM BALLOONS TIED TO YOUR HEAD
Navigation- SWIM STRAIGHT- FIND SOMETHING ON HORIZON TO SIGHT ON, NOT IN THE WATER, IT CAN’T MOVE
Racing With Others- LEFT SIDE/RIGHT SIDE BREATHING- NO LINE ON THE BOTTOM-MEAN SWIMMERS HITTIN’ YOU
Race Start- USUALLY FROM THE BEACH- EVERY SWIMMER FOR THEMSELF.  SOMETIMES A WATER START.
Waves/Swells- TIME YOUR ENTRY- GO UNDER THE WAVES- GET A BREATH, READY TO GO UNDER UNTIL YOU GET OUT
Breakers- WHITE WATER CAN RIP YOUR GOGGLES OFF, LARGE WAVES TOSSES YOUR BODY-  GO UNDER THE WAVES!
Current- MAKE YOU DRIFT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER- OVERSHOOT YOUR TARGET SIGHTING TO END UP RIGHT
Undertows and Riptides- SWIM LATERAL TO RIPTIDES- NOT AGAINST THEM…STAY CALM/HOLD BREATH ON UNDERTOWS
Cold Water- VASOLINE- WETSUITS- 2 SWIM CAPS/2 SUITS- EXHALE ON FIRST 10 STROKES TO GET BREATHING GOING