CSS in open water

[panghin]

:D

Hi,

What preparations & precautions do you need to swim CSS in open-water?

Thanks

[centerpeel]

check to see if you are swimming in a straight line every 10 yards or so.

[panghin]

Thanks Centerpeel.

Do you have a swim-buddy and wear PFD in openwaters?

[bud/s sucks]

At BUD/S, yes you always have a swim buddy and your UDT vest.

[mikev]

I know this might sound like a dumb concern. But I was thinking about doing some swims in a lake nearby, but im concerned of going out there alone and something going wrong. Also what do you guys do to make yourself more visable to boaters/jet skis. Thanks.

[rsctt83]

Not dumb concern at all. Stay as close to shore as possible.

[mikev]

Thanks for the fast response Rsctt. Will be out there when it stops lightning.

[ddssdv]

I know this might sound like a dumb concern. But I was thinking about doing some swims in a lake nearby, but im concerned of going out there alone and something going wrong. Also what do you guys do to make yourself more visable to boaters/jet skis. Thanks.

Wear some type bouyancy vest, swim parallel to the beach about 50 feet off and notify someone where you are, when you hit the water and when you get out.

[mikev]

What kind of vest would you recommend? Thanks.

[mmaakuma]

A wetsuit provides bouyancy. Fear of boats and jetskis is not a stupid concern. It is very real and very dangerous. Wear a bright orange swimmer's cap. I don't like wearing vests because it throws your technique off too much, but your life is too valuable so I'd invest in an inflatable vest that uses CO2 cannisters. Yeah, it's pricey, but oh well. I don't need a vest because where I go open swimming, I swim where it's 5' deep and just go parallel to the shore. You said it was a lake and not an ocean so you don't have to go out further to avoid beach waves.

Inform the lifeguard what you're doing. If there is no lifeguard, make sure you swim with someone else.

[nak2000]

I swim the cove in La Jolla occasionally, it's 1 mile round trip to the buy and back. I swim out there with a bright orange cap and wear a neoprene rash guard (which keeps me boyant). I don't have to worry about Jetskis or Boats because it's a natural reserve.

There are a couple of things to remember about swimming in open water:
1. You will get a mouth-full of salt water occasionally, it can't be helped but you will go get a breath of air and will find the small crest of a wave in your face, it sucks, get over it.

2. Make sure you're going straight, look up ever 3-4 strokes and get your bearing by finding a buoy or a landmark.

3. Wind sucks, you wouldn't think it, but it make swimming a real pain in the ***, it pushes you, it creates chop, it slows you down.

4. In La Jolla at least Sea-lions and seals are very very curious and will occasionally bark at you if you get too close to something they're interested in, give them a wide berth because they are much better swimmers than you are, and they have really nasty bites.