Skills library
Every skill our certified instructors teach, explained in plain words: what it looks like, how we teach it, and the milestones along the way.
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Every skill our certified instructors teach, explained in plain words: what it looks like, how we teach it, and the milestones along the way.
Open-water skills help confident pool swimmers get ready for lakes, rivers and the sea. Much of the groundwork is practised in a pool first, and open water itself is only ever swum with a buddy, a supervisor and a plan.
You learn to check the water, agree on a plan and choose your way out before you ever get in. Most open-water problems are prevented on the shore, not solved in the water.
In reviewTeens · Adults
You learn to walk into open water slowly and carefully, feeling the ground and letting your body get used to the temperature. You also learn to come back to the exit you chose, with your buddy.
In reviewTeens · Adults · Seniors
You learn to lift your eyes briefly to spot a landmark, so you swim where you mean to go. In open water, there is no line on the bottom to follow.
In reviewTeens · Adults
You learn to swim around a buoy, a large floating marker, and carry on in the new direction without bumping anyone. It is a key skill for organized open-water swims and triathlons.
In reviewTeens · Adults
You learn to breathe comfortably when small waves splash around you, and to recognise when it is time to turn back. Good judgement matters as much as good breathing here.
In reviewTeens · Adults
You learn to get into cold water gradually, calm your breathing, and get out as soon as you feel chilled. Respecting the cold is one of the most important open-water safety habits.
In reviewTeens · Adults
Your child learns to swim alongside a buddy, keep them in sight, and stop and signal if they get separated. It is a simple habit that keeps everyone safer, in the pool now and in open water later.
In reviewKids · Teens · Adults · Seniors
You learn to rest on your back in open water when you feel tired, then find your way back to the exit you planned. It means there is always a way to take a break, even with no wall to hold.
In reviewTeens · Adults · Seniors