How to Learn Swimming

Swimming can seem like a daunting activity for those who have never learned it, but with the right steps, it's easy to overcome this fear. Knowing how to swim and having fun in the water is not only enjoyable but also an essential skill that can help you avoid dangerous situations, such as falling into the water. All you need to do is stay relaxed and comfortable while underwater, practice a few basic strokes, and gradually improve your swimming skills.

Overcoming the Fear. Many people avoid learning to swim because they're afraid of drowning. However, most drowning incidents can be prevented by following simple safety precautions. These tips will help you stay safe while swimming:

• Never swim alone. It's best to swim with a skilled swimmer, or if not, swim in a group.
• Avoid learning to swim in areas with strong currents. If you're swimming in the sea or river, be aware of water movements. If you must swim in these areas, make sure you’re with someone experienced in swimming. Additionally, familiarize yourself with how to escape strong currents or rip tides (instructions below).
• Learn to swim in a place with appropriate depth. When you're just starting to learn, avoid deep areas where you can't stand. This ensures that if anything goes wrong, you can easily stand and catch your breath.
• Never swim in bad weather. You can swim in light rain, but if you see a storm approaching, get out of the water immediately. No matter how skilled you are, always respect weather conditions.
• Don’t swim in very cold water. Cold water can make it difficult to move your limbs effectively.

Get Familiar with the Floating Sensation. When you're underwater, grab the edge of the pool or a support platform, and lift your legs behind you so that they float above the surface. They will float easily if you relax your legs. Practice with both your stomach and back until your whole body floats on the water's surface.

• Practice floating on your back and stomach when you're ready. Do this in shallow water so you can stand up easily if you're not comfortable with this movement yet. You may feel a bit uncomfortable with water in your ears while your nose and mouth stay dry, but you will get used to it. To maintain balance longer, extend your arms out perpendicular to your body, and your body will float in a "T" shape.

Stay Calm. Always remember that you have a backup plan in case you struggle in deep water or can't move your arms and legs — lie on your back. Don’t flail your arms and legs or panic if you can’t continue swimming; simply relax and lie flat on your back, letting the water keep you afloat while you regain your composure.

Practice Breathing Underwater. While still in shallow water, take a deep breath and submerge your face. Slowly exhale through your nose until you’ve emptied your lungs. Then, come up for air. Repeat this process.

• If you feel uncomfortable exhaling through your nose underwater, you can pinch your nose shut or wear a nose clip and exhale through your mouth.

Wear Swim Goggles (Optional). Swim goggles can make it more comfortable to open your eyes underwater and help you see more clearly. Find a pair of goggles with soft eye cups. Dipping them in water before wearing them will help create a tight seal against your skin, preventing water from entering your eyes. Adjust the strap around your head to ensure a snug fit.

Practice Kicking. Whether you're already floating on your back or still holding onto the edge of the pool, you can begin practicing your kicking technique. (To track how far you travel with each kick, try using a kickboard. This tool allows you to focus on your legs without worrying about your head sinking.)

• Practice the up-and-down kicking motion. Point your toes straight out like a ballet dancer, keep your lower legs slightly bent, and move them as if you're lightly kicking something. Your ankles should move smoothly.
• Practice the frog kick. Keep your legs close together from your hips to your knees and from your knees to your ankles. Bend your knees so that your lower legs form a 90-degree angle. Quickly spread your lower legs apart, then move them in a circular motion outward. Afterward, bring your legs together. (This means you will "draw" a half-circle with each leg outwards.) Your legs will come together when the circle is complete. Bring your legs in and continue the motion.
• Practice treading water. This technique is often used when you need to stay vertical in the water, with your head and shoulders above the surface. First, bend your knees so your legs are spread wider than your hips. Then, alternate kicking each leg, similar to pedaling a bicycle—one leg kicks "up" and the other kicks "down". It may take some time to master, but it's useful when you need to rest in a spot where you can't touch the bottom of the pool.

Learn the Crawl Stroke. The crawl stroke is an exciting way to move quickly through the water and is especially fun for beginners. Here's how to do the crawl stroke:

• Start by practicing backstroke first. Float on your back and begin kicking. For your arms, perform the "crawl" motion by lifting one arm straight out of the water and keeping it straight beside your head when it re-enters the water. As your arm moves underwater, bend it and bring it close to your body. Repeat this motion continuously. Adjust your arms as you swim and keep your fingers together to ensure your hands are as streamlined as possible.
• Now, practice freestyle (also known as front crawl or freestyle swimming). Float on your stomach, kicking both legs up and down, while your arms perform the "crawl" motion forward. Lift one arm out of the water and "stretch" it forward, then sweep it back through the water. Alternate arms and continue the motion. To breathe, turn your head toward the arm that’s sweeping back and raise your head just enough to inhale. You will rotate your head and breathe every time that arm sweeps back—typically your right arm. So, every two arm strokes, you will take a breath.

Tread Water to Breathe Easily and Keep Your Head Above Water Without Swimming. Practice the vertical swimming technique mentioned above and use your hands to balance by "sculling" them. Keep one arm parallel to the water's surface, imagining it as a butter knife spreading butter on a slice of bread. Move one hand clockwise and the other hand counterclockwise to maintain balance.

Push Your Body Up with Your Hands. If you're underwater and want to rise to the surface, use both hands to push your body up. Raise both arms high, then quickly pull them downward to your sides. This motion can lift you more than a meter with each push. Repeat the action until you rise above the water's surface.

Practice Advanced Swimming Strokes. Once you're comfortable in the water, you can start learning other techniques to swim faster or conserve energy. Try these techniques:

• Butterfly stroke.
• Breaststroke.
• Side stroke.
• Back-and-forth swimming (swim across the pool, use your hands to push off the pool's edge, do a flip-turn underwater, and swim back to where you started.) {expertgreenbox:160967|Do you like competitive swimming? Alan Fang, a former swimmer, says: "If you want to be the best, start training early. Then, you need to practice consistently. One of my previous coaches used to say: 'If you don't swim for a day, you're falling behind by two days, but if you don't swim for a week, you’ll have to start from scratch.' It might sound a bit extreme, but there's some truth to it. However, if you're just swimming for fun or to learn survival skills, consistent practice won't be as crucial."|}

Practice Diving. Diving is another fun way to get comfortable with the water. Start with basic diving techniques, then progress to more complex ones like high diving, reverse dives, and somersault dives.

• Dive only in areas where the water is deep enough. The water depth should be at least 2 to 3 meters; if you're tall, you should dive in water that is to 4 meters deep.

How to Escape from Rip Currents. If you're swimming in the ocean, you may get caught in a rip current (a strong current pulling you away from the shore). Knowing how to escape it could save your life. Always remember these steps before entering the water.

• Stay calm. This is the most important step. Panicking and thrashing around will only cause you to sink deeper into the water.
• Swim along the current. Don’t try to swim directly toward the shore or farther out to sea. Instead, swim parallel to the shoreline.
• Choose a swimming technique that allows you to breathe. Swim in a way that lets you breathe and travel as far as possible. You can choose backstroke, side stroke, or breaststroke.
• Continue swimming until you’re out of the rip current. You might need to swim a fair distance before escaping, but that's the only way. If you choose the wrong moment to swim back to shore, you might have to repeat these steps.
• If possible, call for help. If the conditions allow, signal to lifeguards or shout for help. However, don’t do this if it interferes with your breathing or makes you stop swimming—continue swimming.

How to Escape from Whirlpool in Rivers. If you find yourself caught in a strong current or whirlpool, follow these steps:

• Don’t thrash or panic. Just like with rip currents, the more fearful and frantic you are, the deeper you'll sink. Try to breathe steadily and stay calm.
• Swim diagonally toward the shore. Swimming straight toward the shore at a 90-degree angle will quickly tire you out, and you could get exhausted quickly. Instead, swim diagonally with the current toward the shore.
• Don’t try to swim against the current. It may deplete your energy without any results. Only swim against the current if you see immediate danger ahead, such as sharp rocks or a waterfall.

• If you're new to swimming, stay close to the edge of the pool so you can grab it whenever you need support.
• Swim with experienced swimmers to get additional guidance and help.
• Always start practicing swimming in calm water, free from currents or waves.
• Use safety gear. If you're new to swimming and encounter any problems, safety tools will help keep you safe.
• If possible, practice swimming under the supervision of a lifeguard. They're trained to spot when you need assistance, even if you're struggling or unable to call for help.
• If you feel anxious about entering the water, dip your feet in first and then gradually lower your body into the water.
• Learning to swim takes time, so be patient with yourself.
• If you're feeling scared, you can always stand up to calm yourself down.
• If you're nervous, use swimming aids like a kickboard, floatation vest, or arm floats.
• If you have long hair, consider wearing a swim cap to keep your hair tidy. Additionally, some public pools require swimmers with long hair to wear a swim cap, so it's a good idea to have one handy.
• Practice swimming with family members until you feel confident swimming solo.
• If you're a beginner, swim in shallow pools (about 1 meter deep) to build your confidence.

• Don't rush. Learning to swim is a gradual process. Don't push yourself too hard.
• Be extra cautious when swimming in areas with moving water, such as the ocean or lakes. Whirlpool currents or rip currents can quickly pull you under.
• Don't swim in the ocean or lakes. Sharks or other dangerous creatures may attack you.

• A swimming buddy
• Swimming goggles (optional)
• Nose clip (optional)
• Kickboard (optional)