1.Make sure you're a confident swimmer

Before getting started in ocean swimming make sure you are comfortable in the water and pool. If you have not swum in a while we recommend starting at your local pool and building up your endurance before entering the water. A good rule of thumb is to be able to swim at least two to three times the distance non stop in a pool that you want to swim in open water. Once you are confident in your swimming abilities it is time to find a place to swim!

2. Know where to swim

There are many beaches all around the country which

Check out the newest top 10 reasons to take up OPEN WATER SWIMMING - Courtesy of Adam Walker

Where to swim

There are many lakes up and down the country which have organised sessions and have suitable safety in place. I would recommend you swim in one these locations and as there will be other like-minded swimmers there who you can buddy up with and swim in pairs or a small group. In addition you can also make new friends as open water is a very social sport. Not only is it another good safety measure, it makes training easier supporting each other.

Acclimatisation

Due to the climate, open water in lakes, rivers and the ocean

Now I am quite a few months into my swimming lessons I felt it was a good time to sit down and reflect on my journey so far. There were a lot of ups and downs – but ultimately I feel that I am really getting there!

Baby steps…

My first hurdle was getting over my own mental block of actually getting into the water, overcoming my past experiences and fear of drowning. As an adult through talking with my instructor I came to the realisation that although my fear was reasonable, to and extent it was irrational! I swim in a pool where I can touch the bottom with my feet the whole way along, supported by a competitive swimming ins

After a couple of months of taking the plunge, Lillian fills us in on how the lessons are progressing...

Now I have got over my initial fears from my first few lessons, I was not dreading Thursday evenings anymore!

A few lessons in we are continuing to build confidence with the basics: blowing bubbles trying to keep the full face in the water; kicking up to the middle of the pool holding a noodle in our hands while putting our faces in the water. We were told to breathe out under water until we could hear and feel the bubbles around

Lillian has tackled her first swimming lesson! Find out how it went and her top tips on what to pack for every swimmer's first lesson...

What do I need to pack?

If I was going to go for it I decided I needed to be prepared (all the gear and no idea scenario!) So chatting to various swimmers I came up with a packing list….

• Swimwear

We love the Water Wing vest so what better way to show this than to find out what others think...

Since using the Zoggs Water Wing Vest in lessons, it has produced incredible results in the confidence and technique of students. I wanted to share a few stories that stand out in using the product as at first I was cautious putting it on my students and I wasn’t sure how well it would work. While at first it looked as though it would work similarly to arm bands and limit arm movement and inhibit good body position, I found it was completely different to my first impression. H

It's commonly known that children learn to swim as much from their parents at the weekend, as in their weekly lessons. Although the benefits are evident it can sometimes seem like an uphill struggle at times to take the kids swimming at the weekend, you get them to the pool and get them changed but what next? Our Learn to Swim teacher tackles the most common questions asked by parents about how to develop their child’s swim development:

Learning to Swim can be achieved whatever your age. Lillian, our International Graphic Designer, has chosen to take on this challenge. After getting engaged last year she thought it was about time she learned to swim. We are going to be there every step of the way as she goes from Beginner to Honeymoon Swimmer…

‘Do you swim?’ was the most awkward interview question I had ever been asked. Sure

At Zoggs, we believe that little ones should be introduced to water at an early age, and given all the support they need to build their confidence. Our learn to swim products are designed and categorised to suit your child's stage of swim development, helping you incorporate fun, safety and learning into every swim session. We've continued to develop our popular range of learn to swim buoyancy aids and have now introduced our new Water Wing Vest for