I've got my first salt water swim leg coming up this Sunday - an Olympic with a swim leg that is listed as 70 yards over a mile long; it's point to point from the Canadian border to the US.

So how is swimming in salt water different than fresh water? I think the water is denser, so does that make it faster or slower?

I imagine it would be bad to swallow much, right?

Other then the current I have never felt much of a difference but thats just me...

The density difference is less than 3%, it shouldn't have much of an effect on your speed compared to other factors. If you swallow some by accident it won't be any worse for you than fresh water, though my general philosophy while swimming is not to swallow any water at all.

I've got my first salt water swim leg coming up this Sunday - an Olympic with a swim leg that is listed as 70 yards over a mile long; it's point to point from the Canadian border to the US.

So how is swimming in salt water different than fresh water? I think the water is denser, so does that make it faster or slower?

I imagine it would be bad to swallow much, right?

it really depends jsut how salty the water is, if it is brackish, then it won't change your bouyancy at all really. If it is extremely salty then I suppose it could with the water beign denser with the dissolved salt. It really doesn't make much difference though for most people. I mean, I sink like a rock with my low body fat anyway (fluctuates between 3 & 4% prior to exercise), so I'll take any help I can get with regards to the salt content, even though its doubtful that it keeps me afloat any better. The current definitely will mess with you if you are not accustomed to it though. That is the real thing to watch out for and make sure you are still going in the direction you intend to.

And yeah, don't swallow any salt water... it just dehydrates you later on because of the salt content generally being so high, as compared to a sports drink...