Swimming Ocean FEAR: Can't look down!

[feartec]

Ok guys, I've done a few sprints and I never did a good ocean swim until this morning. The Tri was cancelled due to really bad weather, but I wanted to try out my new wetsuit. So, I jump in the water off a pier and I can't look down, breathe right, I panic! What the heck? I'm a good swimmer, what's going on? Help me overcome my fear so I don't look like a tool!

I'm looking for tips, suggestions, and motivation. Thanks for what I'm sure will be an interesting post!

[Suzie Green]

This is not so weird as you might think. I've had times in open fresh water when I've gotten the creeps from a vivid imagination of what might be "coming at me" from the murky depths. :eek: You could try using darker goggles to cut down on the visibility somewhat, but have you tried swimming with your eyes closed? You could open them for sighting purposes.

I'm guessing this might be the "If-I-don't-see-it-then-it-won't-eat-me" theory. :roflmao2:

[cjbruin]

H T F U :)

[The_Spaniard]

i have a fear too, but it doesnt affect my swimming more my thought patterns while training, seriously like i said in the other topic, anyone know of any wet suits for tri's that are super bright???? that would let me be a bit more comfy in open water. but also i do believe i gotta htfu

[kakman]

try reading this http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=375945

I'd say htfu too but given you live in San Diego I'll cut you some slack - don't know how keen I'd be on ocean swims there myself - cue Jaws music...:lol:

[caloso]

Can you see the bottom where you're swimming? For some reason I'm more comfortable when I can see stuff like coral or kelp formations. If it's murky, my imagination starts in.

[ModelT]

Try to get some non-race day ocean swimming in.

You have enough stress and panic on race morning.

[cyclezealot]

Take up scuba diving. Then you meet the shark as an equal.

[Jagee]

So, I jump in the water off a pier and I can't look down, breathe right, I panic! What the heck?

I'm trying the eyes-closed deal. I'm pretty surprised at myself for having an issue--wasn't something I'd anticipated. I find that closing my eyes in the water helps (for now, anyway) with settling in and breathing. When I need to sight, I open em up and scan.

I think too that just logging more open water time will help.

Btw Feartec, are you swimming alone? That's probably not a good idea!

anyone know of any wet suits for tri's that are super bright????

Yeah--if anyone knows anything about neon-colored tri suits, fill us in.

[feartec]

I can't see crap when I'm swimming. I'm in Japan, and the water isn't exactly pleasant. Water run off and other stuff cause a mold green color. I think all of you are right, practice and hopefully some people to swim with. Right now I think I'd just piss them off.

[azrunning]

Sorry to hijack. Hey feartec, I'm in Japan too. I'm doing the Oshima olympic distance tri this weekend for my first tri. You ever done it?

[feartec]

never done it, I got a few friends doin it, should be fun for ya. You should have completed it by now. How did you do?

[feartec]

i have a fear too, but it doesnt affect my swimming more my thought patterns while training, seriously like i said in the other topic, anyone know of any wet suits for tri's that are super bright???? that would let me be a bit more comfy in open water. but also i do believe i gotta htfu

I have looked around to every company. That's a big negative. There's cool red lines on the 2xu ones but hardly visible.

[The_Spaniard]

hmmm i wonder if its possible to silk screen onto a wet suit........ without damaging the suit i mean.

[Halthane]

hmmm i wonder if its possible to silk screen onto a wet suit........ without damaging the suit i mean.

I wouldn't expect it to be an issue with suit damage, more likely that the silk screening would tear when the suit stretched. If it's a visibility to others issue you might look at a divers indicator float. like this

http://cgi.ebay.com/SKIN-SCUBA-DIVING-DIVE-SNORKLING-FLAG-MARKER-FLOAT-BUOY_W0QQitemZ180249835197QQihZ008QQcategoryZ73999QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Jagee]

I wouldn't expect it to be an issue with suit damage, more likely that the silk screening would tear when the suit stretched. If it's a visibility to others issue you might look at a divers indicator float. like this

http://cgi.ebay.com/SKIN-SCUBA-DIVING-DIVE-SNORKLING-FLAG-MARKER-FLOAT-BUOY_W0QQitemZ180249835197QQihZ008QQcategoryZ73999QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

No--I think the idea is to look less like a seal!

[The_Spaniard]

exactly look less like a seal, im not afraid of the ocean im afraid of whats in the ocean, i surf and boogie board, and before i go out for a ocean swim i make sure theres a pretty good amount of waves, for sharks dont come close to shore when the waves are good, but when the water is calm u might get a shark more near to shore. from what i hear anyway. but still i would feel better if i looked like a giant highlighter haha. and when i swim im always looking around a little bit under the water. if the visibility is good anyway haha. I am also afraid of rip currents now thanks to a friend of mine who i had a conversations with haha. luckily i havent been caught in one.

[SouthBayChris]

To the OP, just get in the open water and swim more. It can be disconcerting at first with low viz, no lines, etc.

To those that want a different colored wetsuit thinking it might deter predators, look at this link, and guess what color the animal is? http://www.webstockpro.com/Detail.aspx?Filename=CB057871.JPG&SearchPublisher=&CurrentImagePublisher=Corbis&Filters=

(hint - it's white). a shark sees things from below, and looking up, color is irrelevant, not to mention the fact that colors are absorbed as you go underwater. If you cut yourself underwater, red blood looks green. Shapes, on the other, hand, are important.

[The_Spaniard]

wat would you suggest to use so you dont look like the food of predators?? i was thinkin of wearin a color that just looks completely different of anyhting a rpedator would. i wonder if screen printing some big eyes would deter predators haha.

[The_Spaniard]

maybe i should use some glow in the dark screen print. haha.

[Jagee]

To those that want a different colored wetsuit thinking it might deter predators, look at this link, and guess what color the animal is? http://www.webstockpro.com/Detail.aspx?Filename=CB057871.JPG&SearchPublisher=&CurrentImagePublisher=Corbis&Filters=

(hint - it's white). a shark sees things from below, and looking up, color is irrelevant, not to mention the fact that colors are absorbed as you go underwater. If you cut yourself underwater, red blood looks green. Shapes, on the other, hand, are important.

Good call, although the whole blood in the water thing is a bit distracting...
Now that you mention it, even if a shark could make out loud colors or images from below, perhaps that would spark curiosity more than anything else.

I'm getting a mail-order orca wetsuit soon--maybe sharks will confuse brand name with the real thing and leave me alone. Of course, I'm not that big.

If not for any other reason, this whole line of worrying will get me into T1 a bit faster.

[Halthane]

There is no evidence that the color yellow attracts sharks, but statistically speaking people in yellow wetsuits are more likely to get attacked than any other.

[SouthBayChris]

Yum Yum Yellow, they call it

There's a shark diving Op out of the Bahamas that tells its customers not to bring yellow wetsuits or use yellow camera housings

[The_Spaniard]

hmmm nice info, good idea, i will use my fear of being eaten to motivate me to swim faster and get the hell out of the water and onto my bike ha.