Vagabond Posted September 15, 2007 Report Share Posted September 15, 2007 I can't swim and i'm 39!!! So i decided to check out a private instructor who does a 3 day residential course. He only wants £990 I don't have any fears/phobias about water but i don't want to be stared at with my water wings on either! Anybody have any words of wisdom for a swimming virgin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted September 15, 2007 Report Share Posted September 15, 2007 Yea, go to your local pool and jump in.. it's easy.. swim or sink Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted September 15, 2007 Report Share Posted September 15, 2007 Believe that you can float coz you can. Once you've convinved yourself and believe it then swimming is simply a case of generating the propultion to move you forward. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneforsorrow Posted September 15, 2007 Report Share Posted September 15, 2007 Good luck and have fun. Remember, step into the shallow end and dive in the deep - get it the other way around and it will hurt. Also, few blokes look good in Speedos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vagabond Posted September 15, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Yea, go to your local pool and jump in.. it's easy.. swim or sink [/ QUOTE ] I love that idea, sounds very cheap. I could always jump in at the shallow end.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrakeSnake Posted September 15, 2007 Report Share Posted September 15, 2007 Hence the associated expression Good luck mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrakeSnake Posted September 15, 2007 Report Share Posted September 15, 2007 Oh, how about some nice armbands for you... They do work!... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_B Posted September 15, 2007 Report Share Posted September 15, 2007 [ QUOTE ] I can't swim and i'm 39!!! [/ QUOTE ] Don't be too ashamed, many a person can't! I'm not any kind of particularly capable swimmer, I can do enough of a front crawl to be able to handle an emergency, but apart form that I'm not partiularly comfortable with swimming. Just never really got into it, which feeds the lack of confidence, which means you don't do it, and so the cycle continues. Good for you for deciding to tackle it head-on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted September 15, 2007 Report Share Posted September 15, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Believe that you can float coz you can. Once you've convinved yourself and believe it then swimming is simply a case of generating the propultion to move you forward. Good luck. [/ QUOTE ] ....fastlad - Do as Scotty suggests ^^^^ I don't see the need to spend 990 squid!!! . I'd expect to be trained for competing in the Olympics for that kind of money! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameo Posted September 15, 2007 Report Share Posted September 15, 2007 There's nothing to be ashamed about, I din't learn to swim until I was 24. I love swimming now and I found that I had a natural ability. A friend who was a competant swimmer taught me the basics in under an hour and then after that it was just a question of practicing and building technique. IMHO the key is to relax and feel comfortable breathing out under water- so that when you turn your head to breath in you're just drawing breath in not trying to first expel the air in your lungs; there's just not enough time to do both. Find a friend who can teach you or just go down the local pool and ask about lessons they're not that expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dadstoys Posted September 16, 2007 Report Share Posted September 16, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Also, few blokes look good in Speedos [/ QUOTE ] Esepcially when the letter 'S' is missing....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted September 16, 2007 Report Share Posted September 16, 2007 Don't worry, I'm 38, and can just about front crawl for 10 metres. Got the 25m cert at school, but I just don't like swimming. The cold swimming pool water does not help. If the water was warmer, then I'd do it more - but to me, the water is cold. I cannot float neither. Heavy bones and no fat. Bad combination! However, if you have kids, go to the pool with them and build your confidence up with them and do as they do. Just don't tell them you are 'learning'! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riz Posted September 16, 2007 Report Share Posted September 16, 2007 I cant swim either... so dont worry..... I had a bad past experience with swimming..... Riz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AvantSE Posted September 16, 2007 Report Share Posted September 16, 2007 I can't swim at 31, and I haven't been in a pool since I left school at 18. In fact it was before I went into 6th form, so even longer ago than that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny11 Posted September 16, 2007 Report Share Posted September 16, 2007 what was the reason you decided now to have lesson? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manderson Posted September 16, 2007 Report Share Posted September 16, 2007 Id find a quiet pool, like in a health suite etc... and when its quiet just go and relax in the shallow end. Its nice to just sit around in a pool and it will biuld your confidence in the water and progress from there. I can swim fine. But in only a pool. im uncomfortable in a loch and scared of the sea. I wont even take my jetski in the sea it totally gets to me some how?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vagabond Posted September 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2007 [ QUOTE ] what was the reason you decided now to have lesson? [/ QUOTE ] Well, i'm fed up going on holiday with everyone around me diving off boats etc while i sit like a lemon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chav Posted September 16, 2007 Report Share Posted September 16, 2007 Same as any phobia - just get in there and sort it. easier said than done, but the quicker you start, the quicker you'll get over it! Agree with getting in the shallow end and just have a mess about. practise floating and then try and move forwards! Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpongpo Posted September 17, 2007 Report Share Posted September 17, 2007 [ QUOTE ] what was the reason you decided now to have lesson? [/ QUOTE ] Global warming causing the ice caps to melt could cause some problems going down the local shops for some milk if you can't swim tbh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sponge Posted September 17, 2007 Report Share Posted September 17, 2007 [ QUOTE ] So i decided to check out a private instructor who does a 3 day residential course. [/ QUOTE ] Do you not live/work near a public swimming pool? Surely you could just pop along to a club and have a few lessons there for just a few £? Although, if it's mostly kids you might feel a little embarrassed, but £1000 worth of embarrassed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bounce Posted September 17, 2007 Report Share Posted September 17, 2007 My husband can't swim, he has taken various lessons and still can't swim! you should find your local pool will do lesson much cheaper, my husband went to lessons for adults at a local pool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisg Posted September 18, 2007 Report Share Posted September 18, 2007 I learnt in my late 20s...... years ago now ! Daughter learnt to doggy paddle and then they put my name down for beginner lessons. had to wait about seven months.... had an hour lesson twice a week for ten weeks and by then I could swim better than wife ( and daughter) , dive, swim to the bottom ( 5 metres I think) and we were also taught , at the end, to swim clothed....... p.s. daughter is much better swimmer now ( been on diving holidays with her hubby etc) Please learn to swim -- you never know when it will save you, or somebody else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpongpo Posted September 18, 2007 Report Share Posted September 18, 2007 [ QUOTE ] I learnt in my late 20s...... years ago now ! Daughter learnt to doggy paddle and then they put my name down for beginner lessons. had to wait about seven months.... had an hour lesson twice a week for ten weeks and by then I could swim better than wife ( and daughter) , dive, swim to the bottom ( 5 metres I think) and we were also taught , at the end, to swim clothed....... p.s. daughter is much better swimmer now ( been on diving holidays with her hubby etc) Please learn to swim -- you never know when it will save you, or somebody else. [/ QUOTE ] Word or caution about the saving someone else bit. Everytime you read something about someone who drowned, its always the person that went in to save the person drowning that drowned and not the other way around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentandy Posted September 18, 2007 Report Share Posted September 18, 2007 My ex neighbour didn't learn to swim until she was in her 50's for much the same reason as you. She ended up enjoying it so much she didn't want to stop there and learnt to dive and is now PADI qualified. She's currently on a 4 week diving holiday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted September 21, 2007 Report Share Posted September 21, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Word or caution about the saving someone else bit. Everytime you read something about someone who drowned, its always the person that went in to save the person drowning that drowned and not the other way around. [/ QUOTE ] Or man dies trying to save dog from drowning. Dog is fine, and swims out of the water anyway. The owner always dies. Happens a lot unfortunately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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