Deep end of the pool, Shallow end of the ocean

The title describes my comfort level with swimming for the past 20 years.  

I grew up surrounded by water in Hawaii and absolutely loved wading in the shallow end of the ocean.  But it was a bummer not being able to join my friends in swimming and snorkeling.  As an adult I took countless swim lessons at the YMCA or community centers. But I still could not get over my terror of deep water.  Totally unfounded terror too.  There was no big traumatic event that caused this fear.   

Then 20 years ago, my mermaid friend Judith worked with me at the pool and everything clicked.  I was able to coordinate side breathing, with crawl stroke and kicking!!!  I would swim laps and cling onto the edge of the pool in the deep end.  

Over the years, I kept up with my swimming and received more swim coaching. It seems as though one day I went out into the ocean and just felt comfortable in the deep.  It was such a liberating experience to be able to snorkle in deep waters, to get smashed by waves while learning to surf, kayak faraway from the shoreline.  I felt as though a whole new world opened up.  

I really thought I would never be able to swim.  That I was a "sinker".  Then when I learned to swim, I thought it could only be in the safe confines of a pool.  Then I graduated to swimming close to the ocean shoreline.    I am not some superperson with the will to overcome or anything that noble. I am just someone who kept on practicing and one day, it all came together.  

Learning to swim as an adult

I was born and raised in Hawaii and lived just 2 miles away from the beach.  However, I never learned to swim and the great fear of swimming continued.  Fast forward many years and as an adult I took MANY swim lesson from classes at the YMCA or local community center pools.  It was frustrating and I was embarrased that at "my age" I still could not swim.   I just could never combine breathing, kicking and stroking together.  Finally at age 36 with the help of an excellent swimmer and friend, it all came together and I completed the Danskin sprint triathlon.  Then years later, I worked one on one with a swim coach to learn to swim more efficiently. This opened up a world of fun and interesting experiences of snorkeling in tropical waters. Everytime I'm swimming in a relaxed state, I give thanks to Judith and Denise who enabled me to enjoy the activity. 

Learning to swim...efficiently

2010--all set for learning to swim more efficiently. Got my training fins and hand paddles in the mail today. 1996--learned to swim using the training wheels of swimming with gigantic fins and a giant instructional swim belt. Learning to swim as an adult was challenging but not impossible. Swimming opened up a whole new world of adventures. It's great cross training and gives me a rest from running or biking. Snorkeling in the tropics is divine. Open water swims in the summer is so freeing and fun.