Are your swimming skills preventing you from enjoying the beach? If you have an upcoming trip to Boracay, then you simply must learn how to swim in the beach to make the most out of your vacation. Luckily, these basic swimming techniques could, hopefully, help you get up to speed.

Breathing while swimming

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As trivial as it may seem, learning how to breathe while swimming can help you and other people. It’s a skill that will let you swim farther continuously or at least until your body gets tired. Moreover, it will help you from panicking and drowning when you’re out in the sea. You might even save a life or two by simply learning how to breathe while swimming. In addition, breathing while swimming will help you learn even more techniques easier and faster as you progress.

There’s a proper way to do this. The gist is that you exhale through your nose and mouth under the water. Then your head above the water, slightly turned to the side, and gulp in air before going back underwater.

Holding your breath under water

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Another core skill is holding your breath underwater for a long time – especially if you want to go free diving in Puka beach soon. Basically, freediveuk.com says that there are five steps to be able to hold your breath longer underwater.

Step one is doing the dry breath-hold, which is holding your breath for as long as you can out of the water. It’s safer and can prevent accidents among beginners. You can start by sitting on a chair and holding your breath as long as you can. Try to relax and think of other things to prolong the period. When you can’t hold it any longer, take deep breaths to recover.

Next would be polishing your technique by learning how to relax your mind, body, and breath. Any tension will disrupt your concentration and cause your body to burn oxygen faster. You can also stop your breath from escaping by using the back of your throat.

Third is working on your frequency. Ideally, you would want to reduce the urge to breathe with the help of CO2 and O2 tables. Train more out of the water, but make sure to at least practice your technique under water once a week. Step four involves aerobic and anaerobic training to prepare your body. Lastly, you need to improve your diet by eating healthy and avoiding caffeine, alcoholic drinks, and artificial stimulants.

Diving in the water

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You’ve all seen how funny those belly flop dives are, right? Although you wouldn’t dive from the shoreline, you don’t want to experience the pain of a belly flop and trending on the internet at the same time in case you go cliff diving in Boracay. That’s why one of the beginner swimming lessons you need to know as soon as possible is how to dive in the water properly.

You can start in a sitting position by the pool. Your feet should be at the very edge, hands above your head, buttocks towards the heels, and curl down as you fall into the water like an arrow. Once you get it, you can raise your lower body until you’re at the point that you can stand and jump into the water.

Gliding through the water

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If you want to learn how to swim by yourself, you must first master how to glide through the water. It’s like taking your baby steps in swimming. Gliding through the water will get you familiarized with the sensation of being underwater. This will help you quickly learn the other more advanced swimming techniques such as the front crawl, breaststroke, backstroke, and butterfly stroke.

The first position: Front Crawl Stroke

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The front or forward crawl stroke is the easiest and arguably the fastest swimming position of all. And because of those reasons, it’s usually the first position that’s taught to any soon-to-be swimmer. It’s also a good position when swimming in the sea.

Keep your body in a horizontal position with your head down in the water, leaning slightly upward. Time the moment you raise your head to take a breath. Let your fingers lead your arms as you paddle and pull down to move forward, while the opposite arm lays just above the water. Make sure to kick continuously, as you keep your ankles relaxed and knees slightly bent. Remember, all of your actions should be simultaneously smooth and continuous for optimal results.

Try the basic breaststroke

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The basic breaststroke is another way to learn how to swim. Beginners like this as this position keeps the head above the water. It’s also ideal for those who want to swim in the shallow area of the beach.

Ideally, you’ll want to start in a stretched out position with your head under the water. Bend your knees and bring your heels towards your glutes so you can push back. Your arms, on the other hand, should be stretched in front of your head. Pull it down towards your waist and wind it back up to the starting position. This will push your body forward and your head up. Remember to take in breaths every time.

Or flip around, take in the sun, and do the backstroke

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Wouldn’t it be nice to swim in Puka beach now, while taking in the sun? Is that even possible? With the backstroke, it is. This is one of the more challenging swimming positions there are. It requires you to learn how to float on your back, and basically do the front crawl, albeit in reverse.

Swim gracefully with the butterfly stroke

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The hardest swimming technique to perfect and the toughest to do in the sea for many would be the butterfly stroke. It’s as difficult as it’s beautiful to see on the water.

Your body needs to be flat and facing down in the water, while your arm movement is very similar to the forward crawl with the difference of using both arms at the same time. Meanwhile, your legs stay together, replicating a dolphin’s tail movement. Breathing uses the same technique as breaststroke. As you can see, it is pretty much a culmination of everything you’ve learned.

While you’re in Boracay, make sure you take the time to practice any of these techniques with a certified swimming instructor to avoid any accidents. Moreover, do this in a controlled environment or in a beautiful swimming pool such as the one found in Alta Vista de Boracay, which overlooks the island and gives you a 360-degree view of the island’s best kept secrets.

8 Basic Swimming Techniques to Learn Before You Go to Any Beach