Open Water Swimming Manual: An Expert's Survival Guide for Triathletes and Open Water Swimmers

by Lynne Cox

Lynne Cox has set open water swimming records across the world, and now she has focused her decades-long experience and expertise into this definitive guide to swimming.

Open Water Swimming Manual provides a wealth of knowledge for all swimmers, from seasoned triathletes and expert swimmers to beginners exploring open water swimming for the first time. 

Cox methodically addresses what is needed to succeed at and enjoy open water swimming, including choosing the right bathing suit and sunscreen; surviving in dangerous weather conditions, currents, and waves; confronting various marine organisms; treating ailments, such as being stung or bitten, and much more. Cox calls upon Navy SEAL training materials and instructors’ knowledge of open water swimming and safety procedures to guide her research. In addition, first-hand anecdotes from SEAL specialists and stories of Cox’s own experiences serve as both warnings and proper practices to adopt.
 
Open Water Swimming Manual is the first manual of its kind to make use of oceanography, marine biology, and to weave in stories about the successes and failures of other athletes, giving us a deeper, broader understanding of this exhilarating and fast growing sport.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Lynne Cox is an American long-distance open-water swimmer and writer.

Reviews

[sasha]

i do love Lynne and learned a lot that proved very useful over the past month of swimming.

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sometimes judging a book by its cover is unavoidable. I think I set too high expectations from this book because of the great cover design and record-breaking author. But it has the word "manual" in the title for a reason. It would be a handy reference, but not light reading.

Instead of sharing her joys and travails of swimming the English Channel and other amazing feats, Lynne Cox's purpose here is to warn readers not to take an open water swim lightly. (For example, before attempting a local ocean swim, you should contact the lifeguard, harbor master, NOAA, local boathouses, fisherman, and university zoologist. I exaggerate, but only a little.)

No sense piling on, because I'm sure the book was well-intended. I'm guessing after reading this (if they make it through), many potential open water swimmers will decide it's not worth the trouble.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I do like swimming laps and have one polar bear swim under my belt, I read this book more as a curious spectator than anything else. Pleased to know that much of what I learned years ago in junior life saving is still current. Very interesting read and well organized.

[Ann Xiang]

Mostly concerning the perils of open water swimming instead of technical specifics, tides and waves, hypothermia and hypothermia, ocean animals. Many swimmers are unlikely to undertake open water swims in distance long enough to be affected, but it's a helpful overview of safety issues.

[Tiago · Rating 2 out of 5]

Confirma-se que é um manual. Talvez seja bom para quem gosta de ler manuais.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a take what sounds good and leave the rest read for me. Obviously, Lynne Cox is an uber-authority on long-distance open water swimming. The reason I wanted to leave some of it was that it was lacking references for a lot of the claims that she makes - and it was very personal and subjective... in my subjective opinion. She states, for instance, that you cannot be heat and cold adapted at the same time. I’ve seen data that you can be. She contradicts herself occasionally, and the book really needed more editing - both copy editing and for sense and order of presentation of the material.

But it gave me some ideas about food, reminded me that I will need to plan this significantly more that my usual show-up-and-wing-it style (something Kelvin and I have in common) and had several (hopefully good) suggestions about how to do so. The Navy SEAL Risk Assessment Worksheet in particular impressed me.

The worst (and maybe best) part of the book was the overall effect. Although Lynne Cox starts out by saying how awesome it is out there in nature, the pervading message is that it is exceedingly dangerous and not for the faint of heart. At points I had to remind myself that I've done this successfully for quite a number of years. But of course the upside of that is to encourage planning with your head and swimming with your heart... not the other way around. I'm just not sure I needed to be QUITE that encouraged.

The most enviable thing about Lynne is her network. The hardest thing for me right now is knowing who to trust and whose advice to follow - and I have no such network to draw upon. Alas for the death of Charles. But I will move building a network up my priority ladder.

In the end, everything comes down to you as an individual. To quote the wisest of fictional Presidents, "You have a lot of help. You listen to everybody. And then you call the play."

PS - I forgot to mention that it put me back into a total spring tide/neap tide panic again. Am I being bamboozled? Panic panic panic.

[Kim Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s definitely a manual so it almost feels unkind to review it. As a manual, it’s great. Easy to read. Informative. Interesting. Motivating - has left with the goal of aiming for competing in a 5km - and then a 10km swim over the next couple of years! Just don’t pick it hoping for any sort of personal narrative about the joys and triumphs of Cox’s swims. (I’ve added her ‘Swimming to Antarctica’ to my to-read list now though.) It did leave me wanting to know more about the Navy SEAL training. (And wishing for an Australian version that talked more specifically about ocean swimming here too!)

[Akhilesh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although this book mentions that it could be useful for novice open water swimmers, this book is geared towards intermediate/advanced open water swimmers who are aiming to swim long stretches outside protected coves. Lynne Cox comes across as a champion of the sport itself and her accomplishments are remarkable. This book talks less about the technique for novice OW swimmers and focussed on her swims and the lessons that she learnt when interacting the SEAL teams. Anyhow, it's an interesting book but I would name it "An advanced OWS manual" instead.

[Rainey · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent resource for open water swimming. Cox has written it in a way that feels relatable, yet still an authority on the topic. I learned a lot that will help me not only in open water swimming, but also in every day pool swimming as well as regular life. Great manual!

[Franta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not know who Lynne Cox is when I started the book, I just wanted to learn more practical information about swimming in open waters.
Now I know and am very happy with all I have learned from Lynne.
The chapter "Going In and Out of consciousness" is fascinating....

[Alena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very thorough, should I ever seriously think about open water swimming, I‘ll give it another read.

I admit it was more of a panic read because I was missing swimming so much. Now that some outdoor pools in my city have reopened I was able to satisfy some of my swimming needs.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is mainly a manual for open water swimming with lots of tips.

[قصي بن خليفة · Rating 3 out of 5]

السباحة في المياه المفتوحة! يا له من عنوان، يا لها من رياضة، يا له من حلم لمن يعرفه. فقد جربت السباحة الرياضية في خور الممزر في دبي، وعرفت متعتها وكيف تصبح معها مسافرا لعوالم بعيدة خلال دقائق ثم تعود وقد نفضت عن نفسك المعاناة والتعب والضيق وواجهت الحياة بقلب وعقل جديدين
وعندما رأيت الكتاب قلت لعله يعينني ويشجعني على الاستمرار خصوصاً وأن هذه الرياضة لا تخلو من محاذير فماذا وجدت
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قراءة رائعة ودخول لعالم جديد، عالم السباحة للمسافات الطويلة والطويلة جداً، وليس عالم السباحة في البحر المفتوح فقط كما يذكر عنوان الكتاب. فعندهم أقل من خمسة كيلومترات تعتبر قصيرة!! وقد يصلون لأكثر من ثلاثين كيلومتر
ولذا وجدت الكتاب متخصصاً جداً ووافياً لمن يريد أن "يتبحّر" في الموضوع
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كنت قد قرأت سابقاً كتاب Ultramarathon Man
الرائع والذي كان عن مشوار ديل كارنيزاس في مجال الجري الطويل والصعب وتحدي النفس، الرائع. لاحظ التشابه بين الرياضتين، وكان كتاباً في القمة من جميع النواحي. وكتابنا جميل جداً ولكن متخصص جداً وليس للرياضي العادي فضلاً عن القارئ وبدون شك ليس ككتاب كارنيزس
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ولذا أتعجب من عزيمتهم على الإتيان بأمور تتحدى القدرة البشرية العادية وإصرارهم عليها وعلى عبور بحار لا تكاد تستطيع عبورها بالقارب وهم يعبرونها سباحة فقط بدون أي مساعدة ولو لمس حبل
من أين تأتي العزيمة وتحدي ماذا؟ .... للتأمل
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الكتاب ككتاب ليس من النوع الممتعة قراءته وغلب عليه لغة التوجيهات والإرشادات الفنية والتي لن يحتاجها إلا الممارس فعلياً وليس للقراءة العادية ولهذا فقد قرأت بعض الأجزاء بطريقة القفز. وكان المفروض أعرف ذلك من عنوانه: "دليل السباحة في المياه المفتوحة
ورغم أسلوب الكاتبة السلس في عرض المواضيع وسهولة القراءة إلا إنها لم تهتم بأسلوب الكتابة الأدبي والتشويق في المحتوى، فهدفها على ما يبدو أن يكون الكتاب كتاباً عملياً للممارس وليس كتاباً تستمع بقراءته
في نظري كان من الممكن وبسهولة أن تجمع بين الإثنين وتستخدم قصصها المؤثرة وذات التفاصيل والتي تستحق العرض المناسب وهي كثيرة جداً، لا أدري لم فوتت الفرصة
ومن ذلك القسم الذي تحدثت فيه عن أسماك القرش كان مميزاً ونظرته مختلفة تماماً عما سبقه من تحذيرات طويلة مملة من الكائنات البحرية التي تلدغ وتلسع وتعض
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لجأت الكاتبة وهي المحترفة بين المحترفين إلى الجيش الأمريكي ومدربي ال
SEALs
للاستفادة من خبرتهم وأساليب التدريب لديهم في الأوضاع الصعبة في البحار المفتوحة. وهم قد ذهبوا بتدريباتهم إلى حدود القدرة البشرية وقد وظفوا العلم والطب والرياضة ليصلوا بمنسوبيهم إلى أقصى درجات الأداء البشري في أقسى الظروف. وواضح أنهم بعيدون جدا�� عن أقرب منافسيهم

[Emily Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I've never had the pleasure of ocean swimming, I've enjoyed swimming in the "open water" of lakes and was fascinated to learn more on the subject from such a venerable source. Lynne Cox is truly an experience expert on the subject of swimming and I regarded all she said as wisdom.

But it was all a little too "The Lynne Cox Experience". Despite an introduction mentioning lakes and rivers for the competitive swimmer, this book focuses entirely on ocean swimming. Not a bad thing, but it does narrow this book's usefulness. Okay, so unless I am able to relocate myself close to an ocean most of this book is no good to me, but I figured it would be useful for ocean swimmers. Ms. Cox shares her wisdom in that area just fine. It's what she knows. Fine. I'm happy and even interested to read of her personal experiences, but soon they were being told for their own sake rather than any real relation to her advice.

As a manual, this is decent, probably best appreciated by those that like the wordy with the personal musings. However, if you're like me, you might prefer something more... manual. Granted, many a sportsman manual classic has been written in this style, but I don't feel Cox's work quite makes the same impact. She is experienced, yes, but the writing and the presentation lack that certain oomph. I would have been happier if this had been less Lynn Cox and more technicalities--just tell us what we need to know.

This also narrows itself in being for a rather elite crowd: those who are very experienced in swimming (though there is a worthy beginner's chapter that still goes beyond the talent of the average pool swimmer) and those who have the time and funds and network to really get going on this hobby.

Can the average swimmer dreaming of glory get tips out of this book, then? Yes, I'd say so. Much of her advice comes from SEAL programs, much of it is common sense, and many situations such as environment, health, suiting, is covered. One thing I do wish for is a better way to find what one needs.

It's a fine manual, but best for the right crowd. It's not the best for adventuresome reading, though, and thus probably won't be a sportsman classic.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my full review: http://bit.ly/1485RC4

My opinion: Ms. Cox presents her material in excellent "conversational style" writing. I felt like the author sat down with me and, as a newbie, was giving me advice (because I need it!). Her tips and training exercises/methods were for all training levels and included information on training gear, hiring coaches and joining clubs. Information was present on nutritional needs, as well. I think I would have liked to see this expanded. I thought it was geared more towards the professional/expert/competitive swimmer versus me, who is simply in newbie training right now. Finally, she wraps up with safety information, including open water swimming effects on the body and prevention of illnesses/breakdown.

If I had a criticism of the book, it would be that I would have liked to have seen more outside the area of So. California. I think it focused WAY too much on this part of the country.

[Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is exactly what is purports to be: An Expert's Survival Guide for Open Water Swimming.

The book doesn't do a great deal to detail specific stroke technique, or anything that moves easily from pool to open water, but instead tries to outline what you're likely to face out in the wild.

She has written the book doing a great deal of research with a Navy SEAL, so a lot of the book discusses what you might want to call "Mission planning."

Which is exactly as it should be. Cox makes it very clear that the water is stronger than you are, that open water swimming is dangerous, and that any sensible person needs to learn and plan for the specific local dangers of the swim planned.

I personally loved the book, as it it helping me make decisions about my own swimming goals.

[Randy]

I greatly appreciated the book "Swimming to Antarctica" by Lynne Cox. This book was more for my growth. I checked the book out from the library and read large chunks of it. I will probably buy the book as a reference as a I continue to expand my open water swimming. Who knows? Maybe I can build up to a long ocean swim some day when I'm all "growed up"!

[Peter Rock · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is flat out insane.

[Gil Bradshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lynne Cox gives awesome advice open water swimmers.