How can i become comfortable in deep ocean water?

Question

well to start off, im a pretty decent swimmer, but i have fears when i go out surfing

once i paddle out and look back at shore, it freaks me out how far away it looks

also, it scares me how i cant feel the bottom

im also freaked out by the breaking waves in front of me and i keep thinking that itll knock me over and my surfboard will hit me

do you guys have any solutions to my problem?

i was thinking about maybe just brining my bodyboard out for a while until i feel at ease being that far out...

any other suggestions?

Answer 1

Surfing is an ocean sport, to do it right, you have to be at home in the ocean, with its currents, rips, undertows and sometimes big waves. I don't just mean being good at swimming in a pool, the ocean can be very unforgiving. I have seen lots of really good pool swimmers have to get rescued. Young people have to learn surf etiquette (so the experienced surfers in the line up don't want to drown them), how to paddle and take off on a wave, and how to ride a wave.

I believe that lessons are usually the best way to start, unless you are an adolescent or young adult with lots of pals who surf who can teach you.

I started swiming in the ocean and back bays when I was in first or second grade. I spent almost all of my teen years, swimming, sailing, surfing, scuba diving and fishing. I even surfed in different places the Navy sent me, when it was possible.



Some of you poor folks think that you can really learn an ocean sport (art?) on a computer. My problem is I wish EVERYBODY could surf, and surf together in a friendly way, I have had a lifetime of joy from surfing. It can be dangerous, because the sea is very unforgiving. I have more than my share of breaks, sprains and strains. I've dragged myself up onto the beach a few times slashed up like I had been in a sword fight, but I still love it. The body eventually heals, and the sea is still making waves when I get better.

Be careful of what you read here on line. There are lots of really well meaning young folks who have neat answers about surfing, but at 55, I tend to classify anyone under 25 as a kid. After I found this site, I figured that I could answer a few questions, and spread the 'good news' of surfing. After you learn to swim and master the ocean, get your REAL advice from a surf shop, where industry professionals earn their rent money selling surfboards.That is what worries me when I read some of these questions. Lots of folks just don't know what they are getting into. The more times inexperienced people s***w up, and have to get rescued, the stricter anti surfing ordinances get past, and it makes it tough on the rest of us.

The truth is, YOU ARE NOT A PRETTY DECENT SWIMMER, otherwise you would feel almost at home swimming that far out in the ocean without your surfboard as you do with it. have you ever done a mile in the ocean? Come on, I don't expect every surfer to another Eddie Aikau, but let's face it, surfing is done in the ocean.  Don't expect to solve this problem on-line. Ther are enough dangerous people in the water already, and some poor lifeguard or Coastie gets stuck rescuing them. Take the time time to learn about the ocean. Go swimming, body surfing and body boarding. When you are really comfortable with it, it's time to start surfing. Have fun!

Answer 2

I agree with the other guy, not feeling the bottom is far far better than coral scraping against your leg. It also means you won't hit the bottom when you stack. To get over the deep water fear, take a mate out with you. Talk to him and concentrate on the waves. This should take your mind off it. Maybe diving down and touching it could help too...? Practise duckdiving (I won't detail it here, but just google (oops yahoo:) it) so you can "duck" under the whitewater. If you can't duckdive it, get off your board and swim under it. You will get under it, no worries, but check there is no-one behind you or your board could smack into them. As to bodyboarding, it does feel less dangerous, so that could be good too. Good luck, and don't give up, its the best thing you'll ever do!

Answer 3

you are NOT that far out swim out theire without your board and use the waves to get back your thinking of dieing instead of ther are about 500 surfers out here in the same spot and wow there having fun you well be surprised how simple it is to get in wait maybe not all i need to hear on the news is some grom drowning just get it out of your head

Answer 4

To surf you need to feel at home in the ocean. When you say decent swimmer, I hope you mean ocean swimmer, because there is a big difference between ocean swimming and pool swimming.

The best thing you can do is spend as much time as you can in the ocean, and I'd suggest sticking with your surfboard, not a bodyboard. If you're afraid of not being able to touch the bottom, and maybe floating too far out to sea, your surfboard will be a good aid. Depending on the surf spot, you may feel like you're being sucked out, thats probably just the current and you're not going to end up in the middle of the sea. But, always surf with a partner, preferrably someone who is comfortble in the ocean, so you won't be alone were anything to happen. And if the men in the grey suits come around (sharks) you only have to outrun your buddy, not them :).

Though it may seem like you are far out in the ocean, its necessary so you aren't caught inside, right where the wave detonates. However, because you seem like a beginner, maybe you aren't in the right spot, and paddle out farther than necessary; again I suggest paddling out with someone who is more experienced and/or watching where other people surf, to make sure you're in the right take-off zone. Eventually you will become more accustomed to positioning yourself in the lineup. But it is always a good idea to surf with at least one other person, or at the very least let someone know where you may be at what time, and when to expect you back.

I don't know if you are using a longboard or a shortboard, but your board hitting you is always a concern. With a shortboard, you duck dive, with a longboard you flip it over, sometimes called the turtle roll. But being caught inside, especially on a heavy day can be scary for anyone; the wave looks a whole lot bigger when its right in front of you, and you're laying on your board, right? The best thing you can do is hold on to your board tightly, most of the time. As you surf more, you will instinctinvly learn when it is better to ditch your board and when you should hold on for dear life. If you ditch, be VERY mindful of others close to you, a loose board can be dangerous. And be careful of it hitting you as well, though the most damage it can do would be to your face. Anytime I get knocked around I cover my face with my arms, and as a result I have some stiches there, but I could possibly have been hit in the eye or something, and loosing my vision is something really scary to me. But again, the best thing you can do is practice, and when in doubt you should probably hold on to your board, because it floats a h**l of a lot better than you do.

As for not being able to feel the bottom, trust me, its there. Whats really scary is when you can feel the bottom all too much, i.e. gnarly reef breaks where the reef is literally right underneath the surface, thats what you should be more worried about. I know sometimes it can feel like a bottomless pit though, yeah? Its a little freaky, but just hold on to your board, because again, it floats better than you do.

So the only way to overcome your fears is to face them, but you don't have to do it alone and on days when the waves are really firing. When its just flat, go out and paddle around, get used to the feel of the ocean, because even when it looks really flat, it still moves and has character. Slowly you will become accustomed to the ocean and feel more at home with it, which is a major part of surfing for me.

Good luck!

Answer 5

go out more often then once you see its not bad you will be acustom to just going out

Answer 6

find a new sport it seems like you scard of everry thing!