Tense Swimming In The Deep End

I get very tense swimming in the deep end...the thing is that I cannot hold my breath for so long, maybe due to fear and when I stop when I'm short of breath, I lose balance.

How do I conduct myself, so I don't feel like I'm sinking or drowning since the water level comes above my head?

How do I take off from the pool wall? What should be the easier technique to float and glide from the wall? Right now, my coach asks me to push off from the pool ladder, and it does not give me enough grip against pushing the pool wall. Please advise and rectify my mistakes.

The best way to conquer your fear of swimming in deep water is firstly to master swimming in water of your depth. The psychological effects of swimming in deep water can sometimes have a damaging effect on learning to swim.

Try swimming in water of about shoulder depth where you can stand if you need. Swim away from the poolside for 5 to 10 meters, then turn around and return to the poolside again, but without touching your feet on the pool floor.

Turning and changing direction whilst swimming can be hard work, especially without touching the pool floor or standing. However, it can be very helpful for deep water confidence.

If you practice it enough and become stronger and more confident in this exercise, the water's depth makes no difference. You can swim with the confidence of knowing that you can change direction and swim to the poolside no matter how deep the water is below you.

Pushing away from the pool wall can differ depending on the type of pool you are swimming in. Some poolsides are easy to hold on to and some are not so.

Either way, it all comes down to your overall confidence level and, more specifically, to your confidence in holding your breath and submerging your face.

You must be confident submerging your face to perform a basic push and glide from the poolside.

If you practice holding your breath and submerging, you will become more relaxed, which will help with floating and gliding.

My ebook The Complete Beginners Guide To Swimming contains all the help and support you need, from relaxing, floating and breathing to all the technique tips for learning to swim the four basic strokes. Click the link below for more information.
The Complete Beginners Guide To Swimming