Swimming Guides - OpenWaterHQ

Is 70-Degrees Outside Too Cold to Swim?

Deciding whether it's too cold to swim can be a common concern, especially when outdoor temperatures start to dip. While ...

Can You Swim in 80-Degree Water?

As spring turns to summer and the temperature starts to rise, one thing that is on many peoples’ minds is: ...

Can You Wear a Wetsuit in a Swimming Pool?

Wearing a wetsuit in a swimming pool might not be a thought that crosses your mind often, but it's a ...

Open Water Swimming Wetsuit Temperature Guide

Open water swimming is generally much colder than indoor swimming, and the temperature is constantly changing as well. For these ...

How to Choose a Wetsuit for Open Water Swimming

Choosing the perfect wetsuit is crucial for any open water swimmer as it not only provides buoyancy and warmth but ...

What to Wear Under a Wetsuit for Open Water Swimming

The water temperature outdoors can be very chilly, even with a wetsuit on. Furthermore, some people may simply feel uncomfortable ...

Is It Easier to Swim in a Wetsuit?

Many triathletes have felt that, with a wetsuit on, they seem to swim faster than without one. However, is it ...

Can You Swim in a Wetsuit?

When many people think of wetsuits, they think of scuba divers wearing the thickest, stiffest, most restrictive wetsuits while bogged ...

What Is Negative Buoyancy? An Overview

Have you ever wondered why some people can float so easily, and why others sink like a rock? To understand ...

Can You Swim with Negative Buoyancy?

Do you ever feel like you struggle to stay afloat while swimming? What you are fighting against is negative buoyancy ...

Open water swimming is pretty self-explanatory; it is simply swimming in any outdoor bodies of water including the open ocean, lakes, and even rivers. You can do it casually or competitively, such as in triathlons.

At the highest level, you can compete in prestigious competitions such as the FINA World Aquatics Championships, the FINA 10 km Marathon Swimming World Cup, and even at the Olympic Games. It is a discipline acknowledged across the world, as there are official events worldwide.

Wearing a wetsuit is highly recommended due to the risks involved with open water swimming. In competition, wetsuits are either permitted or restricted based on the distance of the swim and the water temperature.

In this section, we have compiled a list of all our guides related to open water swimming.