Like any challenge, the more you prepare for your open water swim the more enjoyment you will get out of it. Follow our simple tips to make sure you enjoy training for Swim Serpentine and have a great time on Swim Day.

Smart open water swimming

• Do: practise in the pool to gain fitness
• Do: swim in open water to gain confidence and experience
• Do: start training now!
• Do: try out your swimming gear and accessories before you swim
• Don’t: swim in dangerous places! Find out the safest spots from local swimmers
• Don’t: swim alone – have a buddy for moral and safety support

Be prepared for outdoor swimming

It’s important to make sure you have everything you need to swim happily and safely. Before you start open water swimming, we recommend visiting our partners Outdoor Swimmer magazine and Swim Secure to check out the latest gear and accessories.

You may decide that all you need is your swimming costume and a towel! That’s fine. However, it’s worth planning ahead for what you’ll need when you leave the water.

You’ll want to keep as warm as possible; especially on cold days, so once you’ve finished swimming you should get changed into warm clothing as soon as possible. Choose practical clothes, including a hat and maybe some gloves. It’s also a good idea to have a waterproof bag to put your clothes in while you’re swimming.

Nothing beats warming up after a swim with a hot drink, so you might want to consider taking a flask of tea or coffee if you’re swimming somewhere without a nearby clubhouse or café.