WATER VISIBILITY

GENERAL WATER VISIBILITY :

Possibly more relevant in a river/estuary setting, as you’re more likely to come in close proximity to boats and water traffic but relevant to all forms of open water swimming is visibility. fairly obvious why and we won’t spend too long be patronising! The brighter and more visible you are in the water, the more easily you’re found, avoided and/or monitored.

  • bright colours and patterns on swimming caps stand out in the water. Black neoprene hats are very difficult to see, especially if the suns out and there is glare on the water

  • a bright tow float is even easier to spot than a swim cap

  • swimming with a ‘buddy’ or small group makes life even easier!

  • swim location is also a major factor. Busy headlands, rivers and beaches have people that are far more likely assist in an emergency.

SWIM CAPS

Bright colours are always the way to go, unless of course you have a bright tow float - which then makes swim caps far less important. Patterns tend to work best, as they stand out and are easier to spot. Bright neon colours work really well, like yellow, pink, orange, red… Black neoprene should be avoided, unless you’re swimming with a bright tow float. A silicone swim caps can also be worn over a neoprene swim hat/cap.

Swim caps generally come in latex and silicone. Latex are cheaper, thinner, keep in less heat and tend not to slip off your head as easily. Silicone are more flexible, warmer, more expensive and highly durable.

If you like swimming in cap, latex would be ideal for the warmer months, silicone for the colder months. You could also use a combination…either latex, with a silicone over the top or two silicone caps - ideal for cold water swimming and keeping that head warm!

TOW FLOATS

Tow floats have the obvious benefit of added visibility in the water, as well as handy storage for snacks, communication devices, clothing etc and can (although they do state they’re not a rescue device/buoyancy aid) assist you with some buoyancy mid-swim. Stick an arm over it and take a breather. Again, bring colours and patterns work best. Ulu Dry Bags also use Solas strips on their design, which is highly reflective and make them far easier to spot from the air and land.

Tow floats can create issues. Tail winds are a nightmare, as they push the float into your elbows and become very annoying. The same thing can also happen if you get the length of the belt wrong. They can be tricky to get out through surf and chop. Our biggest issue with tow floats (although we’d always advocate the use of these floats), is simply that tow floats can give people a sense of false confidence. It gives that little confidence boost to try a more adventurous swim or swim in more challenging conditions. The fact is that these floats simply make you more visible in the water and nothing more. The fact that someone uses one, is no guarantee that anyone will spot them if they get into trouble on a swim!

WHISTLE AND/OR LIGHT

Well worth some thought, is a decent whistle. Sounds travels nice and easy and is fairly distinctive. They do come attached to a lot of tow floats. So a wise tow float purchase can cover both of these safety points. An attached light can be useful…possibly a touch OTT. It really depends on when you swim. If you’re swimming anywhere near dusk or dawn, all it takes is a delay and it’d be well worth having a light!