Swim minutes in training plans

This is my opinion (so take it for that alone): if you plan calls for 40 min in the pool, you spend 40 minutes in the pool (rest included).

There might be some conflicting opinions on here, but that's what I do.

I think it depends on the workout. Does your training plan actually give you a workout or just say "40 minutes"? I used the Beginner Ironman training plan on this site years ago and if i recall, it gave you a specific workout as well as minutes. I'd go with the workout, however long it takes, andcount the minutes/don't count the minutes, in the end that doesn't matter. Are you going to perform better in your race if your log said you spend 40 hours swimming vs 38 hours swimming? In the end it'll be 100,000 yards(absolutely total guess) regardless of the time stamp. The plans I've followed have usually given me a specific swim workout and minutes with it.
The one I'm using, "swim workouts for triathletes"(I think that's the name) it gives me a specific workout and has minutes included. I never pay attention to the minutes, I just do the workout.
Not all minutes are created equal, obviously. If it calls for a 30 second rest between intervals,thats one thing, but what if you get to chatting with someone and five minutes goes by, are you counting that towards your 40 minutes?
Even my book has really wacky estimated times. It has a second of 30 minute workouts, one of which is 1900 yards with rest included...not a chance that I'm doing that in 30 minutes. It also has a 3000 yard workout with a time attacked of 1:15...again, no way that takes me that long..i think it took me 58 minutes counting my rests.

IN Trainingpeaks, swim is only counted as time moving. That way you can more accurately determine your overall training load. I only log my swim time as time moving, as total time has a lot of variation and won't reflect load as accurately.

Not sure about on here. But I generally would only count moving speed.

If you are referencing the BT plans. Yes, rest is included in that time.

I would say moving is counted. 40 min workout is not one lap and rest 38 minutes. I know stretching it. But one person would swim 35 minutes of the 40 and another might swim 25, they are not the same workout. IMHO

This will confuse, but mine is some of both. I'll stop my watch between sets and not count the time if I am changing equipment (putting on paddles and grabbing my pull buoy). I do no stop the clock during sets, so rest time is included (example: 10x100s on the 1:45. Whatever rest I get depends on how fast I swim the 100s)

I count only the time i'm moving. Some days I'm dragging and need more rest; other days I feel good and finish much faster. Either way I don't count the rest.