Swim-less Training

I think your best option is to get swim cords or dryland cords. From what I've read elsewhere the correct freestyle movement is hard to replicate in any other exercise save swimming. With resistance cords you can practice correct form in front of say a mirror.

Can you swim behind the ship every morning?

Ahhh, I was thinking that you have a great set-up for some daily open water swimming.
The woman that wrote "Swim Speed Secrets" has some good dry land training videos on Youtube. Most simply involve a rubber band.

There are folks who have successfully trained for triathlons while in your same situation. Keep digging online and I bet you'll find their stories.

You would think that the NAVY would encourage ocean swimming. Especially for those that are out in the blue water. Seems like on a boat that big there would be a group of folks that would want to go out and swim.

First off, thanks for your service. It's folks like you who allow us to get on here and talk about the best way to shave our arms.

I find in situations like this, you can take the opportunity to focus on a weakness that I had during the actual exercise itself. For example, I spent this offseason doing leg presses and lunges to improve my leg strength for the bike.

Maybe for swimming you feel your tris could use some work, or the kick is a limiter. You can work to strengthen the parts of your body that struggle with it. That plus the monotony of the form work in swim bands that other suggestions will put you in a stronger position when you get back in the pool. You'll have to make an adjustment, of course, but coming back stronger in areas you were once weak will feel awesome once your lungs get back in shape for the water.

Also remember that the swim is the most ideal leg to not have for 6 months- it's the smallest percentage of every triathlon event, and the skew is even larger for anything that isn't an Oly. You'll be alright!

Get some stretch-cordz and a Bosu ball. The Bosu ball will simulate the instability of being in the water while the cords will approximate the swim pull. I hope this helps and if you have any other questions, let me know. PM me and I can send you some videos of some exercises.

Best regards,

Tim Floyd

Thanks for all the advice everyone! I'm about a month into this deployment and despite working an average 18 hour day i've found that a rowing workout paired with the resistance band workouts have worked very well to simulate swimming. Thanks!