Do you do open water swims alone?

I've done it. Usually there are at least people on the beach when I do it, but I'm under no illusion that I'll be saved. 

I've done quite a few OWS with groups, including express 'beginner' groups that pair you up with a buddy pre-swim so it'll be safer. Honestly, after the first 10 minutes of swimming, it's nearly a wash - unless your buddy is lucky enough to be EXACTLY your swim speed and with equally good navigation, you'll have a least 30 seconds, if not closer to 2 minutes for someone to close that 100 yards gap between you and the next person, and that's assuming you could even call out for help.

I haven't come across a better solution ,but all in all, I've been completely underwhelmed by the actual safety of buddy swims in OWS - it's nearly useless for almost all the life-threatening events.

But to also put it in perspective, OWS is an extremely safe activity by the statistics. Every day, thousands and thousands of people go and do this, and there are vanishingly few fatalities, most of which probably couldn't have been avoided in a buddy swim anyway.

I do two or three OWS's all season long in a small lake and I am almost always by myself.  I got my nine year old son a little kayak and he paddled along with me in the latter part of the season but I am quite comfortable in the lake by myself.  I've swam in Hawaii many times by myself but always swim parallel to the shore.

Whether or not swimming alone is a good idea has a lot to do with your experience, your swimming ability, and the body of water you are in.  Always best to play it safe if you have any doubts.   

Firstly- I don't live anywhere near open water, so I only get to OWS when I'm travelling or on vacation somewhere.  When I have the opportuntiy- I jump at the chance!  OWS vs swimming in a pool to me, is like the difference between running outside and running on a treadmill.   (for that matter, rough ocean swimming... I guess is like rugged trail running? )

anyway- to answer the question.  Yes.  I OWS alone (although not that often).

Swimming with a group is better, because at the end of the swim, they'll notice you're missing, so they can search for your dead body.

Short of having a skilled lifeguard/rescuer, walk along the beach and watch you swim- I'm trying to imagine what a fellow swimmer would be able to do for you if you had a medical emergency out there?  You'd more likely both end up drowning.

If there is a lifeguard at the beach, I will always let them know what I'm doing, where I'm going, and when I intend to be back.

I was at a family resort a couple years ago, which had a dock on a nice clean lake in the Pocono's (Pennsylvania).  The lifeguard told me I wasn't allowed to swim outside the ropes.  I had as friendly a conversation with him as I could, explaining that it was a public lake, swimming was allowed, I was an experienced and strong swimmer.... and was going for a swim.  My dad followed me in a kayak to make the lifeguard happy.  Plus- my dad enjoyed the kayak.

I think that a product like this is a good idea:

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2013/12/exclusive-branded-openwater.html

For visibility as well as an emergency flotation device.  Storage as well.

I don't have any issues swimming alone, but that's because I am a decent swimmer and very comfortable in the water.

It really depends on your comfort level with your swim abilities and keeping your mind in check.  If you are a new swimmer or new to OWS, then you should swim with others.  

A couple years ago, my wife and her Danskin triathlon training group were doing an OWS at a local lake.  Clear sky, no wind, flat lake, etc.  There is a 500m triangular course marked with nice buoys.  I was almost back in and my wife's group was just past the far turn when the weather dramatically changed (as it can do during hot Texas afternoons) - clouds, wind, rain and the lake started rocking.  I headed back out to check on the wife and she said she would be fine.  One of the other ladies was really freaking out.  I swam over to her, but not close enough that she could grab on; told her to breathe on the side away from crashing waves; and we slowly worked our way back to the beach.  She completely panicked when the situation changed and I am not sure how it would have ended if she was swimming alone (she was a calm, yet slow swimmer otherwise). 

I always make sure I have a spotter when I am swimming in open water.  I swim parallel to the shore and my spotter can walk along and keep me in sight.  

I wish I had a kayak (or a canoe or row boat) to paddle along with me.  I think that would be ideal.  As a scouter I am very familiar with the BSA Safe Swim Plan and was a certified BSA lifeguard in my youth.  I know the rules to safe swimming and follow them as best as I can.  It just isn't worth it to me to do a swim if I don't put safety first.  I have never panicked in the water, never struggle to stay a float, never been run over by a boat, have never had a leg crap up in the water etc., but we all know Murphy's law so I always  use precautions.

Definitely. I have no problem with it.

BUT... I do it in a small lake where only electric motors are allowed. I wear my wetsuit every time. Risky? I guess so, by some people's standards. I don't consider it any more risky (in fact I consider it a lot LESS risky) than riding my bike on busy roads, which I also don't have a lot of problems with.

No doubt.  Riding on some of the county roads around here is way more hazardous.

Usually alone.  Rarely with a lifeguard present.  Have only done a very few with another swimmer (other than hitting the water at the same time, but not "together"), except in a race.

Risky? Yep.  Life's about understanding and managing risk, IMO.  The hard part is getting both of those right, as it's sometimes hard to define the risk and almost always hard to know how to manage it for you, at that time (tolerable risk levels change).

Matt

Add me to the chorus of "yes'" and Yaz and others have pretty well covered it. What you get from swimming with others is not safety from drowning, but rather visibility. A group swimming together is a little more visible to boaters than if you are swimming alone. I do use a ISHOF "SafeSwimmer" when swimming alone, again, not to keep me from drowning but rather to simply make me more visible. Well, that and to carry my garmin, because you know, if you don't have a .FIT file, it didn't really happen.

Fixed that. In my 25 years of triathlon I have been hit by a car 3 times on the bike, and once on the run. I have never been hit by a boat (or car) while swimming.

ha-ha - you should start a thread titled "Do you ever bike alone?"

Originally posted by bufordt

Originally posted by morey000

Swimming with a group is better, because at the end of the swim, they'll notice you're missing, so they can search for your dead body.

This is the key benefit to swimming with someone. They will improve the chances of your body getting recovered. I do my open water swims both alone and with people, but I have no illusions that they will be able to save me. The people I've swam with have never been my speed, so I am either way ahead or way behind. In addition, I'm primarily doing my workout, and not watching them. I also swim at around 100-200m of shore, so we're at least a 4 minute tow from shore. I do keep an eye on my wife when we swim together, but since her big problem is getting scared by fish or weeds, my main benefit to her is calming her down.

I disagree with most of these comments, mainly because I've been a lifeguard, and I surf, and I've seen enough saves.  Someone in trouble will often struggle long enough for help to get there.  Even once they go under, if someone saw them panic, they could still be saved.  And not every problem is a sudden heart attack.  It could be someone hit by a boat, a shark, a jellyfish, etc...

I just find it odd how many triathletes discount this while on the other hand, surfers know the benefit.

If you get into distress bad enough that you can't make it to shore and you're alone, your chance of survival is roughly zero.  If you're comfortable, then more power to you.  But claiming that an extra swimmer is useless is ridiculous.