Do you have a fear of deep water that is preventing you from learning how to swim? Or maybe the deep water is holding you back? Here’s some ways that you can overcome your fear.

Why do people have fear of the water? The most common reason is usually linked to bad experiences in the past, such as a swimming lesson that went wrong or falling into deep water by accident. You might not have quite such a fear of deep water.  Instead you could be one of those swimmers who swim happily around until suddenly out of nowhere you feel like you’re going to sink.

Here’s a small test you can try:

1. Swim away from the pool side to about 5 to 10 metres (to a point where you can still touch the floor)

2. Swim back to poolside without touching the pool floor with your feet

If you can do this test without any problems, you can prove that you are able to change direction in the water within any depth of water.

So, how do you conquer the fear of deep water? You have to learn how to be in control of the water instead of letting the water control you; one step at a time.

Learn how to breathe

Learning to breathe underwater is an important step. Try taking a deep breath and breathe out underwater in a slow and controlled way. Don’t blow out all the oxygen! Do it in a comfortable way where you are staying relaxed and in control.

Practice gliding

Push off from the possible and get a feel with how well you can glide through the water. Experience the feeling of slowing down and slowly sinking, then use gentle arm and leg movements to slow down or prevent sinking. Try to practise this in a relaxed manner without any panic.

Learn how to submerge

Next step is learning to submerge yourself underwater. Discover how your body moves when it is underwater and get used to the feeling of the water around you. Feel the water allowing you to move rather than resisting your movements.

Learn how to float

Some of us float well, and some of us don’t, but we call all remain at the water surface. Whether by naturally floating, treading water, or using a floating device to keep you above water, you should feel your way through the water rather than fighting it.

Conquering your fear of deep water involves coming to terms with how your body behaves in the water and then learning to take control of the thoughts and feelings associated with various states your body can find itself in when in the water.