Here is my story:
I am a 63-year old male who is looking to started swimming instruction. I was very afraid of the water growing up and avoided swimming lessons througout childhood and adolescence, although my two younger siblings learned without trouble. I was the typical shy, glasses-wearing nerd-type, tall and thin, with mostly intellectual interests. I did try several sports when young but didn't do well at any of them. I gave those up by tenth grade and have only walked for exercise since. I had zero water experience exxcept for some summertime wading in lakes.
I didn't learn to swim in high school, since none of the local high schools then required it. I often wonder what I would have done if they had.
After watching the 1972 Olympics, I finally decided to face my fear and, at age 27, enroll in an adult swimming class. Despite a humiliating experience in the first session ("OK, let's everyone swim down to the end of the pool and back.") I persevered and kept coming. That first session I submerged for the first time, simple but very scary. We worked on very basic skills. It took some courage just to open my eyes underwater.
I worked on the basic stuff, but never enjoyed it. There was minimal emphasis on building confidence and relaxation before moving on to stroke mechanics. We were introduced to deep-water adjustment skills, which I was not really ready for. They included descending the ladder to the bottom in the deep end, deep-water entry, and jumping off the diving board. The last two were terrifying. All I could think of was to get back and grab the side as soon as I could.
I never got totally comfortable with my face in the water. Every time I was in a prone in the water I thought of what it was like to drown.
Being in the prone position in the deep was especially scary. I just couldn't do it.
I took swimming classes off and on for about ten years with only modest success. I did learn the elementary back stroke and back crawl, but couldn't do any storkes on the front. I was given a kick board to practice the flutter kick but, despite much trying, couldn't move an inch. Strangely enough, I could kick across the pool, slowly, without using a board.
OK, now I am seeing aspects that I missed in your original post. You are correct that if you are not at least comfortable in the water, you cannot learn how to swim. I took for granted that you were OK with being in the water, just not comfortable swimming with your face in it. I now see that we need to back up a bit farther. The pools that you want are located in particular places. Therapy pools for disabled people are routinely kept at about 90 degrees because they cannot move very much at all , and lose body heat rapidly. They may even have a program that you seek. Pools that cater to senior citizens tend to be very warm also. You may be near a health club, they often will keep their pools at about 85 degrees for low impact classes and noodling. That should be warm enough for you to relax in without getting a chill. Public pools or school pools will likely be kept under 84 degrees for economic and health reasons.
I recommend finding someone who is in a similar state of apprehension about water activities as yourself. Having a friend to learn with reinforces any new experience since it is shared. When you do things alone, you have no one to relate to and an unreliable sense of learning, since you have nothing to compare. Shared experiences are far more rewarding for everyone involved.
There are many styles of goggles, take your time to find some that are comfortable on your face. Then when you are looking about underwater, you will not have the worry of leakage. A simple annoyance to most of us, but it could be more intense for you.
OK, now I am seeing aspects that I missed in your original post. You are correct that if you are not at least comfortable in the water, you cannot learn how to swim. I took for granted that you were OK with being in the water, just not comfortable swimming with your face in it. I now see that we need to back up a bit farther. The pools that you want are located in particular places. Therapy pools for disabled people are routinely kept at about 90 degrees because they cannot move very much at all , and lose body heat rapidly. They may even have a program that you seek. Pools that cater to senior citizens tend to be very warm also. You may be near a health club, they often will keep their pools at about 85 degrees for low impact classes and noodling. That should be warm enough for you to relax in without getting a chill. Public pools or school pools will likely be kept under 84 degrees for economic and health reasons.
I recommend finding someone who is in a similar state of apprehension about water activities as yourself. Having a friend to learn with reinforces any new experience since it is shared. When you do things alone, you have no one to relate to and an unreliable sense of learning, since you have nothing to compare. Shared experiences are far more rewarding for everyone involved.
There are many styles of goggles, take your time to find some that are comfortable on your face. Then when you are looking about underwater, you will not have the worry of leakage. A simple annoyance to most of us, but it could be more intense for you.
