I'm used to close my eyes, but wonder if in open water I should open my eyes to watch for anything harmful or interesting (jellyfish etc). Of course I wear goggles/mask.
Thanks for taking the poll :)
This question brought up something I do.
Until I left Egypt (for Canada) 20 years ago, I had never worn goggles.
I always swam with my eyes open (and, man, did the chlorine ever burn afterwards!)
However, there was always one infinitesimal moment when I closed my eyes; that was on a dive-in (from starting blocks or from pool side) and I kept my eyes open long enough to even be able to see my toes (and feet) up to the moment when my hands entered the water, at which point I would automatically close my eyes and re-open them mid-way through the glide.
Now that I have been using goggles for the last seven or so years (when I took up swimming again) I realize that I STILL close my eyes for that 1/10th of a second as my head enters the water. Theoretically, it should make no difference but I guess it's a built-in reaction. Just as it is a reaction, while wearing goggles, to turn the face/head away while resting at the end of the pool when another swimmer does a flip turn and splashes water in one's face (even though we KNOW that the eyes are covered and protected.)
