Alcatraz!

Are there tricks to navigating???:confused: I wouldn't use the term tricks, but....yes there are skills involved in navigating that can be practiced. I will describe some that help me. 1.Teach yourself to swim straight! When you have the opportunity to swim pool lengths with your eyes closed, try it. 50m better than 25 for this. 2. Learn to take "peeks" without disrupting your stroke. Your goal here should be to gain a visual point of refrence without resorting to *** stroke. Try to keep your face (below your goggles) in the water as you peek forward. Continue to breathe on the side as usual. 2 or 3 peeks may be necessary to spot your point of refrence, but this is better than breaking stroke. 3. Use all available aids. I will use other swimmers in a cooperative way. If you are swimming next to someone and noticed that they just took a sighting, no need for you to do the same (if they are smart, they will do the same, thus reducing by 50% the sighting work each of you must do) Underwater visual aids are helpful (when visability permits). If I know that I am heading in the right direction, I will look for a feature ahead that I can aim for, once reached, check direction...identify another feature etc. Hope this helps.

Are there tricks to navigating???:confused: I wouldn't use the term tricks, but....yes there are skills involved in navigating that can be practiced. I will describe some that help me. 1.Teach yourself to swim straight! When you have the opportunity to swim pool lengths with your eyes closed, try it. 50m better than 25 for this. 2. Learn to take "peeks" without disrupting your stroke. Your goal here should be to gain a visual point of refrence without resorting to *** stroke. Try to keep your face (below your goggles) in the water as you peek forward. Continue to breathe on the side as usual. 2 or 3 peeks may be necessary to spot your point of refrence, but this is better than breaking stroke. 3. Use all available aids. I will use other swimmers in a cooperative way. If you are swimming next to someone and noticed that they just took a sighting, no need for you to do the same (if they are smart, they will do the same, thus reducing by 50% the sighting work each of you must do) Underwater visual aids are helpful (when visability permits). If I know that I am heading in the right direction, I will look for a feature ahead that I can aim for, once reached, check direction...identify another feature etc. Hope this helps.