The Navy SEAL Physical Fitness Guide - Uniformed Services ...

It is far better if you get folded by a big chopping wave to have your shoulderdislocated than for you to become quadriplegic from a cervical spine injury. Avoidshorebreaks; the waves are unpredictable and going over the falls may yield a screamingdescent straight onto the beach sand. Instead try to find a good “grab and release” breakwhere the wave stands up nicely and then breaks back into deeper water.Another open water issue you may be faced with is that of sharks. They commonlyattack solitary swimmers, particularly freestylers: the solitary, beefy organism making armslaps against the surface of the water. Avoid swimming in places where you may resemblepart of the food chain, but even then there appears to be protection in numbers. A goodexample is La Jolla Cove near San Diego. Here triathletes swim and Great White sharks eatsmall mammals all in the same day. Avoid swimming in the evening and get out of theocean if you get bloodied too much in the surf.Sharks virtually never attackswimmers in groups.Swimming Pool GearGogglesThe most important gear for pool training is a good set of goggles. Get goggles thatcan be adjusted across the bridge of the nose. The fog-free goggles work better than theyused to, but they do lose this quality relatively quickly under hard use and are much moreexpensive.KickboardA kickboard is essential. They come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, but alldo basically the same thing.PullbuoyA cheap, but essential, piece of training gear, the pullbuoy fits between theswimmer's legs for specific types of swim drills.Hand PaddlesThe Navy SEAL Physical Fitness Guide 79