How comfortable are you putting your face in the water and exhaling while swimming?

Fully relaxed, bilateral breathing

Can you "sight" — lift your eyes to spot a buoy or landmark without stopping?

Sight smoothly without losing rhythm

How do you handle cold water on entry?

I acclimatize calmly and control my breathing

Do you know how to float or rest mid-swim if you get tired?

I can float/back-float to recover

I can rest calmly for minutes if needed

How well do you plan for conditions (tides, currents, weather, water temp)?

I check weather and temperature

I check tides, currents, temp and have a plan

Do you swim with safety measures (a buddy, a tow float, a supervised venue)?

Usually a buddy or supervised spot

Always: buddy/tow float and a known, safe venue

Are You Open-Water Swim Ready? The Open-Water Readiness Scorecard 🏊

Open-water swim readiness — swimming pool lanes

Thinking about your first open-water swim — a lake, the sea, or a triathlon leg? This 2-minute open-water readiness scorecard rates you across four areas: pool fitness, open-water skills, safety know-how, and mindset. You'll get one clear score plus your strongest and weakest area, so you know exactly what to work on before you dive in.