Underwater Swimming

A common event in the backyard pool or public pool, underwater swimming is a great way to have fun. It becomes more interesting and challenging when you swim in clothes, because they make you do a swimming stroke correctly, especially underwater. Thus clothing makes any performance difference clearly visible.

Underwater swimming can refer to:

• Unequipped swimming beneath the water surface
• Survival Training (usually fully clothed)
• Scuba Diving (Top and Levi's)
• Snorkeling (with clothes for sun protection)
• Free-Diving (in special suits)

Olympic Sport in 1900

Underwater swimming once it made it to the greatest international sporting stage. The men's underwater swimming was an event in the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, the only occasion such an event was held.

On 12 August 1900, some 14 swimmers from 4 nations competed. Held over a maximum of 60m, competitors were awarded 2 points for each meter swum, and one point for each second that they stayed under water.

It is not surprising that it was never seen again on the Olympic program considering the lack of appeal for spectators. Maybe now with underwater cameras it could make a comeback.

Increase Swimming Performance

Video technology has evolved to allow swimmers to observe and correct their technique mistakes from an in-the-pool vantage point. Tiny video cameras enclosed in water-tight plastic casings have become an important advantage to many swim programs. They allow athletes to think about their strokes visually, instead of relying upon a coach's verbal interpretation.

Which Clothes are Best for Underwater Swimming?

Dress up warm in sportswear or casual clothes. You lose more heat underwater, mainly from your head (ca. 30%) so wear a hooded garment.

The longer you stay under water, the more important warm clothes become. We prefer an outfit like this:

1. T-shirt with shorts or long running tights.
2. Long trousers or jeans.
3. Warm turtleneck pullover.
4. Tracksuit top, hoodie, or anorak with hood.

These clothes are both warm and comfortable in the water, but may slow you down a bit as the hoodie soaks up a lot of water, the tracksuit and anorak less so. Wear all clothes first in the bathtub to make sure it all fits well when wet, before you wear them in the pool for training.