Last week was woody for the Derbs — we were camped out in Yosemite National

Park. This week is watery, at any rate for myself and son (aged 9). We

have signed up for an intensive 2-week course in small-craft sailing.

First session was yesterday, and the very first item was a swim test. We

all had to swim fifty yards in clothes and shoes; then tread water or float

for five minutes; then put on a life jacket while still in the water.

I just barely made it through the swim test (learning in the process that it

is twice as hard to swim when wearing a large pair of old sneakers). I was

highly relieved to get to the floating part (which I can do pretty well). My

son had no trouble with either.

I am, this vividly reminded me, a hopeless duffer at swimming. I have had

swim instruction at various times, to no avail at all. My “style” is

self-developed from decades of occasional splashing around with friends and

family. I would describe it as an elegant dog paddle. When asked, my stock

answer is: “I can swim for survival, but not for pleasure.” Yesterday

proved the truth of this — though if survival involves more than a 50-yard

swim in calm salt water, I’m a goner.

Now a friend has told me about a radical new technique for teaching

swimming, “total immersion.” They claim

miraculous results in short times. My experience of radical new techniques

in general is that they are usually a crock; but I’m intrigued by this one,

for reasons given above.

If any reader has tried this technique of swim instruction, I’d be glad to

hear about it.