scared of water any advice?

[garbarrage]

Took two friends surfing for their first time yesterday. one was alright and had a great time. even learned the hard way about water awareness. got caught in a rip despite many warnings. took two of us to go in and talk him out of it. touch of panic setting in etc. - he got over it quickly tho and is now on the lookout for good deals on boards n wetsuits.

the other lad however, was suited and booted, ready to get in the water when he dropped a bombshell - he couldn't swim (the mad btard). apparently his brother had tried to drown him when he was younger. (his brother is now in an institution getting the help he very much needs).

not wanting to leave him sitting out for a long time feeling useless a couple of us ditched our boards and got him to get used to getting his head under water and getting washed over by waves. (all of this in knee to waist deep water of course). then we spent a bit of time pulling him into waves by hand so he could bodyboard them. by the end he was having a laugh but you could still see he was still quite nervous.

he really wants to get over this fear and is going to take swimming lessons. mainly because most of his friends surf. anyone know someone who had a similar hurdle to get over or have any suggestions that might speed up the process? can't think of any thing myself other than for him to just spend as much time in the water as possible. really want to help the guy out as he's a cool guy to have around.

[Big Man]

I know it's all new agey and hippyish, but get him to try tapping, otherwise known as EFT. this xxxxx really works, I use it a lot for guys in something I teach.

[parrysurf]

First teach him to blow bubbles underwater......then get him to hold his breath a little with face under....then push him off the pier.

[billie_morini]

well, he is plucky

[hawaiiSUCKSexceptsurf]

the best thing you can do for him is called flooding, its a technique of throwing a person into their fears to desensitize them. throw him in the ocean and try to drown him, again. he should get over it if he lives.

[RJD]

uh, mebe if your a trained proffesional...

[garbarrage]

first instinct was pretty much to push him off a pier... don't think it'd help tho. definitely on to something with the rest of it. very similar to what i was tryin with him anyway. all pointless without swimming lessons tho.

[isaluteyou]

the best thing you can do for him is called flooding, its a technique of throwing a person into their fears to desensitize them. throw him in the ocean and try to drown him, again. he should get over it if he lives.

beleive it or not thats how i learnt to swim at the ripe old age of 7 months. Although not quite as extreme as all that. Couldnt really swim but apparantly i could hold me breath and kick me legs to the side then scream for help. Will have to ask my dear old MA how she trained me. But whatever it worked

[justloafing]

Go for the swimming lessons. A surfboard can be a lifesaver but what if that leash breaks. If I think he wants to surf as you make it sound, then send him to a swimming school and I bet he progresses quickly. Good for him trying to overcome his fears. Tell him to "keep the stoke brotha."

[deaddreamer]

dudes, i feel sorry for they guy but honestly if u need swimming lessons and dont kno how to read the surf u shouldn be at a beach, swim lessons would be a good idea but also take him down to beaches like Noosa or some similar to that and work your way up till he is confident... hope this helps

[Otter]

Yeah, definitely need to be at least a skilled swimmer to surf. What you're doing is noble, but a person who doesn't know how to swim should not take a surfboard into the lineup. Bad for him, bad for everyone else. Once he gets done with his swimming lessons, give him some kind of task he has to accomplish in the water without a board. On a calm day, swim to the end of the pier and back sort of thing. Make sure he can handle himself alone in the water, one gal nearly drowned me 4th of July back in '75, went for a swim in the shallows, tells me she can't swim as a set rolls in, grabs my neck and head, pushing me under so she can keep her head above water. She didn't want to kill me, she just panicked. The guy could kill someone trying to help him. Advise him to be a skilled swimmer before taking up surfing.

[smallwavegrovellerchick]

Wasn't there some African guy on Step Into Liquid who surfed but couldn't swim?

[ANZAC]

Moto x....

[justloafing]

Wasn't there some African guy on Step Into Liquid who surfed but couldn't swim?

I have not seen that but did here about that. It reminded me of another movie called Death Wish.

[kitesurfer]

Wasn't there some African guy on Step Into Liquid who surfed but couldn't swim?

There was the black dude in endless summer 2 at jeffries bay who couldn't swim.

KS

[Dr Rev]

My Mates Dad is a Doctor with the RNLI and he cant swim, but as he says, who better to rescue him if he gets into trouble !!

Now days, swimming lessons cater for all abilities, so your mate should be fine !

[smallwavegrovellerchick]

KS, that's probably where I saw it. I know it was one of those surf documentaries.

[The Fafanator]

Sereusly, get him swimming lessons coupled with paddleing lessons, also, after he learned how to swim help him get used to water that is deeper than what he can stand in. (most swimming schools lets people swim in water that they can stand in.) then take him to the beach to get used to the line up, ect.

[indahvoo]

I have this problem. I'm afraid of deep water. I almost drowned when I was 10. I learned how to swim about a year after. I can swim now, but I can't overcome my fear of drowning. This is why I stick to boogeyboard. I'm learning to overcome my fear, making baby steps, but hopefully in a year I can swim in the sea with big waves. This is all about your fear, not ability how to swim.

[garbarrage]

no this particaular guy can't swim.... he's getting lessons as I write this. but do hear ya fear is definitely a factor. that and a little embarrassment. haven't seen him in the water yet but he's had a few lessons. and is a bit of a hippy so tried that tapping technique which i'd love to see. grown hippy standin in waist deep water tappin himself and talkin to himself terrified. priceless! know its cruel - but thats what mates are for!