A few of the things to remember if you are going to swim in open water:There are no lines on the bottom - look for landmarks to aid navigation, but find the balance between looking too often and not looking enough.Put on your sunscreen - and don't forget your lips.Drink plenty of fluids before you begin.Make sure you follow the buddy system - if you are at a guarded beach, tell the lifeguards what you are doing.You can do any type of workout - long straight swims, intervals where you vary the intensity level, even short sprints then tread or float in place.