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| Introduction | |
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| How to Begin | |
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| Beginnings | |
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| Allure of the Open Water | |
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| Expert Sources and Credentials | |
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| Equipment | |
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| The Swimsuit | |
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| Swimsuit Care | |
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| Chafing | |
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| Skin Lubrication Products | |
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| Treatment for Chafing | |
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| Sunscreen Products | |
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| Sunburn Prevention | |
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| Sunburn Treatment | |
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| Goggles | |
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| Swim Caps | |
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| Wet Suits | |
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| Swim Skins | |
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| Finding an Open Water Swimming Coach and Group | |
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| Finding Specific Coaches and Groups | |
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| Technical Skills for Open Water Swimming | |
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| Swimming Skills Required | |
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| Breathing Drills | |
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| Head Position in the Water | |
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| Feeling the Water to Swim Faster | |
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| Research | |
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| Selecting a Training Area | |
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| Scouting/Walking the Workout Course | |
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| Tidal Charts | |
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| Water Temperature | |
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| Water Quality | |
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| Food and Hydration | |
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| Into the Open Water | |
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| The Stingray Shuffle | |
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| Water Entry | |
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| Bodysurfing | |
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| Waves | |
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| Surf | |
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| Role of the Tides | |
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| Swell Prediction | |
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| Moving through the Surf | |
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| Over Our Heads: Distress Signals | |
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| Riptides | |
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| Water Exit | |
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| Effects of Heat and Cold | |
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| Cold Acclimatization | |
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| Hyperthermia and Hypothermia | |
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| Heat Acclimatization | |
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| Hypothermia | |
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| Ice Swimming | |
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| After-drop | |
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| Sinuses and Ears | |
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| Prevention of Infections | |
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| Ocean Hazards | |
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| Fog | |
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| Ships, Boats, Jet Skis, Sailor Boats, Windsurfers, Kite Surfers, and Surfers | |
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| Beginning and Intermediate Swimmers | |
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| Training Swims | |
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| Training Safely | |
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| Training for a Short Open Water Swim | |
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| Training for a Moderate or Long Open Water Swim | |
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| Selection for Support and Swim | |
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| Skills Required for a Kayaker | |
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| Kayaker Selection | |
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| Kayaker Competency | |
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| Swimming Route | |
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| Intermediate and Advanced Swimmers | |
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| Open Water Swims Outside the Buoys with Boat Support | |
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| Information Gathering/Research | |
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| Selecting Support Crew | |
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| One Person on the Surface in Charge | |
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| Plan for the Swim/Mission | |
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| Briefing: Explaining the Plan | |
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| SEAL Mission Planning | |
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| Strategy | |
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| Backup Plans | |
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| Safety/Operational Risk Management | |
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| Emergency Action Plan | |
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| Completion of Swim and Rewarming | |
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| Debriefing | |
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| Further SEAL Advice When Planning a Swim | |
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| Medical Check Before Swim | |
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| Recommendations for Long Training Swims and Documentation | |
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| Dangerous Marine Organisms | |
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| Research Semitropical and Tropical Waters before Swimming | |
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| Bristle Worms | |
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| Coral Reefs | |
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| Fire Coral | |
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| Jellyfish | |
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| Box Jellyfish | |
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| Leptospirosis | |
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| Seabather's Eruption | |
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| Sea Cucumbers | |
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| Sea Urchin | |
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| Seaweed Dermatitis | |
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| Scorpion Fish | |
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| Crown-of-Thorns Starfish | |
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| Stonefish | |
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| Stingrays | |
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| Country Medicine | |
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| Swimmer's Itch | |
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| SEALs Recommend US. Navy Diving Manual | |
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| Sharks | |
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| Swimming with Sharks and Rays | |
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| Minds in the Water | |
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| U.S. Navy Diving Manual on Sharks | |
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| First Aid for Shark Bites | |
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| Advanced Swimmers | |
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| Into the Dark | |
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| Swimming in the Dark | |
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| Dark Swims and Illumination | |
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| Finding Better Illumination | |
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| Seasickness | |
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| Taking Medications During a Swim | |
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| Preparation | |
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| Physical Training | |
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| Mental Preparation | |
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| Going In and Out of Consciousness | |
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| Deep Mind "Thing" | |
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| Sleep | |
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| Motivations | |
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| Success | |
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| Success in Unsuccessful Swims | |
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| The English Channel Charts, Contacts, and Pilots | |
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| Tidal Charts | |
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| You Want to Swim the English Channel? | |
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| How Do You Make Contact? | |
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| Selecting a Pilot | |
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| Catalina and Other Channel Swims | |
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| The Catalina Channel Swim | |
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| The Santa Barbara Channel Swim | |
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| Finding Pilots for the Catalina Channel and Other Swims | |
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| Meeting with Pilots Before Hiring Them | |
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| Inspect the Boat Before You Swim | |
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| Before You Begin Any Channel Swim | |
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| Contact the U.S. Coast Guard | |
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| Staying Healthy | |
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| Boating Safety | |
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| Selecting Boat Support for an Organized Swim | |
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| Organized Swim Considerations | |
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| Swimmer's Utopia | |
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| Stewardship of the Waters | |
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| Sources for Additional Information | |
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| Acknowledgments | |
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| Index | |