How to Swim in Waves

Essential local guide for open water swimming in Folkestone. Learn Kirsty’s techniques for navigating English Channel chop, timing wave sets, and entering or exiting shingle shore breaks safely.

One of the great things about swimming is the excitement and challenge of swimming in different conditions, especially with the weather always changing. It means every swim is unique. Here’s how to manage when it’s windy and choppy.

Chop vs Swell in Folkestone

In the English Channel, we mostly deal with chop. These are short, cresting waves caused by local winds. When the wind picks up, the waves rise, and when the wind dies down, the waves drop. This is different to swell that you get in other ocean locations, which are long-period waves generated by distant weather systems—perfect for surfing.

In Folkestone specifically, this short, steep Channel chop combines with shelving shingle beaches like Mermaids Beach, Sunny Sands, and the area around the Harbour Arm. Because the pebble slopes drop off quickly into deeper water, incoming waves don't roll gently onto flat sand; instead, they wall up fast and dump directly onto the shingle shore break. Understanding this localized wave dynamic is critical before taking your first stride into the water.

Timing the Waves & Sets

Waves come in sets of 3 to 7. These are stronger and weaker sets that alternate over time. This number varies depending on the beach, the tide height, and the wind strength, but usually, there’s a smaller, weaker set before a bigger one.

Before you go in, stand on the shore for 3 to 5 minutes to count the sets and observe how the shore break is dumping onto the pebbles. If it's safe, try to enter with the first wave of a smaller set and swim through the breaking waves. After your swim or dip, count the waves again from the water and aim to get out on the first wave of the weaker set. Always keep an eye on the sea as you exit, always checking behind you when getting out of choppy seas. The key is to stay aware of your surroundings, especially when it’s choppy.

Open Water Front Crawl Skills

If you're swimming front crawl in choppy conditions, it helps to learn to breathe on both sides (bilateral breathing). This way, you can switch to whichever side is more sheltered from sea spray and incoming crests.

Timing is also crucial so you can get on top of the wave rather than being in between them when you breathe. Also, try to lengthen your stroke if the current is helping you, or speed it up to maintain momentum if you're swimming against it. Another key point is to place emphasis on your hip rotation so you come out of the water more. We go through these skills in front crawl lessons and there’s no better way to learn it than by practicing in choppy conditions.

If you’re swimming a distance, aim to route your swim so you have the wind and coastal drift at your back. If that’s not possible and the wind is hitting your face, keep low in the water if you're swimming crawl to reduce wind resistance. For breaststroke, try turning your head slightly to the left or right as you inhale to block windborne spray.

“Always check behind you when getting out of choppy seas.”

Swimming in different weathers and learning to adapt to varying conditions will help you make the most of being in the water.

Kirsty’s Top Tips: Enter, Swim, and Get Out Safely

1. Entering the Water Safely

• Read the Beach First: Spend a few minutes studying the swell and counting wave frequency before putting your goggles on.

• Catch the Weak Set: Step into the water right at the start of a smaller, weaker wave set.

• Move with Purpose: Use high-knee wading through the shallow shingle to overcome water drag. As soon as the water reaches mid-thigh height, dive under or over the incoming crests to reach calmer water beyond the dump zone quickly. Sometimes it helps to walk in side on if a wave hits you as you’ve less surface area as you walk through.

• Maintain Visual Contact: Keep your eyes facing offshore - never turn your back completely to incoming waves while wading in.

2. Swimming in Folkestone Chop

• Master Bilateral Breathing: Rotate away from incoming wind and wave spray to protect your airway and avoid swallowing sea water.

• Exaggerate Hip Rotation: Drive your hips around to lift your shoulders and recovery arm clear of cresting chop.

• Adapt Your Cadence: Increase your stroke rate (tempo) when moving into head-winds or counter-currents to avoid getting pushed backward between arm pulls.

3. Exiting Safely on Shingle Beaches

• Spot Your Exit Wave: As you swim toward the shore break, look back over your shoulder to identify the start of a weaker set.

• Use Wave Momentum: Let the wave carry you upward onto the shingle bank.

• Secure Your Footing: Place your feet firmly underneath your centre of gravity as the water recedes, and stand up facing slightly back toward the sea so you can track incoming sets.

• Crawl if Necessary: On steep, shifting pebbles with a heavy shore break, stay low or crawl up past the high-water line before standing upright. Always check behind you as you exit.

If you’ve any questions about waves do feel free to reach out, and you’re interested in booking a Folkestone front crawl session or open water coaching then see more HERE.

Here’s a video below on how to swim with waves from my Instagram page @kirsty_sea_swim_coach