Always loved to dive from the board,

would dive and come up close to the ladder, get out and try again,

One day the life guard asked me to swim across the pool, oh Ooo, learned how to swim somewhat that day.

My younger life always seemed to revolve around water, USMC, life guarding, both pool and ocan, Army, seemed water was always near.

Even my dreams, very Nordic in content, Yes, I'm one that believes in reincarnation, so be it,

Community pool there in Nocona when I was around 5, all I remember was holding on the edge and kicking our feet, then next thing I knew I could swim...

Our older boy will be 3 in Jan, and is nearly ready to shed the floaties. That kid took to the water like a lab. Already doing cannonballs off the edge.

I was never around a pool--until high school. Lived in Hobbs NM for a while, and took swim lessons one year at the public pool. But after the swim lessons I was never around a pool or even a pond. So, I didn't really learn to swim until I was 15.

I learned in a small farm pond.

I learned to swim around age 5, combo of a few lessons from parents and being chunked in.

Guy that works for me made it all the way to the USMC not knowing how to swim. His DI gave him the accelerated course, he said it was amazing how the basic need to distance yourself from in irate DI can quickly teach you something.

Was that your first wedgie?

Tap the brakes...there is a tank behind your house? I need more information about this

I wouldn't call it learning to swim but I definitely swam for the first time at six years old when my dad tossed me in the deep end of the community swimming pool.

I'm not sure. Probably 4 years old. Love the water, and jumping off tall stuff into water.

Never, sink like a lead weight.

As an infant. Both my parents like the beach and swimming so getting me started was awesome. Some neighborhood thing back when we lived in Zion...I mean SLC...

Eventually took formal lessons from a former Olympic butterfly swimmer, and I remember he would reward / bribe us with gumballs that looked like soccer balls or basket balls. The same pool had olympic diving platforms and that's when I finally realized how freaking scared I am of heights. Climbing back down the ladder sucks, but I learned.

Not long after we moved to Texas we had a pool installed - the money pit - and I grew up taking care of the chemicals and whatnot. Very soothing to go out and scrub to make it look nice. It was great to have friends over or church youth parties. No spring board though, which is probably why I didn't break my neck.

Every time I'm on vacation at a beach I do my best to go out and body surf. It's a great way to start the day. Especially in Costa Rica - get up, swim for 30 minutes, get a Cafe Britt coffee, eat gallo pinto, then get on with living for the next 12 hours. Paradise.

Still hate the butterfly stroke.

when my dad knocked me off the deck of the boat when I was 3 or 4

I just figured it out one day in early grade school at the pool by watching others. I could swim underwater for a very long time, had to figure out how to stay on top and breathe. Family of seven kids, no one really cared what you did, just do it outside.

Had lessons at the YMCA.
In college I had swimming for PE.
Yes PE was required when I was in college.
The Presidents Council for Physical Fitness mandated it.

Like most others here...sink or swim. Only hard part was gettin outta that burlap sack