Why do people swim with a buoy?

Swimming with a buoy serves several purposes:

1. Buoyancy Aid: A buoy helps a swimmer maintain buoyancy, preventing sinking. This can be particularly helpful for beginners or those not confident in their swimming abilities. It reduces the effort needed to stay afloat, allowing swimmers to focus more on their technique rather than struggling to stay above water.

2. Safety: In open water or during long swims, buoys increase visibility, making swimmers more visible to boats, jet skis, or other watercraft, thus enhancing safety. Additionally, they can serve as a flotation device in case of fatigue or cramps, providing reassurance to swimmers.

3. Training Tool: Buoyancy aids can also be used as a training tool for specific aspects of swimming. For example, swimmers might use a buoy between their legs to isolate arm movement and focus on upper body strength and technique. It can also help correct body positioning and balance in the water.

4. Storage: Some buoyancy aids, such as dry bags or tow floats, also provide storage space for personal belongings like keys, phones, or snacks, making them useful for longer swims where access to shore or support may be limited.

Overall, swimming with a buoy can enhance both safety and performance, making it a popular choice for swimmers of all levels in various aquatic environments.