If you’re a competent swimmer, making the transition from pool to open water is fairly simple. The Region offers an Introduction to Open Water Swimming and Sea Training 2011 and opportunities to race over 1.5km, 3km, 5km and 10km in its Open Water Swimming Championships & Age Group Competitions 2011 at Weymouth (2/3 July 2011).
The Regional event also acts as County Championships and Age Group Competitions for Dorset swimmers as Les Debenham explains in the video below (4m 13s flashplayer required).