[Catherine]

Hey there

It is interesting to read posts from the prospective of the learner. Most of what people have said I have observed in the people I have taught to swim over the years. But I don't necessarily agree with feralBoy's comment that you can learn in just a few lessons as an adult. Of the 100's of students I've ever had I can only think of one that ever learned that fast - from never having swam before in her life to jumping into the deep end and swimming a length in under two weeks - but that was an extreamly rare case. Most adults are way to nervous to trust the water that quick. Learning breath control and relaxing into the water are the first hurdles to get past. Then learning how to effectively propell yourself takes practice. Find a qualified, experienced instructor.