How I Conquered My Fear of Water

It might sound silly, but at the age of 40, I’ve just conquered my fear of swimming in a 2-meter-deep pool!

I know this story might seem trivial, but if you’re like me—unable to swim as an adult—you’ll probably relate to what I’m feeling right now.

Hydrophobia

Here’s how it happened. After the recent Eid al-Fitr holiday, I became interested in teaching myself to swim again, having been haunted since childhood by a fear of water deeper than my height. Plus, not many people around me knew how to swim.

Back in school, I had a weekly swimming extracurricular. On those days, I’d feel paralyzed—constantly wanting to skip but running out of excuses to give my PE teacher. As a result, my PE grade was terrible—just a 6. Had I actually participated in the swimming sessions at the district pool, maybe my grade could’ve been bumped up to a 7 or 8.

Aside from my inability to swim, I was also shy about undressing in front of others. My body was skinny back then. Even now, I’m still slim, but more toned thanks to my consistent yoga practice since 2010. I’d say I’m pretty dedicated—since 2010, I’ve never taken a long break. Even a 1-2 week hiatus feels too long. I get so restless that I sometimes do light movements at night—call it a “movement snack”—just to lower my blood sugar after dinner, which supposedly can be managed with minimal exercise. Even walking or doing bodyweight squats helps.

Self-Taught

Before, I wasn’t interested in swimming because it was expensive, the nearest pool was far, and nothing really sparked my interest. But that changed when I watched artistic swimming and diving competitions in 2020. Wow, the movements were stunning, and the choreography was incredible. I became intrigued but, lacking commitment at the time, it ended with just watching clips of artistic swimming and diving. I especially admired Russian artistic swimmers and Chinese divers, whose dedication kept their countries dominant in those sports.

Later, I started consistently teaching myself to swim at a pool near my home—one for kids and teens, only 130 cm deep. Safe enough that I wouldn’t drown. I practiced floating and tried strokes I’d learned from YouTube—freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke—but not butterfly yet.

Trauma

Then I committed to training in a deeper pool—150 cm—at KYZN BSD. It was far from home and pricey per session (around IDR 250k, excluding transportation). The place was premium, with imported coaches. But when Ramadan came last year, I stopped.

Still, I kept practicing in my neighborhood’s 130 cm pool. Better than nothing, though it didn’t challenge my fear of deep water.

Back in 2016, I’d tried swimming at a hotel pool in Ubud during a two-week stay. Unfortunately, I panicked and nearly drowned. As an overconfident beginner, once my feet couldn’t touch the bottom, my brain shut down. Instead of paddling, I froze—too embarrassed to even scream for help.

Plaza Festival Pool

Eventually, I visited Plaza Festival Pool (formerly Pasar Festival) during work hours in Jakarta. Going at off-peak times meant I could enjoy the pool more freely. The midday sun wasn’t too harsh either, since it shifted by 1-2 PM.

Cleanliness

At first, I was skeptical about the water’s cleanliness. But surprisingly, it was crystal clear during my last two visits—maybe cleaned after the long holiday. I even spotted a large chlorine barrel by the pool.

If you plan to swim here, pick the right timing for clear water. Haha. Some Google Maps reviews complained about green, murky water, but thankfully, that wasn’t my experience. Or maybe I just got lucky?

Security

If you bring valuables like laptops or wallets, don’t worry—lockers are available for IDR 5,000 each (payable at the entrance guard, not the ticket counter). The keys work well and can be reused (unlike my local pool’s one-time-use lockers, which are annoying but keep you focused on swimming instead of phone distractions).

The changing rooms and showers are also better now—wooden doors instead of the flimsy tarp curtains from my 2017 visit. No unauthorized peeking possible.

As for safety from predators, this pool has long been rumored as a spot for men seeking same-sex encounters. While I’ve never been a victim, during my recent visits, one guy seemed suspicious—wearing a tight cotton singlet and underwear-like trunks (clearly not swimwear) while dry and just lurking near the showers. Could he have been signaling? I don’t know, but it was unsettling. Still, with security cameras and staff monitoring exits, any misconduct (theft or harassment) would likely be caught.

Entry Fees & Insurance

Prices vary by time:

• Weekdays (Mon-Fri):
• 6-8 AM & 1-7 PM: IDR 30,500
• 8-11 AM: IDR 10,500 (cheap!)
• Weekends:
• Peak hours (morning/evening): IDR 35,500
• Off-peak (noon): IDR 12,500

No wonder I used to see kids flocking here at noon—imagine swimming for just IDR 10,500! Sunburn be damned. But on national holidays and Sundays, it’s flat IDR 35,500. Ouch.

For accidents, ticket holders get compensation from Raharja Putera Insurance:

• Death: IDR 2.5 million
• Permanent disability: IDR 5 million
• Medical treatment: Up to IDR 500,000

During Eid 2025 holidays (March 28-29 & April 2-4, 7), entry peaked at IDR 35,000 per person.

How I Conquered the 2-Meter Pool

I’m no professional coach, but I managed to teach myself not to fear 2-meter-deep water. Here’s how:

1. Start Safe: I began in the 1.5-meter section—close enough to the edge in case of cramps or exhaustion.
2. Strategy: After warming up, I’d walk to the deep end and use the ladder to descend slowly, letting my brain process the depth.
3. Grip the Ladder: Holding the rails kept me secure as I lowered myself to the 1.5-meter step, then finally touched the 2-meter bottom. First time ever!
4. Familiarize: Feeling the bottom helped my brain register, “Oh, this is how deep it is.”
5. Float Test: I’d climb back up, then release the ladder and practice floating—kicking as I’d seen in YouTube tutorials.

I discovered I panic less floating on my back (like a starfish) than facing downward—probably a reflex to avoid breathlessness. Now, if panicked, I flip onto my back to breathe freely. This is actually the recommended survival tactic if you fall into water and can’t swim.

I’m also better at backstroke than freestyle (which feels breath-challenging). I even swam 50 meters of breaststroke without panic, realizing: If I can float in 1.5 meters, I can in 2 meters too. The only barrier was mental.

The Science of Floating

Not everyone floats easily. According to Brent S. Rushall’s article on flotation in swimming, buoyancy depends on:

• Body composition (fat, muscle, bone, lung volume)
• Water density
• Gender (women float easier)
• Age
• Water salinity

People with higher fat or lung volume float better, while muscular/lean individuals (like bodybuilders) sink more. Physical changes (growth or strength training) can alter buoyancy, requiring technique adjustments.

Luckily, I float easily on my back—my lifeline in deep water.

Final Victory

With God’s grace and my own effort, I finally swam across the 2-meter section.

What about you? Still can’t swim despite your age? Maybe it’s time to try—who knows, it might save you if sea levels rise and we all end up living like the Bajau tribe. (*/)