OW essential skills for beginners: Sighting
With no blue line to follow on the bottom of the lake how do you know where to go? Simple, you need to learn to sight. You can sight in the classical lift your head (but not too high) look, roll to the side and breathe in or low headed crocodile eyes.
Classic, lift and roll technique: Done well this method is quick and doesn’t break your breathing pattern but it does take practice. To start with practice swimming and raising your head forward to sight for obstacles, swimmers or turn buoys. try to not lift your head too much (your feet will drop) and do keep keeping even when sighting. Once you’ve mastered the lift, add in a roll to the side for the breath in. Take a few strokes and repeat the movement. Ideally, once mastered, you will repeat the lift and roll three times: 1st to see if you are on course, 2nd to adjust course, 3rd to check. 2 - 3 normal stroke cycles then repeat.
Crocodile eyes: swimming normally but head and nose just out of the water, swimming with long arms and looking like a crocodile. It’s energy efficient but does change your breathing pattern and isn’t the fastest method. However, for social swimming and new-to-OW swimmers it’s a good way to sight.
Try both methods. Practice every time you swim and in the winter when you’re in the pool, keep it in your routine. Find a way which works for you. If you need help then a coaching 1-2-1 is an ideal way to perfect your skill.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt8F-7y-9ok&list=PLLx09vSRB32csBaHi48LTUKYavioR4yCJ&index=4&t=0s