To touch the bottom

Before going into the sea, you need to take a few precautions.

Learning to swim is a good start. It's also important to be informed: know which sea you're going into, its characteristics, currents, temperature, and risks.

Then, you head to the beach.

Get close to the shore, look at the water, and observe the waves. See if there's a flag and what it indicates. Watch if people are getting into the water, how far out they go, how they move, and how they get out. Compare what you brought with you to what is happening right in front of your eyes.

Then, and only then, go in. Reach the shore, feel the temperature, recognize the power of the water, and advance little by little—as long as you can still touch the bottom.

At some point, lift your feet.

That's where the swimming lessons come in handy, along with everything you learned before going and what you observed from the beach. But you'll also have to swim, try things out, see what happens, and adjust.

And regain your footing when necessary.

We're not talking about the sea.