However for Greenacre residents Asma Fahmi, 40, and Yasmin Zaman, 23, moving on from the Swim Sisters program to take the extra step to become surf lifesavers seems like a natural progression.
After taking part in the volunteer-led Swim Sisters, founded by Yusra Metwally and run out of the Auburn Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre, Asma and Yasmin are also now volunteering with the Garie Surf Lifesaving Club.
Yasmin said Swim Sisters helped her gain more confidence in the water.
However she admitted that going into the surf for the first time, especially after watching so many documentaries about the ocean, was more than a little daunting.
“Ocean swimming is really scary, it’s like the ‘big blue’,” she said with a laugh.
“It’s like conquering this fear of the unknown. You have to be a lot more cautious [in the ocean] because there is a lot more going on around you, but it’s definitely more exciting and a lot more interesting than just doing laps at your local pool.”
After being hospitalised and close to death, Asma said getting back into swimming not only helped her physically but also made a huge difference to her mental health.
“I really hope that it inspires others, that no matter how crappy life gets there’s always hope and you don’t know what you are capable of until you give yourself a chance,” she said.
“The ocean is amazing, you never know what to expect. And not being able to micromanage that experience, you learn to let go and literally go with the flow.”
For more info, visit facebook.com/swimsistersquad.
