Swimming lessons

Question
I am a 43 yr old male who has never properly learned how to swim. I can get in a pool and walk around but cannot do a backstroke, dog paddle or even float. My wife and I did a cruise where we swim with the stingrays and had difficulty swimming to stingrays. Are there any good videos or books that will guide me in learning to swim at the beach ? I want to surprise her.

Answer
Robert,
There are so many great resources out there for swimming.  However, I ultimately think that the best and only proven way to learn to swim is in the water with an instructor.  Yes, you can learn some tricks while reading a book or watching a video, but having someone give you real-time feedback is very important.

I suggest you go to your local pool and ask a lifeguard or employee there about local ways to learn to swim.  Specifically, I think that the Red Cross has a great adult learning program for swimming.  Their information can be found here:  http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/aquatics/sfp.html

Other places to check for swim instruction are as follows:
Total Immersion Swimming (http://www.totalimmersion.net/)

ClubSwim (http://www.clubswim.com/splash-swiminstruction.asp)

USA Swimming's Store (http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/ECommerceUi/Store.aspx?TabId=7&Alias=rainbow&...)

Sports Nation (http://www.sportsnationvideo.com/swimming.html)

Again, I think that the Red Cross is a great way to start.  However, you may have some local talent than can help you out.  Get out and visit your local pool if you can.  The Red Cross can point you in the right direction as well.  They will know local places to swim that can help you out.

I hope that this has pointed you in the right path.  Best of luck.
Eric