If you only do one of the sports in a triathlon -- swimming, cycling, or running -- you're safe for now. But as soon as you take up a second, a thought begins to sprout in the back of your mind. What if I did a triathlon? it whispers. I would only have to learn one more thing.

If you're keen to get fit but don't want to join a gym, your next best bet is your local pool. As this infographic from Bakyard Ocean illustrates, swimming is one of the most effective ways to burn off energy, lose weight and build muscle.

The only thing more divine than floating around in a pool on a hot summer's day is floating around in a pool with a refreshing beverage. But once you're settled in your doughnut shaped floatie, the last thing you want to do is get out to refresh your beverage. Luckily, The Kitchn has a cheap and easy solution for this summertime sadness: All you need is some pool noodles.

To help your baby become comfortable going underwater in the pool, here's a simple trick: Blow in their face before dunking them. They will instinctively gulp air and hold their breath, making it a perfect opportunity for you to pretend the kid is the next Ian Thorpe for a quick second.

What happens when you combine a cultural obsession with thinness, a bit of organised propaganda and a catchy hashtag?

Enter the “bikini bridge”: the space between the bikini and the lower abdomen that occurs when bather bottoms are suspended between the two hip bones.

Simply floating in water might look easy, but it's actually pretty difficult if you don't have a flotation device, and treading water is an essential safety skill for anyone who plans on spending time on or near the water, well, ever. Here's the best way to do it for as long as possible in an emergency situation.

This post was originally published on January 3 2017 over on Lifehacker. This sponsored repost is brought to you by Surf Life Saving Australia

If you're planning on hitting the beach this summer, take a look at this handy guide before you dive into the water so you know how to escape a deadly rip current. It might just save your life.

An Australian teen was recently hospitalised after a mysterious swarm of creatures seemed to bite his legs and cause serious bleeding. While the incident has produced some shock and awe, there's no reason to get too worked up about it.

You do not want your toddler to drown. I don't want your toddler to drown, either. Swimming lessons are great, and can help them be more comfortable in water, but please don't rely on them to give you peace of mind at the pool.

Earlier this month, a child in the US died a week after apparently aspirating water while wading with his family. The media has called this a case of "dry drowning", also called "secondary" or "delayed" drowning, in which a person initially seems fine after inhaling water but then dies hours or days later.

Brief news items of note for Lifehacker readers, including: how Gizmodo's editor lost $4.8 million in Bitcoin, watch the new Game Of Thrones trailer, 35 ways to improve your resume.

When you head to the beach or pool with a baby, your natural reaction is probably to grab a pack of disposable swim nappies. But they absorb little to nothing, so what's the point? A reusable swim nappy makes a lot more sense.

Summer's a great time to spend the day out on the lake. Leeches think so too. If you take a dip in your local lake and come out with a new gross friend, don't panic. Just follow the steps in this graphic to get rid of it.

The cool, glistening waters of public pools are certainly seductive on a hot summer day. But if they're not properly maintained and treated, these public pools spread germs that can cause unpleasant illnesses and ruin the fun. Here's what you need to know to stay safe (and cool) in a public pool.

Leeches, those slimy, blood-sucking nightmare creatures, can be found in ponds, swamps, marshes, and lakes all over the world. Here's what to do if one latches onto you, and how to treat the wound afterward.

Breathing is so easy on land that we don't think about it, but in the water, we have to coordinate our whole body just to grab a breath of air. This video can help you fix some of the ways you may be making this task even harder than it needs to be.

If you're on a sinking ship or you fall overboard, and you don't have a legitimate flotation device, it's time for the pants to come off. This clever survival trick will help you float on the water so you use less energy while waiting for someone to rescue you.

Having a perfect pair of goggles is like having a superpower: You can see clearly underwater, and the goggles feel as natural as a part of your own body. Finding that perfect pair can take some trial and error, though. Here are the things you'll want to know when you start your search.

Sharks don't really like the taste of people, but their poor vision and the splashing of beachgoers can lead to sharks confusing you for a tasty snack. Here's what you should do if you see a fin and the Jaws theme starts playing.