My 8yo has no fear of the water.........thus making me terrified everytime she is in it. But she has had swimming lessons.
Our friends' summer places are right on Chincoteague channel, she wears a life jacket whenever we are over there.
I was swimming with my kids and some of my grand babies under water before they were a year old. They naturally hold their breath and have no fear. Fear is a learned reaction.
Thing about that is.....it was YOUR choice as the PARENT, not the government! Grrrrrrrrr
I think open water is scarey; give me an indoor pool or a hot tub any day, and I'm an adult and a pretty good swimmer.
My boys can all swim, though only one really likes to. Can't keep DH out from under the ocean when we're near it. He is a SCUBA nutcase.
Worst case, I'll still be considered a "Young Widow" when he's eaten by something beastly that lives down there, LOL!