Open water swimming--advice?

I will be moving to southern Maine shortly and just got to thinking that I should try to do some open water swim events since there are several big ones in the area. I am an experienced swimmer (though mostly in pools and small lakes) so other than getting better at sighting without doing breaststroke, getting used to more ocean swimming and wearing a wetsuit it shouldn't be that hard. However, I am not sure about some of the logistics for training--obviously if I will be swimming in places without lifeguards on duty I should have a swim buddy; how would I go about finding one? Also as I mentioned, if I am going to be swimming in the ocean for long periods I will need a wetsuit--any recommendations for how to find one that fits well, or is it pretty much just a matter of trying a bunch on?

I'm not sure about swim buddies. I often swim with my husband in a kayak, or swim a more populated area. You might be able to find beaches that are popular with triathletes and swimmers.

Wetsuits, yeah. If you can find someplace that sells them, try them on, though most places you can buy them do give you a one-swim-guarantee where if you get in the water and hate it, you can still return it (as long as you don't slather it in bodyglide). Otherwise, you could call and talk to someplace that different varieties online and see if they can make recommendations (just be prepared with all your measurements). Your height and weight are the biggest factors, but different wetsuits are sized differently. If you're average height, average build, you'll have a lot more choices than someone shorter or taller. ;)

Thanks for the suggestions. Certainly once the ocean beaches have lifeguards on duty they will be a good place to swim without having to have a buddy, so maybe I'll just do most of my swimming there (even though the water will be chilly) rather than in the lakes. As far as the wetsuit thing I'll have to see how I do in the cold water and maybe won't need to get one until I sign up for a race (a lot of the races seem to require them). Sizing could be interesting since I have a feeling that a lot of them might be too long in the torso for me.

The challenge I have found with going somewhere that has lifeguards is that the usually aren't there early or late enough for me. I also either swim and my husband kayaks or there are a number of places here that many triathletes swim. You may be able to find a team or a group that swims regularly. Key is don't want to be out there alone.

I always where a wetsuit when I swim OW regardless of the temp. I'm fairly new to the OWS and gives me an extra layer of security. I ordered online with no issues using the size charts. Xterra using has pretty good prices and is almost always running a sale. I bought a mid-range sleeveless for $99.

Check the area for local swim clubs and tri clubs. They usually have group OW swims.

My sister lives on a small pond in Maine. One of her neighbors used to swim pretty regularly across and back. She would tie a lifeguard rescue tube to her foot and of course let her partner know she was going.

We NEVER swam in the ocean when I was growing up. It was just too darn cold. :D

Veronica