One of the other experienced folks mentioned using a paddle float. I'll have to try that the next time. As I was working on it, another guy came over to offer tips. His tips were EXCELLENT for helping me get the idea of what it would feel like, so I was thankful for that. I think he might have been an instructor when not on vacation because he was really good at explaining things and helping me do little things while upright to kind of learn. Oh, and I was doing this in a sheltered bay, so the water was very calm and less than 5 ft deep (I could just barely touch with my head above water once I'd exited).

The water was pretty cold, but I swim in water that cold all the time and it doesn't bother me. I was wearing a sleeveless tri wetsuit and a pfd that day, so I was plenty warm enough. I think the water temps were mid 50's in that bay so it wasn't that bad. Honestly, 80F water would probably kill me. I don't even like pools that warm!