I taught myself to swim as a teen , by staying in shallow water and treading water , dogpaddling etc. Then I would go out over deep holes. Once I lost my fear of the water it was was easy.Then you couldn't keep me out of the water. I still nearly drowned in a rip current at the beach , and trying to swim across a pond with my friends. ( although they never knew ! ) I had a class later on and to pass you had to swim 1/4 mile , but I'm pretty sure I couldn't do that now.
My wife almost drowned in a rip current last year with my g- daughter. She miraculously swam out of it after going Under 2-3 times. My G-daughter ( who swims like a otter ) was nearby ,but wasn't caught in it. I remember seeing them way down the beach right before it happened and breathing a prayer for their safety as it was rough. They were not far from shore but still there was danger.
A young man drowned that day just out of sight from where they were.
I guess the moral of the story is be prepared . Don't take risks.