Many Rules, Different Venues, One Goal. There are numerous rules, interpretations and traditions – local, regional, national and international – that dictate and influence the safety procedures, guidelines and rules used in open water swims, but there is only one goal: safety for all. Because the natural elements in the water and the weather are so dynamic and unpredictable, the ultimate safety of open water swimmers depends on rules and guidelines supported by common sense and a reasonable, flexible approach to safety that is properly planned.