Learning how to breathe while you swim takes time, and building confidence in the water is an important first step to breathing efficiently. Because the pressure of water pushes in on your chest slightly, you might react to the claustrophobic feeling by breathing too often or too hard. Hyperventilating does not increase your oxygen supply and can make you dizzy and confused.
Basics
Former Olympian and author Jim Montgomery in "Mastering Swimming" recommends "bobbing" exercises to build comfort levels under water. Take a breath before dropping down to the bottom of the pool, and then push off from the bottom, exhaling air through your mouth and nose as you come back up to the surface. Repeat until you feel comfortable with the rhythm of inhaling on the surface of the water, and then exhaling while underwater.
Timing and Head Position
You learn breathing patterns best when you eliminate the distractions of pulling and kicking. Place a pull buoy or small float between your thighs and float on your stomach, hands extended in front of you. Breathe in and put your face in the water, looking at the bottom of the pool. Put your head deep enough so that half of your forehead is underwater. Exhale through your mouth and nose while you turn your head to one side. Rotate your head so that your mouth and cheek just break the surface of the water. Inhale, and repeat the exercise.
Motion
Once you feel comfortable with the inhale-exhale cycle, transition the breathing to a push and glide sequence. Inhale as you push off the edge of the pool, and stretch out your arms in front of you as you glide forward. Start exhaling immediately and roll your body until your belly button faces the wall of the pool. Your head naturally rotates with your body, bringing your mouth and cheek above the surface of the water. Inhale, and repeat the breathing pattern until your glide runs out of steam.
Stroke Coordination
Next, incorporate breathing into your swimming stroke. Push off from the pool wall and face the bottom of the pool with your arms extended in front of you, in a streamlined position. Start exhaling as you press down with your "stroke arm," "catch" the water, and pull it back past your body toward your hip. Rotate your body and head in the direction of your stroke arm. Time your body roll so that your cheek and mouth break the surface of the water just as your stroke arm leaves the water at your hip. Inhale as your arm returns back in front. Kick slowly from the hip, just to keep yourself moving smoothly. Repeat the cycle with the same arm, making your way across the pool.
Tips
Breathing on both sides makes you better balanced in the water and helps builds your muscles evenly. Start breathing on both sides from the start, even though most swimmers naturally favor one side over the other.
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