Holding a kickboard at seventeen isn’t embarrassing. Never learning to swim would be.

Weigh the two costs honestly. One is a few hours of feeling conspicuous in a shallow end, in front of people who will not remember you, and which ends permanently once you can swim. The other is a lifetime of standing at the edge of lakes, boats and pools and quietly managing it. The second is much bigger and much quieter.

If you want to close it, look for an adult or teen beginner session rather than a public lane. Go with one friend or go alone and tell nobody. Six lessons is usually the whole gap.