I can swim, but I'm not very good at it so I tend to avoid the water.

That's exactly me. I began learning swimming at a club at the age of 7, I used to be really uncomfortable and afraid, and when it was my turn I would refuse to jump in the water so the captain will signal to the person behind me to push me, and I fell in the water and feel like I'm drowning, and the captain would finally catch me and take me out of the water. This happened many times that I hated water and swimming and refused to go back.

At the age of 10, I went back, and I made a lot of progress and could swim without help, and even learned to cross the pool's width without any boards or help from the captain, but I have always felt that I'm afraid of the water, that's what held me from getting better.

I quit learning swimming long ago, I still manage to swim "okay-ish" when we go to the pool occasionally, but I still don't enjoy swimming, and I'm still afraid of the water, even though I'm 23 years old now.