Beginner needs some swimming advice

Hmmm...I've been swimming a long time, and I've never heard of a "kick turn." 'Splain, please. (I know flip turns and open turns...)

Anyway, especially for triathlon, breathing every 6 strokes is way too infrequent. Even Michael Phelps breathes every stroke (butterfly). I suspect if you start breathing every stroke or every 3rd stroke (bilateral), you'll be less out of breath.

Also, what kind of turn you do matters little. If you can do a flip turn in the pool, then great. If not, just stick to open turns, making sure you streamline nicely off the wall.

I think what you should focus on is neither the "kick turn" nor the continual swimming; rather, work on technique--that means doing a lot of drills. Swimming, unlike running or cycling, does not get better just by doing. It gets better primarily through improved technique. Check out something like Total Immersion, or if you have the opportunity, work with a swim coach/teacher or masters team.

That about covers it, but I can suggest prescription goggles. With my vision, its likely I wouldn't be able to see a buoy 300 meters away.

I breath every other stroke, left side every time, although I can go four or six, I pace better breathing more often. I'm just learning to bilateral breath, but its not smooth for me yet.

Like everyone else said 6 stroke is way too much.  I believe that is called hydroponic breathing and is a training technique swimmers use to build up long techniques.  Most people breath every 2 or 3 strokes depending on if you can bilateral breath.   Try this first of all.

Second, go by total immersion.  I suggest the DVD.  I own the book and it helped but the illustrations suck, I imaging the DVD is better.  Even better yet, take a clinic. They are pricey but I have heard well worth it.

I admit I was in the same boat as you probably worse a year ago.  I was not a swimmer, I could hang out in a pool all day and I could swim, but I could not lap swim.  There was no keeping my face in the water.   My first attempt was memorial day last year and I did 4 X 25mtrs with long breaks of huffing and puffing in between 25's.   This was with my face out of the water also.  Mind you at the time I could run 20 miles easy so my cardio was fine.  I slowly built up to where i could swim may 200-250 meters non-stop but probably at 2:30 per 100 (not too bad).  In September of last year I decided to do a tri that was in a pool and 300 meters.  By this time my community pool was closed so I joined a gym that had a 4ft deep pool so I had the security that I could always stand up and that seemed to help.  A month before my race I did a 300m time trial in 8:30 or about 2:30 per 100 and was not beat.  I went back a few days later and swam 750 meters and 2 days later swam 1500 and was not really tired.  Something just clicked.  I then bought TI and did some of the drills to learn balance.  I know have my time down to about 2:00 per 100 meters no matter the distance.  I could probably swim the IM distance if I did not get bored first.

My secrets I believe was 1.) slow down 2.) find a shallow pool for security 3.) a nose plug helped me greatly 4.) try TI 5.) learn balance, once that happens and you realize you won't sink you can swim forever. 6.) relax, panicing is what make you get winded IMO 7.) don't worry about turns there are no walls in lakes 8.) have fun.

Flip turns are like icing...you don't need to do them. Focus on the stuff that is important. Many folks who have posted have done IMs some multiple and still don't do them.

Breath more no wonder you are out of breath. I breath every second stroke on my right. After 4 years of swimming I'm still trying to get the bilateral breathing down.

Work on the basics, technique is key.

Video taping yourself is good, but working with someone that knows swim technique is better. Consider hiring a coach for a lesson, going to the Masters program at your local pool, working with other triathletes (but in general we are crappy swimmers so be careful there).

Consider getting googles with corrections..some are only like $20 not exact for your prescription but better than plain goggles.