Rob Gets In Over His Head

Rob Mariano Tries His Hand As Swimming Instructor, Calls For Help

(CBS)  Carlene Badeau is already dreaming of her retirement. Part of the plan is to spend lots of time relaxing by the water.

But there was one problem: She had never learned how to swim. So Carlene wrote to Rob Mariano, saying, "I desperately want to learn how to swim, though I am a real coward when it comes to getting in the water. We installed a swimming pool and I promised myself, if nothing else, I would put my head under the water by the end of the first summer."

Three summers later, Carlene still hadn't gone under — so her husband, Richard, had the pool taken out.

Having spent two seasons on "Survivor," surrounded by water, Rob Mariano seemed like the right guy to help her out. So The Early Show sent Rob to the Rescue.

Rob's first suggestion was a change in venue. "You know, teaching Carlene how to swim, it's something I think I can handle. The problem is she lives in Vermont, where it's freezing this time of year. So I decided I'd invite her somewhere where it's a little warmer, like Miami," he said.

They headed south and Rob took over. "I really wanted to make Carlene's experience a memorable one," he said. "So we brought her and her husband down to the Four Seasons Miami and got them a room with a waterfront view so they could think about the upcoming swimming lesson."

Next came a day of beauty at a local salon, dinner at a beachside restaurant and a poolside massage.

Then the big moment: time to swim. And Rob quickly realized he might have taken on a bigger challenge than he could handle. Carlene was happy to stand in the water, but just couldn't bring herself to dunk her head under.