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Learning to swim is usually for survival rather than for training and a good level of fitness. While most people know how to run and cycle reasonably efficiently, swimming doesn't come naturally, drowning comes more naturally. For a start there's a confusing array of strokes to choose from, which means that to use it efficiently as exercise, you really need to take some lessons from a coach.
Benefits
Once you have an efficient stroke technique you can concentrate on swimming at a sufficiently fast speed to lift your heart rate into the desired aerobic training range, thus developing cardiovascular fitness.
Swimming is best used as a general cardiovascular workout, and to strengthen upper body muscles neglected by long hours spent cycling. Like cycling it is a non-weight bearing sport, so swimming is less likely to over-stress your joints than running.
Swimming is ideal if you have a heavy build or are prone to joint injuries. However it's quite easy to underestimate how hard you're working in water, so be careful.
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