Sounds like he was swimming in Lake Aloha.

Here is someone's photo of it.

http://www.markjs.com/page38/page45/files/page45-1012-full.html

I, and most people I know that have backpacked there, have tried to cross it by wading or swimming to save the 4 mile hike around. You can just see where
you want to go just a few dozen yards away if you follow all the
little peninsulas and islands!

As far as a compass goes, unless it is dark or foggy, you don't
need one as it is so open and so obvious where all the landmarks
are. A map and the ability to read it on the other hand---.