Alligator eyes
From Openwaterpedia

Ashley Twichell, a professional marathon swimmer, navigating and sighting in the RCP Tiburon Mile with alligator eyes. Photo by Chris Lundie of TakeItLive
noun - Alligator eyes is a position of the head and eyes of an open water swimmer when he rises his head slightly over the surface of the water and looks forward in order to navigate properly and sight well.
The coach encouraged the young swimmers to learn how to do alligator eyes even in rough water.