I'm thinking of just buying the top for this summer; I wanna buy my own swim-shorts.

I'm not a beach or pool person, but I presume I will go this year once or twice. I want to learn how to swim too, so I can't just wear a binder under a shirt.

I want to wear swim shorts, be them male or female, and a top.  But..

Anyway, I have a few other options up my sleeve for this situation but has anyone tried that swimsuit? How is it?

I don't know about the compression swimming things, but just to warn you: female swim shorts, if not wearing a packer, will make appear a very noticeable camel toe.
And when you notice, it will be too late... 

I've heard the swimsuit binds well enough but you want to wear someting over it or else you can tell. Especially because of the zipper i think they said.. something about it kinda making your chest look cleavagey if it's the only layer.
Worthwhile investment, I've heard if you use a regular underworks binder it gets wrecked from the chemicals or whatever and is near impossible to get back off.

I bought this suit for swimming at my local pool.  I wore it for about 2 months 2-3 times a week.  The chlorine wrecked the material used on the bottoms and the outer layer of the top.  It's the same material you'd get if you get a cheap knock off racing suit instead of investing in a speedo or other name brand--it's just not a quality built to last.  I wore mine without a shirt over it--it's cut high enough that you don't get cleavage or side boob or anything.  It looked great for the first month and okay for the second--and still, the underlayer binds very well--but the outerlayer is comically stretched out and the bottoms, you can see through.

All in all, if you're an infrequent swimmer or swimming in a salinated pool or at the beach, you should be fine.  If you're intending to spend more than 15 or 20 swims in a chlorine pool or hot tub, then it's back to the drawing board.

Hope that helps.

I have one, but I'd rather use boardies and a binder w/ t-shirt.

i use a normal swim-shirt with my binder underneath

I have the swim suit... well not the suit just the top and I actually really like it.
I tried swimming with my binder and it gave me a crazy bad rash... which is what prompted me to buy the swim suit thing.
I like the zipper because its easy on and off because when binders get wet they stick to you like freakin' glue!
Anyway, the compression is decent, not as good as my 997 but like I said it saves me from rashes so in that aspect its worth it.

Honestly, I would just get a second binder and use your old one underneath a rash guard. That's what I did when I went swimming on holiday last year — nobody batted an eyelid. If anybody asks, just say you've got sunburn or a skin condition (like eczema) all over your back! Underworks' swimsuit is very expensive and I've not heard any overwhelmingly positive reviews about it. Not saying it's a bad product, I'm sure it works very well — it just seems like a lot of money to spend, especially when there are slightly cheaper alternatives available