Learning how to sight with one arm extended (single-arm sighting) and learning how to use your pulling arm to help you get a quick look ahead, are important skills in open-water swimming.
WHEN you push yourself up is very important. You want to avoid having the head and the arm above water for too long at the same time, so start to push the head up about half way through the pulling phase. The arm out front will be used as a bit of a brace, and when the pulling arm recovers, your head will be falling back into the water. Remember, try to have either your head or your arm out of the water, not both.