How Do I Float In Water?

How do I float in water? That question you keep asking yourself every time you get into the swimming pool. You look around, and others in the water seem to be floating without trying. Read on and discover why.

Do you float or do you sink?

Most of us refer to floating as something that we attempt to do in a stationary position at the water surface. In certain situations in the water, some of us stay afloat, and some of us sink. It is a characteristic of our body, and it is all down to our relative density. 

Take 2 minutes to watch the video below that clearly explains what this means.

Learn how your body behaves in the water

Everyone's body shape and size are different, and the following exercises will help you learn how your body responds when it is in the water. 

Whether you can do these exercises or not, they will give you an insight into how your body responds in the water. The more you practice, the more you will control how your body behaves as you swim. 

If you naturally sink, you will eventually be able to slow down your rate of sinking and keep yourself near the water surface as you swim. 

FREE EBOOK:  all of the exercises below are found in my book 'How To Float', along with all the tips and tricks you will need to keep you at the surface as you move through the water. 

Don't miss out!  Click here to grab a FREE copy of my book. 

4 steps to staying afloat as you swim...

Exercise 1: Face Down Floating

Take a deep breath and submerge your face whilst bringing your legs up to the surface. Lay face down with arms and legs wide to cover as much surface area as possible. Lay in that position for as long as you can hold your breath.  Feel how your body behaves in this stationary position. 

You will most probably find your legs slowly sinking first. See if any small movements can slow down their sinking rate or even help them back to the surface. 

Try performing a very slow breaststroke, feeling your way through the water. 

Exercise 2: Push and Glide

Take a deep breath and push away from the pool wall, face down. Ensure your body is stretched out and streamlined. Glide as far as you can in one breath. 

You may find you begin to sink as your momentum slows. See what small movements of the legs, feet, and hands can keep you moving and afloat. 

Feel your way through the water using a gentle breaststroke or front crawl action.

Exercise 3: Push and Glide With Kicking

This exercise is the same as #2, but with a push and glide from the poolside.  

This time add leg kicks to help maintain the momentum and prevent sinking. Use a front crawl or breaststroke type leg kick. 

Exercise 4: Supine Push and Glide

Perform a push and glide from the poolside in a supine (face-up) position. Ensure your head is looking upwards and your chest and hips are high up near the water surface. This will help enable your legs and feet to be at or near the water surface too. 

As the glide begins to slow, add a gentle leg kick and hand movement to keep the glide going. 

I Try To Swim But I Still Sink.  How Do I Float?

Discover the myths, tips and tricks in my book 'How To Float'.  

No more asking 'How do I float'?  Take the next step to enjoying smooth swimming by downloading a FREE copy of my book today. 

Download your FREE copy

Click here to download your FREE copy of How To Float. 

I was recently asked 'why does my body sink when I swim?'  Click here to read my response...

A lady having swimming lessons was worried because she was not able to float. 

I am unable to swim at the surface when I kick my legs. 'First and most importantly, you must learn at your own pace. There is no standard number of lessons you will learn to swim in.'

My daughter's boyfriend is going to the Navy and needs to know how to float or tread water (he sinks like a rock).  'Not everyone naturally floats, and remaining afloat by treading water comes with practice.'

I have tried to learn to swim a few times, but I sink like a rock. I want to succeed this time, so any help would be greatly appreciated. 'Your determination to succeed is to be admired. Learning to swim will open up many pleasurable avenues in life and many health benefits.'

I can't swim because I can't float. How do I learn how to float? 'It sounds like you're stressing a lot about learning to swim and being unable to float.'

I would like to know how to glide further without sinking.  'If you have already established that you are a ‘sinker’, my question would be, how do you know you can do better?'

My body is still not floating on the water? I have just begun to learn to swim. 'Do not be put off just because your body does not float. Your ability to float is determined by your body composition.'

Why do my legs sink when swimming? 'Your problem could be related to a combination of technique and your relative density.'