How long does it take you to become more comfortable in deeper water. I went to the 2 feet water and let myself just float on my back and stomach and realized that the water will in fact support me no matter how I move as long as I have air in my lungs. However, when I realize that I have floated in more than 3 feet deep I feel a little funny because I don't know to touch to bottom of the pool anymore. When I was dependant on the floatation devices I was fine in six feet of water because I could get myself to stand up. You can't exactly do that when you're floating and if u can I just don't know how yet. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Parents
Former Member
If you are floating on your back, to stand, put your arms out to the side like a "T", lift your head up, bring your arms around backwards under the water and then up, as soon as the head is lifted the bottom half on the body should start to sink. As you are sweeping the arms around drive the butt down. This should put you in a vertical position to stand.
If you are on your front floating, put your arms in front of you, lift the head, the legs will start to sink, drive the arms down, bend the knees up, and you should end up vertical.
If you should decide to wear fins at all, always stand by turning yourself on your back and stand in that manner as if you were floating on your back.
I have been working with a man who wanted to learn to swim in the worst way. He was afraid of deep water. What we did that seemed to work was to put long fins on (helped in learning to kick) and he held on to empty plastic gallon milk jugs with the lids on. This way he learned an effective kick without having the fear of going under. Once he was kicking effectively we took away the jugs (but not the fins). We also did many, many repeats of learning how to get into a back float from that position of being vertical in deeper water. Next I gave him back the jugs and took away the fins and he kicked until he was satisfied that he could stay up and get to a safe place-a back float or even the side if needed. Then we took away the milk jugs. I cannot say that he is totally without fear yet but he is swimming across the pool now.
Good luck.
If you are floating on your back, to stand, put your arms out to the side like a "T", lift your head up, bring your arms around backwards under the water and then up, as soon as the head is lifted the bottom half on the body should start to sink. As you are sweeping the arms around drive the butt down. This should put you in a vertical position to stand.
If you are on your front floating, put your arms in front of you, lift the head, the legs will start to sink, drive the arms down, bend the knees up, and you should end up vertical.
If you should decide to wear fins at all, always stand by turning yourself on your back and stand in that manner as if you were floating on your back.
I have been working with a man who wanted to learn to swim in the worst way. He was afraid of deep water. What we did that seemed to work was to put long fins on (helped in learning to kick) and he held on to empty plastic gallon milk jugs with the lids on. This way he learned an effective kick without having the fear of going under. Once he was kicking effectively we took away the jugs (but not the fins). We also did many, many repeats of learning how to get into a back float from that position of being vertical in deeper water. Next I gave him back the jugs and took away the fins and he kicked until he was satisfied that he could stay up and get to a safe place-a back float or even the side if needed. Then we took away the milk jugs. I cannot say that he is totally without fear yet but he is swimming across the pool now.
Good luck.
