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
Brenda, I think you need to learn to tread water. Once you can tread water, it won't matter whether you can touch the bottom or not, because you'll know how to keep yourself at the surface in any depth of water.
I wouldn't be able to describe it here. You need an instructor who can demonstrate it to you. It involves making semicircular motion with your arms and hands and kicking below you at the same time, but once again someone will need to show you for it to make sense. I would suggest asking your current instructor to teach you how to tread water; and if he or she can't, you probably need another instructor! I hate to be critical of someone I don't know, but I'm surprised that your instructor is trying to get you into the deep water without first teaching you the necessary techniques for remaining at the surface. It seems that a step is being skipped.
The way I was taught years ago was to start by hanging onto the side of the pool in the deep end, then ease away from the edge, within reach of the side, and tread. When I got tired, I could reach out and grab the wall. The instructor encouraged us to stay out a little longer each time, until we could tread water for a pretty good while. At first your motions will likely be frantic, but as you learn how to use the water you'll smooth out and be able to stay up considerably longer.
After we could tread water confidently, she had us stay off the wall and transition to a float on our backs if we got tired. Once I mastered this, I figure I could stay out in deep water as long as I could stay awake, and knowing that is a real confidence booster. Once you know how to tread water, the transitions from floating to treading (or floating to standing) become easier mentally. The reason is that you know that if the floor isn't there, you'll still know what to do to be able to stay at the surface.
Hang in there. You seem to want this badly enough that it'll eventually come to you. You'll be outswimming the rest of us before you know it.
Brenda, I think you need to learn to tread water. Once you can tread water, it won't matter whether you can touch the bottom or not, because you'll know how to keep yourself at the surface in any depth of water.
I wouldn't be able to describe it here. You need an instructor who can demonstrate it to you. It involves making semicircular motion with your arms and hands and kicking below you at the same time, but once again someone will need to show you for it to make sense. I would suggest asking your current instructor to teach you how to tread water; and if he or she can't, you probably need another instructor! I hate to be critical of someone I don't know, but I'm surprised that your instructor is trying to get you into the deep water without first teaching you the necessary techniques for remaining at the surface. It seems that a step is being skipped.
The way I was taught years ago was to start by hanging onto the side of the pool in the deep end, then ease away from the edge, within reach of the side, and tread. When I got tired, I could reach out and grab the wall. The instructor encouraged us to stay out a little longer each time, until we could tread water for a pretty good while. At first your motions will likely be frantic, but as you learn how to use the water you'll smooth out and be able to stay up considerably longer.
After we could tread water confidently, she had us stay off the wall and transition to a float on our backs if we got tired. Once I mastered this, I figure I could stay out in deep water as long as I could stay awake, and knowing that is a real confidence booster. Once you know how to tread water, the transitions from floating to treading (or floating to standing) become easier mentally. The reason is that you know that if the floor isn't there, you'll still know what to do to be able to stay at the surface.
Hang in there. You seem to want this badly enough that it'll eventually come to you. You'll be outswimming the rest of us before you know it.
