# Do you float in water? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 27, 2008, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-float-in-water/461442 "2008-08-27T17:50:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-float-in-water/461442/21 "2008-08-27T20:07:52Z")
I float quite well (too well, in fact - I have to fight my thighs to keep 'em wet, they want to bob up like buoys), and am fat, but to bust the “fatties float, skinnies sink” theory, there’s my dad. Big guy, big gut, extra fat just 'bout everywhere…sinks like a sinking thing, even with a big lungful of air. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-float-in-water/461442/22 "2008-08-27T20:19:36Z")
I sink like a brick. No weights for me when I go diving though! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-float-in-water/461442/23 "2008-08-27T20:23:27Z")
B. Fat floats. Therefore, given A and B, I float. ---
**Author:** ![mlerose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@mlerose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlerose)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-float-in-water/461442/24 "2008-08-27T20:25:45Z")
Never been a floater. I’ve got too much muscle in my lower body. I can do a backfloat if I kick my legs every few seconds and keep air in my lungs, but it’s never comfortable or relaxing for me. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-float-in-water/461442/25 "2008-08-27T20:26:17Z")
I could float if I felt OK putting my head far enough back to be horizontal. However after many ear infections I feel creeped out by ears covered in water so I don’t. But yeah, in general I can just bob there. Quite fat. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-float-in-water/461442/26 "2008-08-27T20:26:29Z")
When I was a kid I could float on my back like I was made of cork or something. Face, chest, toes all out of the water. For the record I was a skinny, scrawny little dork with a miniscule body fat percentage. Now that I am a flabby, fleshy adult I can’t float on my back at all. I can get in the right position but as soon as I stop moving my arms and legs my feet sink below the surface eventually pulling my legs then my torso under as well, so I end up essentially treading water in a vertical position with my face pointing at the sky. So, ex-floater here. ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-float-in-water/461442/27 "2008-08-27T20:28:07Z")
I float like a cork, always have, even as a little kid. It’s the first thing my father taught me about swimming. He said if I could float, I could always pop up, get my breath and regroup. I fall asleep floating. It’s great. Yeah, the sounds filtered by water are really soothing. Sometimes I link my hands behind my neck so my arms act as outriggers if the water is a bit choppy. But otherwise I cross my feet at the ankles, let my arms float free and just doze off (usually starting in a shady spot so I don’t wake up with a horrid sunburn). It’s hard not to drift, though. I can’t do it in a crowded pool because I’ll drift right into other people. No relation to body fat, though. I’m heavier than my former rail-thin frame but even when I looked like a stick figure I could still float. Fluffy bones maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-float-in-water/461442/28 "2008-08-27T21:01:59Z")
Note that floating not only depends on body composition, but also on water. Those who don’t float in freshwater may float in saltwater. I once fell asleep while floating in an especially salty bit of ocean - I was incredibly bouyant. Back in plain ol’ freshwater, I float,but not so easily I could fall asleep. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-float-in-water/461442/29 "2008-08-27T21:36:21Z")
As I noted in the other thread, I sink like a rock. During Red Cross swim classes, I was unable to progress past the second lesson, the Dead Man’s Float. The instructors seemed to think it was my fault that I sank, as though there were some technique to master in order to float. So, despite being able to swim like a fish, I could not progress through the Red Cross swim courses. I’m still bitter forty years later. And the Red Cross better not call and ask for a donation! ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-float-in-water/461442/30 "2008-08-27T21:41:18Z")
Yep, I float - in fact, I find it difficult not to, for example if I try to swim underwater I just bob straight back up again. I’m slim, but with large boobs - they seem to act as natural buoyancy aids! ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-float-in-water/461442/31 "2008-08-27T22:07:44Z")
Freshwater, no. Saltwater, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Rosalind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6de8d8/32.png) [@Rosalind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rosalind)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-float-in-water/461442/32 "2008-08-27T22:22:00Z")
Yes, very well, even when I was very slim with good muscles. I don’t think it’s related to body fat, or at least not entirely. This is making me want to go swimming tomorrow now. ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-float-in-water/461442/33 "2008-08-27T22:42:18Z")
I buy the fat floats deal. The funniest thing to watch is when I try to float without making a concerted effort to stay in one position. It takes about 2 full minutes to happen, but eventually my legs, torso and head are underwater and my butt is happily bobbing above the water line. Oy. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-float-in-water/461442/34 "2008-08-28T01:50:20Z")
Marginal floater here - I must inhale deeply and hold my breath. When I was young I had to pass a swimming test that included floating on your back for 5 minutes. To do this, I had to be the only one in the pool on a calm day, and I had to wait 10-15 minutes, until it was glassy smooth. I’d then take a deep breath and carefully glide out into deep water, where just my nose (well, about 95% of it) was out of the water. I then had to take very shallow breaths, to keep most of the air in my lungs. Often I’d inhale some water and have to stop, but with great care and concentration I finally made the 5 minutes and passed the test. This skill was said to be included because of its survival value. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-float-in-water/461442/35 "2008-08-28T02:08:37Z")
After reading the other thread, I was quite surprised to learn that not everyone can tread water. Not only can I float, I can be in the treading position, kind of like you’re standing, and barely move and still not sink. Sometimes when I’m in deep open water I’ll purposely freak myself out by only having my face out of the water and the rest of my body fully submerged, and just float there. It’s almost like I can’t sink! ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-float-in-water/461442/36 "2008-08-28T03:39:14Z")
I float like a rock. I’ve gained weight in my old age to combat the problem. Now I float like a brick. I don’t think it has much to do with fat. While not obese, I am 20 pounds more than my ideal bmi. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-float-in-water/461442/37 "2008-08-28T03:41:10Z")
Thirty seven replies and not a witch reference yet? Who _are_ you people? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-float-in-water/461442/38 "2008-08-28T03:57:32Z")
I’m pretty sure I float. But then again, I haven’t been in the water in a floatable orientation in about 25 years. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-float-in-water/461442/39 "2008-08-28T03:58:48Z")
[QUOTE=KneadToKnow] Thirty seven replies and not a witch reference yet? Who _are_ you people? [/QUOTE] Ha! It never even occurred to me… I’m pretty sure I weigh more than a duck though. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-float-in-water/461442/40 "2008-08-28T04:29:55Z")
I float like a cork! But when I was a kid, I had a hard time with it. My legs would drift down, then the rest of me would slide under water. This was with my arms out and my back arched, just like they said. BUT…I just looked at the treading water thread. Even though, as I said, I’m a perfect cork, and have dive from the side, not just a surface dive, if I want to swim down to the bottom of the pool, treading water requires effort. In my swim class we had to tread water for something like 8 minutes, legs only, and keep our shoulders out of the water. That was hard for me, although easier than floating at the time. These days, floating is much easier. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-float-in-water/461442.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-float-in-water/461442.md?page=3)