# How can one NOT know how to swim?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-one-not-know-how-to-swim/626700>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 29, 2012, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-one-not-know-how-to-swim/626700 "2012-06-29T14:58:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 9

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**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-one-not-know-how-to-swim/626700/161 "2013-06-18T04:19:44Z")

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Ignoring the obvious issue of panic…People have different densities, so some float better than others. Personally, I only float if I have air in my lungs. If I exhale, I sink to the bottom of the pool. Even with an air full of lungs, on my back, my legs will sink if I don’t keep kicking. And swimming takes upper body strength. I was an above average swimmer in my youth, but there were a few years where I didn’t have access. The next time I swam, I did fine, but was surprised at how much more effort it took than I was expecting. That said, given how babies instinctively react in water, it does surprise me that we don’t have a slightly more innate instinct as adults.

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**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-one-not-know-how-to-swim/626700/162 "2013-06-18T04:23:44Z")

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> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#):
>
> The ocean I can float or tread water but not in frsh water.

Why?

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**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-one-not-know-how-to-swim/626700/163 "2013-06-18T04:27:01Z")

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Salty water is more dense than fresh water, so everyone (or everything) will float higher than usual.

Ever seen pictures of people reading magazines while floating in the Dead Sea? Fun times.

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**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-one-not-know-how-to-swim/626700/164 "2013-06-18T18:59:13Z")

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I can’t even float in salt water - unless I have my 3ml wetsuit on. Then I’m a freaking buoy. Take me out of it, even with filled up lungs of air, I still sink like a rock.

I \*\*barely \*\*got thru the mandatory swim/tread water requirements for my open water diving cert. Fortunately I could do the sidestroke to pass the swimming requirement.

The water-treading was A Struggle even with the Divemaster and my Dive Instructor standing over me hollering stupid stuff to irritate me enough to keep my damn head above water for the required length of time. :rolleyes:

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