Q&A for How to Float on Your Back

Yes, everyone can float in the water but fear can prevent some people from learning. Also, how high or lie you float (buoyancy) depends on such factors as your body type and size. Things that can affect how high or low you float include your body mass index (fat levels), muscle density, lung size and the floating shape you’ve adopted––note that legs tend to droop more than the rest of your body when floating. Children tend to float better than adults and females tend to float better than males. Also, it is naturally easier to float higher in saltwater than in freshwater.

If you’re trying to float, but find yourself sinking a lot, you may have denser bones or muscles than other people with higher fat levels (fat aids floating). However, you can still float if taught properly. Keep in mind that legs tend to sink more than the rest of the body, so proper swimming technique is essential for learning to overcome this tendency. Relaxing more can help to prevent sinking when learning to float, as can getting the “feel” for how your body best responds to floating in water. Choosing to float in saltwater over freshwater can give you more buoyancy too.

You could do so by holding onto the side of the pool or some other anchored object that isn’t moving, such as a buoy or diving platform. This will keep you tethered in place and you won't "float away." Otherwise, in open waters the current will tend to cause you to drift; even in a pool you’ll likely move due to the small ripples in the pool water caused by the movement of others in the pool.

It’s a good idea to get help from a swimming instructor or someone who knows how to float, as fear of not being able to float can block learning, especially if you can’t swim yet. If practicing alone, start in a shallow pool area near the edge and hold onto the side rail with your face to the sky, take in deep breaths (large intakes of air aid floating) and let the rest of your body extend, trusting in the water to lift you up. Since you’re holding on and in a shallow area, you can quickly stand up if needed. When you’re more confident, pool noodles or other flotation devices can help you to practice floating away from the wall. Always have a spotter (someone to keep watch over you) in case of difficulty.

Tilt back your head so your eyes are looking directly up at the ceiling or sky; keep your kicks small and fast, not slow and long.

It's usually ok if water gets in your ears, just make sure to dry them well when you're done by leaning your head side to side and shaking it. If the water bothers you, buy some swimming earplugs and wear them when swimming.

No. You float due to the amount of air inside you that is keeping you buoyant.

They are not inferior. Both sexes can float equally well.

To stop floating, just stop keeping your stomach up and you should probably feel your feet touching the ground. This will only work in shallow water. Another tip that will work in a little deeper water is flipping from swimming on back to stomach without touching the ground. That tip will work only if you know how to get standing from swimming on your stomach.

In the summer, any local Target or Walmart will have things like noodles and rings. Otherwise you can buy one online or find a specialty pool store.

Yes, absolutely! Floating requires practically no swimming experience. Just lie horizontally on the water, regulate your breathing and stay calm. Try not to move around too much.

You can't float if you don't figure out how to relax. Try some dry exercizes first. Lay down on your back your chin pointed to your chest. Keep your lips closed, relax your tongue downwards, and relax all muscles in your face. Hold your shoulders down, lift your breast up while breathing through your nose. Also, spread you're legs a little and lay your feet apart.Try doing the same thing in the water by holding onto something. Breathing gently, let your chest float on the water.

Just blow air out of your nose to keep water from getting in.

Because men and women have different bodies. Fat tissues float more. If any fat must be stored in the body, in women it is stored more readily in the core; a side effect of this is that women find it easier to float. The difference is slight, and individual statistics blur it away, but if you're looking for a general explanation, that's it: more fat in your core makes you float better.

Go to deeper water. If you are floating, just straighten your legs.

Some benefits of floating on your back include being able to rest after a long swim without getting out of water, being able to get a constant supply of air while in the water, and being able to escape from quicksand.

If your face is out of the water, you should be able to breathe.

Relax, maybe put a noodle under your head and knees. Pretend there is a string between your stomach and the sky. Confidence comes with experience.

Eating too close to before you swim is usually not a good thing because it can cause cramping so I would recommend not eating half an hour before you swim.

Of course! Weight isn't important when it comes to floating. It's about balance and body composition. Fat floats but bones and muscle sink. Someone who is very lean will need to balance on the air in their lungs to keep on the surface. Someone with a higher body fat percentage will likely float with ease.