This is the answer. You're supposed to learn this if you take quality swim lessons.
I was a Red Cross Water Safety Instructor and lifeguard. I taught plenty of lessons to sub-10% body fat adults who had this problem. I generally have this problem too.
I can still float all day effortlessly.
I would totally try this toy out if it was at a resort and I could try it free or for a small charge. I think I wouldn't likely buy one but I would definitely enjoy trying it.
It is extremely clear to me this is a toy for expert swimmers. Anyone who has any fear at all of it should not try it. A lot of the comments read to me as people who are not good swimmers and aren't being straightforward about it and are projecting things onto the device.
But I also see no reason why you can't use this thing with a PFD. For something like a snorkeling program you could let people use it with a PFD.
A lot of people who can't swim freak out and have poor control of their breath. That's why this is a sticking point in lessons sometimes. You can tell someone to slow their breathing and hold more air in their lungs, but they are basically freaking out breathing fast and they have no control.
Yes, but I eventually have to exhale to take another breath and … well you get the idea.
As another commenter has said, not everyone is able to float and I have tried all “You just have to …” suggestions in this thread. I genuinely do not float.
I’ve got big heavy legs from cycling, squatting and paternal genetics, my torso is a little short for my height and I’m comfortably under 15% body fat with a BMI of 24.
Filling your lungs is pretty easy to try and pretty much the first thing that comes to mind and almost always the first suggestion everyone gives.
I've done a lot of lap swimming, sub 30s 50m, can hold breath for ages, swim 50m underwater, comfortable scuba diving etc but that doesn't help.
The issue is not total flotation per se. It is balance. I can't push air down into my legs, so they go down. I have then lost a lot of surface tension with my body area, so I go down.
I end up vertical but with max capacity lungs I can bob near surface. But breathing out to breathe fresh air in makes me go down. Compared to someone floating happily on their back it is not relaxing.
I really wish people would give up on the "eVeRy0ne cAn f1oAt!" idea. With just my body(IE no floating aids/neoprene), nope.
What I do instead, I kick gently. Just enough to keep my feet up. That keeps the rest of me up holding surface tension. I'm pretty sure I could do this for hours if need be but never want to be in a position for survival to know.
