Can Everyone Float?

yes.........ive heard of this....

i believe its called negatively buoyant

I used to not be able to float, 5'10" 150 lbs. Now I can sort
of float after being very floaty. As an ex-competitive swimmer I will say that
my ability, or lack thereof, to float does not affect my body position in the
water. Swimming is a technique driven event. If you are struggling to maintain
body position I suggest you find a coach to help you, it is very beneficial and
it would most likely not take many lessons to smooth things out.

For me, it must be a matter of technique.  If I'm face down, and let my arms and legs go limp, my back will float on the surface.  So yes, my body does float.  But if I'm face up, I can't relax my arms and legs enough...slowly my legs will point downward and my head will submerge below the surface and eventually I'll end up floating face down again.

I can't float. I'm also roughly your size.

Swimming low in the water is a different sitchyation...your body position in the water is determined by a number of factors - stroke, speed, body shape, kick, and technique. Buoyancy is one factor,  only accounts for a part of it - and most people (with some exceptions) can find an acceptable (and fast) position in the water by working on the other variables.

Look at the other side: if buoyancy were the ultimate determiner of speed (or potential speed) in the water, the swim team tryouts (at any level) would be somewhat different than they are now, no?!

I don't think I've ever met someone who couldn't do a "dead man's float" but I've known plenty of people who can't float on their back without kicking.  

Have you ever heard people discuss how when they lose weight to achieve an ideal "run weight" they end up negatively affecting their swim?  Body buoyancy really is a factor but it is isn't insurmountable.  You simply have to put a little more effort in to stay up on the water.

That being said, you aren't a lead weight.  You've got this ballast type object called your lungs and while it is not uncommon for legs to sink, you should be able to get the rest of you to float.  Let your legs rest on the bottom in the shallows and focus on the rest of your body (even if your knees are resting on the bottom).  The relaxation part really is a big component.

I am thin and I have a hard time just floating on my back. I can do it but not very easy.  I believe the more body fat you have the easier it is to float.

However, if you are comparing general floating to swiming uphill(feet dragging) while swimming , i think that is an entirely different issue.  Yes probably we have a harder time but its more of a technique flaw than a body fat/non floating issue.

So I do not blame my "lean" stature when I lose form and start dropping my hips and legs.

you may just need to work on getting your hips up (not sure if thats the best term).  Use a pull buoy to feel the sensation

good luck

I will definitely try some of these.

Thanks,

Harold

I use a pull buoy and it helps immensely. I find swimming effortless with it, however, without it, I struggle. I will keep at it.

Harold

In college, I was a sinker. Meaning that if I exhaled, I sank to the bottom. Not just my legs sinking (though it started there). Even doing the tuck test, I sank.

But... One way to back float when the legs tend to sink (but you actually are positive buoyant) is to try putting your arms straight "up" (parallel to your torso) so they counteract the sinking of the legs. You'll likely float flatter.

My dad has always said... "I don't float, I sink."

I've watched him jump in the deep end of a pool to demonstrate. He immediately turns stiff as a board and unsurprisingly drops to the bottom like a rock. I've attempted to coach him into relaxing to no avail.

After talking to him, I'm pretty confident his inability to float stems directly from some sort of irrational fear of deep water.

This, except that I'll sink facedown if I let my breath out.

x2