How to Float

Floating is a swimming skill needed in a survival situation. Floating can be done on the back or front. Get expert tips and advice in this swimming video.

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Stand up in pool
Put head back into water
Walk around pool
Move to steps & lay back
Move away from wall

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Phillip Toriello has 16 years of competitive swimming experience. 12 of those years he has been teaching and organizing swim events for swimmers of all levels and ages. He is has competed in all four strokes, and their corresponding events. Though his favorite race, is the individual medley. Phillip is the Aquatic Director at the high end Avila Bay Athletic Club.

PHILIP TORIELLO: hi. This is Philip Toriello, and this section is how to float. How to float. The most common way to float is basically on your back. You've often lain on your back in the bathtub which gave you a pool away from actually floating on your back. The best way to do this and the best way to start is to go ahead and stand up in the swimming pool, put your head back so the water is just over your ears and lined up with the top of your forehead and just kind of walk around and get comfortable with that. The next thing you can do is simply go to the stairs in your pool and lay on the first step, get comfortable with that and then kind of gradually slide down to the deeper steps. In time, you'll be holding onto the rail or something to support your body like the side of the pool, putting your head back to where the water is just over your ears, pushing your belly button up and you'll then be floating on your back. Once you feel comfortable with that, you can kind of graduate to floating away from the wall. Staying calm, breathing nice and easy and remembering that your lungs are basically like a balloon, the air that you take in helps your body to float. The more you exhale, the emptier your balloon becomes which in turn will cause your body to sink down below the water. The most important thing to remember is your body naturally wants to float; just be comfortable with it. If you're staying and you're just breathing nice and comfortably on top of the water, your body will refuse to sink, you'll have to make your body go to the bottom. The next float is known as the survival float, basically you're lying on your stomach, facing the water, whenever you need to take a breath, lift your head up, your legs will sink down below the water surface a little bit but they will not sink to the bottom, they will not pull you down. You'll simply put your face in the water, relax, it's the most comfortable state, and then you lift your head up for a breath and then put your head back down on the water. To learn more about safety floats, back floats, and others, please contact your local swim instructor or swim coach.

How to Float Video

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