I'm 20 years old and can't swim, advice?

[Anonymous]

Do you know how to swim?...if yes what's the trick to it?..

I can't seem to float in water, I just sink lol

I've looked into classes but cost too much so I've chosen to learn from others.

[oOsweet~o~nessOo]

The simplest thing to do:

Go to the shallow end (with goggles if you have any) and dunk yourself under the water.

Move your arms back and forth, and watch yourself move under the water. Do this until it's comfortable (take a breath when you need to.)

Dunk yourself back under, move your arms, now kick your feet. Start slowly kicking, watch and feel how you move in the water.

Set a goal to reach, like the wall, and manipulate your arms and legs to get there.

Instinct, logic, and reason will begin to take over, and you'll begin to grasp the concept.

I never took any lessons and learned how to swim by doing this. It helps conquer the initial fear/nerves of drowning because you get comfortable underneath the water to begin with.

Once you figure out how to swim under water, surface swimming is pretty much the same.

Except now, your fighting gravity a little.

Swing your arms in a natural over head stroking motion, while turning your body (watch some youtube vids of pro swimmers to study this) Swing your arms firmly; not with all your strength, but enough to produce some power.

Your feet never have to splash on the surface of the water; but keep those feet kicking. As each arm goes forward, a leg should be kicking up or down in a pretty uniform fashion.

Surface swimming is a little more difficult to grasp than under water, but you'll get it eventually. Just move with the water, don't fight against it. Get comfortable and you'll be moving like a fish in no time :D

[Anonymous]

I learned how to swim when I was 11 , the only reason why I learned was because one time my cousin pushed me on the deep side && iWas Drowning && ever since that day its history ...

the basics are just keep kicking and use your arms From side to side don't ever panic cause if you do you'll start going under so try staying calm at all times .

[Anonymous]

I'm 20 years old and can't ride a bike.

[/completely useless empathy]

[Anonymous]

If hold your breath deep and make puffy cheeks and hold your nose, you'll eventually float to the top. Kicking your feet as hard as you can, alternating, helps go faster.

^^^^ IN EMERGENCY USE THAT TECHNIQUE. Its cheap and not likely to help swim, but since you don't know how yet, it's good to give you a parachute, so to speak, in case you get in *ahem* over your head.

Doggy paddling is easiest, just gotta use your hands to push the water down and keep yourself up. Keep kicking your feet, but go at about the same pace as your hands, start out nice and easy.

[RedThread78]

It always boggles my mind when I hear people can't swim I don't know why. I always considered it something natural like you paddle hard to stay afloat. But I've been swimming since I was 2-3 years old so of course it would seem natural to me. I'd suggest swimming in shallow water and getting used to what it takes to keep you afloat. You can look online for swimming methods and how to tread water and go from there. You will eventually get it I mean I think it is part of our nature not to want to drown lol.

[theydidntnameme]

im 22 and I can't swim lol... I've tried so many times throughout the years... I just can't get it. I mean if I'm in the water I can swim in a direction... but I'm very slow and inefficient (lots of wasted energy with my movements lol). the biggest thing for me is a I can't tread water... if I fell into the deep end of a pool id drown... I need to fix that so I can save a damsel in distress one day ha ha...

[SnackG]

It's not hard. Kick and do the rotating motion with your arms. As for the floating in place thing, I've never been able to do that. If you really want to learn take swimming lessons. Also if you think it will be awkward because of you being older then find some ones that are for adults only or the reverse.

[TheWhiteFreshPrince]

Just jump in where it is deep, you will trip yourself out if you go from shallow to deep. Upon jumping in, your instincts will kick it and you will be fine (just incase though, make sure to have someone with you)...lol

[TheWhiteFreshPrince]

I meant kick in**

[myspacemybroke]

Haha I'm 18 and lived on an island for the majority of my life and don't know how to swim. I mean I can do the backstroke and all that good stuff, I can handle my own in the water, but nothing fancy or very well sustained.

[sikoo31]

i didn't learn till I was like, 15 haha

and it was all cause I needed goggles. just the ability to see where you're going while in the water should help you out a lot.

[Anonymous]

You could try going to a gym that has a pool and see if someone there would be willing to help. I don't think anyone could explain it via text. Someone would have to show you and then you practice.

[Opinion Owner]

Oh and I learned at a young age because they used to throw me into the middle of a pool and told me to swim back to them.

Maybe you could get something like a life vest and practice propelling yourself and when you feel confident enough, you can take it off.

[Anonymous]

I can but it really is better to have someone there to teach you.

[Anonymous]

hold onto the wall and kick

[Anonymous]

No I can't swim sorry.

[Anonymous]

I can't swim either! and I'm 19

[sweet_18]

just use water wings

[Shadoww]

me to! LOL