Can you swim?

@AmbiePam (84628)
United States
August 3, 2007 8:50pm CST
It doesn't matter if you currently swim, I would just like to know if you CAN swim. I'm rather odd in that I can swim below water, but once I come for air, all I can do is dog paddle. And I don't know if that would save my life if I needed help, LOL. I don't have a pool, and haven't used one in years. But I'd like to know how to swim. I'm sure I'll learn later in my life. So can you swim?
15 people like this
57 responses
4 Aug 07
No, I can't swim. I can swim with arm bands/ floats but not paticularly well. I went to lessons when I was little but the lessons weren't enough and I was pretty small then. I did go a few years after but found that I was normally the oldest in the beginners group (the rest of the group were realy young children) which was awkward. To save myself also from dying of embarassment, I quit doing it. I managed (just) to doggy paddle a width though, haha. However, I'd love to be able to swim - I know if I could swim really well I'd love swimming if you get what I mean.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (84628)
• United States
4 Aug 07
I don't blame you. I would have felt awkward as well.
1 person likes this
@jolenegreen (1209)
• United States
4 Aug 07
NOPE I dont like to be in water where my feet dont touch. LOL. I used to beable to swim and then I had an accident and now its like I dont know how to. Weird but oh well. Maby someday!!!
2 people like this
@wisconsin26 (3859)
• United States
4 Aug 07
Truthfully no I can't swim either, Though my husband wants to teach me how too in case something were ever to happen.. I pray nothing ever does.. Though he sometimes takes my son and I to the beach and drops us off and I ask him to stay but of course he won't...I do get a bit freaked out when my son is in the water playing and me not really knowing how to swim. I am happy though others are around in case something were to happen.. Their is nothing wrong with doggy paddling I know alot of people that do it that can't swim.. Will it save your life Good question I don't know. It's possible though it all depends how deep the water is.. So don't feel bad that you don't know how to swim in time though you will learn rather its by yourself or someone teaches you how too...
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Aug 07
I am just glad when we do swim there are people there that can swim rather if I could or couldn't cause normally mom's are the one to panic when something like that happens others tend to be more calm..
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (84628)
• United States
4 Aug 07
I think I'd want YOU to be around if I were drowning, LOL.
@AmbiePam (84628)
• United States
4 Aug 07
I don't blame you for going into the water! I've heard stories about mothers whose child gets caught in the water, and they actually go in and save the child, even though they can't swim. They chalk it up to a mother's instinct to protect. That is pretty incredible, to all of a sudden swim enough to save a life. I bet you could do that as well, but I hope you don't have to try! : )
@pendragon (3350)
• United States
4 Aug 07
I can and love to swim, don't have much opportunity to though.I used to swim a lot as a kid, i miss it.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (84628)
• United States
4 Aug 07
There just isn't enough time anymore, is there?
@pendragon (3350)
• United States
4 Aug 07
Not only that ,but my options have dwindled, my fav pool closed down, not enough town funds to keep it maintained, and the swimming holes are congested with mosquitoes, thank you global warming,blah.Maybe I should widen the tub,lol.:)
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (84628)
• United States
4 Aug 07
LOL, now you've got the right idea!
@brendakaya (2332)
• United States
4 Aug 07
No, I don't swim. I let my kids take swimming lessons, at the YMCA, when they were younger, but never bothered to myself. Looking back, I kind of wish I had, but, oh well, I can still splash around in a pool. Just not a great big one. lol
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Aug 07
Ambie from my understanding or least what I read the water in Minnesota under that bridge wasn't all that deep you would of been able to get out.. But the problem was with some of the people that couldn't was because they were in seat belts and it was hard for them to get out of it.. That's why they drowned plus I am sure they were badly hurt and weren't able to move..
@AmbiePam (84628)
• United States
4 Aug 07
If it goes over my head, it's too deep, LOL. Yeah, I know some of them were trapped. But some were able to get out of their car and swim. So swimming did save some of them, but I know I wouldn't have been able to swim at all.
@AmbiePam (84628)
• United States
4 Aug 07
I know this is a somber comment, but what prompted me to think about swimming was the bridge collapse in Minnesota. If I had fallen in, I don't think I could have swam out.
• Canada
4 Aug 07
Yup sure can swim....above and below water. Dog paddle used to be my only means of travel in the water when I was younger.....lol....so I sympathize with ya there, ironiclly, I've seen some people who dog paddle quite strongly, and when there is adrenaline involved...lol, you'll find you can dog paddle QUITE effeciently. Learning to swim is like riding a bike, once you learn how, you'll nver forget, so even if you have a friend tht you can go to a pool with that swims well, go with them....you'll learn in no time, just keep at it! Good luck!
@raijin (10345)
• Philippines
4 Aug 07
I can, I can swim below and within the water!;) They say that swimming on saltwater adds buoyancy, that it would keep your body afloat and makes you feel more lighter. But I have swimming lessons when I was a kid too, on pools of course!;) You just have to learn the basics first, to which floating is the most hardest of them all to learn. But with good practice and time dedication, I'm sure you'll get by it and learn to swim in no time!;)
@raijin (10345)
• Philippines
4 Aug 07
If you're under a swimming lesson, intructors apply very strict rules in keeping our body afloat!;)
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (84628)
• United States
4 Aug 07
See everyone tells me floating is easy. Not I can tell them raijin says it's not! : )
@Geminigirl (1909)
• United States
25 Aug 07
I can swim. I actually used to be a lifeguard for many years. I do prefer to swim underwater. I think it is so peaceful and tranquil. You can slip around from one place to the next without making a sound. I love the feeling of gliding along under water.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (84628)
• United States
25 Aug 07
Reading your response makes me want to go find a nice ocean!
@Katlady2 (9904)
• United States
4 Aug 07
My mom made sure that I had swimming lessons at a very young age. So yes, I can swim....pretty darned good as a matter of fact. It's come in handy when we've been out on the boat, and something falls off the side...I'm the one that has to jump in and get it every time!
1 person likes this
@Katlady2 (9904)
• United States
4 Aug 07
I tried to tell hubby that, and all he did was laugh his butt off at me as usual. LOL
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (84628)
• United States
4 Aug 07
You should get paid extra for that, LOL.
1 person likes this
@coffeeshot (3783)
• Australia
15 Aug 07
I can swim. I'm not an excellent swimmer but I can swim averagely. I had lessons when I was young and my swimming teacher was really tough and kept pushing me when I didn't want to swim anymore. I think that set me up for a general hatred of swimming class at school and I absolutely hated having to participate in swimming carnivals and the such. To this day I love going to the beach to swim in the waves but I can't stand pools.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (84628)
• United States
15 Aug 07
That just means you have a taste for the finer things in life. Why like a pool when you can love an ocean? : )
@Ricko82 (584)
• Philippines
24 Aug 07
So that is how much you hate your trainer huh? Some trainers can get a little too pushy sometimes. They thought we have no breaking point. If that happens to me, I make sure that he understood the message when I say enough! I can always fire him if I think he's over the board. But you won't learn if you're not properly motivated too, so it's a matter of patience and communication, I guess.
1 person likes this
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
4 Aug 07
I can swim if I have an oxygen tank. I guess I have the same issue as you. I tend to stop once I need a breath. As such, instead of learning how to breath properly, I trained myself to hold my breath for a long time. lol.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (84628)
• United States
4 Aug 07
You response brings to mind one thing I don't know how to master. How can a person swim and no inhale that water? Assuming they don't have a nose plug. But whyaskq, I fear for you. I'm afraid your head will sink you at any attempt to swim. : )
1 person likes this
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
5 Aug 07
The problem is I tend to gulp too much water whenever I open my mouth. Oh ya, I forgot my big head can double as a float if I tilt it at a certain angle :p
• Canada
4 Aug 07
This is too funny! I have heard of this before. My mom can float completely on top of the water and even eat a sandwich while doing so. She just did that for fun one time because someone actually brought her lunch out to her in the lake while she was floating. It was funny. The plate sitting on her chest and she ate her sandwich. I am sure you will learn to swim with your head above water. Great fun. I love to swim.
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Aug 07
That is funny, I have never seen anyone ever float on water before.. I'm sure it's possible though if you know what you are doing. Maybe she was just so light that she could float perfectly... When ever I've tried that I sink.. lol
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (84628)
• United States
4 Aug 07
I've seen a lot of people float. Even my sister can, but she won't get her head beneath the water.
1 person likes this
• Canada
4 Aug 07
LOL, I forgot to say that my mom crosses her feet at the ankles, folds her hands behind her head and just has a nice relaxing time floating on top of the water! I didn't think to much off it really when I was young. I thought everyone could float until I heard the adults around me talking about how does she do that. Then they all tried and usually one part of them was sinking. Like the feet!
@Flight84 (3048)
• United States
4 Aug 07
I had a pool when I was younger, but I couldn't swim too well then. When we moved, our neighbor had a pool and I just kinda learned one day. I can't swim underwater at all. I have to have full goggles if I do.:) My husband can swim underwater without goggles and have his eyes open. I come up gasping for air and flailing my arms everywhere because I start feeling panicky if I don't come up in time. Maybe I need some more lessons...:P
@AmbiePam (84628)
• United States
4 Aug 07
I bet you're a better swimmer than you think, LOL.
@Flight84 (3048)
• United States
4 Aug 07
LOL...I won't be in the Olympics anytime soon!:P
1 person likes this
@raychill (6525)
• United States
4 Aug 07
My parents used to say I was a water rat when I was a kid. I'd beg my dad to open the pool so I could go swimming the moment the weather turned nice. I'd be so sad when he'd close it up again for the winter. I haven't really done the swimming/water thing in probably 15 years or so really. I don't know why. However, my brother taught me to swim in our pool at home and I was always pretty good at it. whether it was above the water or below. I loved being in the pool. It's just not as fun for me anymore...I don't know why. Maybe I'd enjoy it again if I had a pool but eh. The point is...if I had too I could swim.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (84628)
• United States
4 Aug 07
It seems like once I got out of my teenage years, my fascination with pools dwindled.
@raychill (6525)
• United States
5 Aug 07
I think that's fairly common and I wonder why that is.
@missybal (4490)
• United States
6 Aug 07
my husband is giving me lessons now. I am 25 years old and only now am I finally learning to swim.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (84628)
• United States
6 Aug 07
Better late than never! LOL
• United States
4 Aug 07
I can swim like a fish and float like a cork but have a terrible fear of large bodies of water. It comes from having almost drowned when I was about 7 yrs old. Shortly thereafter my mother sent me to a summer camp to learn how to swim. So even though I have a fear of water, I know that if I ever am in a situation where I have to swim I can do it without panicking. I rarely get myself in a situation where I would have to swim for my life, but you never know. I live very close to the Mississippi River and I have many friends who own pleasure boats and fishing boats. I'm always extremely cautious when on a boat and always wear a life preserver! Better safe than sorry.
1 person likes this
@OURDEW (4809)
• United States
7 Aug 07
Hi, yes I can swim, but I won't go in deep water or on a boat because I was in a paddle boat accident when I was a teen. I was thrown off the boat into the lake and when I came up, I was under the boat, couldn't see anything and hit my head on the boat from under it. I almost drowned. I do have a swimming pool and I love to swim in it.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (84628)
• United States
7 Aug 07
Oh wow. I would have nightmares about that.
1 person likes this
@HighReed1 (1126)
• United States
4 Aug 07
I can swim very well. Since we love to fish and be near water, I made sure all our kids could swim. I think everyone should know how. It's a useful skill to have. And you might end up in a situation that could save your (or someone else's) life.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (84628)
• United States
4 Aug 07
I've been thinking that same thing here lately.
@Ricko82 (584)
• Philippines
24 Aug 07
Yes I can swim. Dog paddle is not too bad to survive in troubled water. In fact dog paddle is a lot less tiring than any other ways to swim. However, if you are trying to scape fast from something, dog paddle is not that useful; you can not scape from anything by it. But if you're aim is to stay a float, dog paddle is a good start. If you want to practice how to swim, I suggest you go to the sea and practice there. Salt water is more dense than fresh water, it helps you float a lot more than fresh water does. Practicing swimming makes it a lot easier to learn it.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (84628)
• United States
24 Aug 07
I don't have any seas or oceans near me, unfortunately.
@JBrulez (663)
• Philippines
9 Aug 07
I just learned how to swim two years ago. But before that I was really struggling when I plunged into pools. I am scared to go to the deep levels because I am afraid that I might drown and nobody would see me. But that was back the, it takes practice time and again if you really want to learn how to swim. Now, I already know the strokes and I am already brave enough to go to deep areas because I can float my body up to gasp for air, something I cannot do a few years back.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (84628)
• United States
9 Aug 07
That really is quite an accomplishment.