Prone float

Terryakers · 04-28-2015, 12:46 PM

I'm a pretty big guy being 6'6 230lbs with 12% BF I got a decent amount of muscle it makes it hard to float. Anybody have some tips ?

FutureND · 04-28-2015, 03:28 PM

Relax, take deep breaths and stay still. When you need to breath use your arms a bit to stay afloat, then take another deep breath and stay still and calm.

Terryakers · 04-28-2015, 04:25 PM

Thankyou ! Do you know how strict they are ? Like if I sink a little bit immediately get back to a float do they fail me ? Does it have to be a perfect float for 5 mins straight ?

jzhaun · 04-28-2015, 04:44 PM

They aren't super strict about form for the prone float. Mostly it's only people who are afraid and either refuse to put their face in the water or grab for the wall before the 5 minutes are up that fail.

YN2(AW)Williams · 04-28-2015, 05:19 PM

as I understand it, if you flail too much trying to stay oriented they might speak sternly to you, but other than that it will be pretty obvious you are muscle-heavy therefore denser than some of us...less-well-in-shape individuals. And unfortunately physics says you are just going to sink, nothing you can do about it except eat Twinkies.

Terryakers · 04-28-2015, 05:33 PM

Thank you both for all the info !!! Unfortunately the way the navy measures body fat is inaccurate and really says I'm obese so I can't gain any fat. If j could I would make myself into a big flotation device ��

LT Guppy · 04-28-2015, 05:38 PM

The big thing to pass is to keep your face in the water except when you breathe and to make slow relaxed movements.

Terryakers · 04-28-2015, 06:47 PM

Okay cool. Thanks everyone. I don't mind having my face in the water and won't freak out and start flailing around. I just don't float but from what I gathered as long as I don't freak out i should pass. Thanks again !

BonzerAsp · 04-28-2015, 10:48 PM

I was worried about it too, but it ended up not being bad at all. I actually had my head up for quite awhile to take breaths. They really aren't strict. Just don't touch the wall pretty much. And don't make it look like you're really struggling, unless you are I suppose lol

Rooster · 04-29-2015, 10:25 PM

My rate requires a Class II swim test and this video goes over that, however, the prone float is what you'd be expected to do even if you're not taking the Class II swim test. It's towards the end of the video. It helped relieve some worries I had regarding the prone float as well because I tend to sink. But the form that the sailor does in the video actually helps. I've been swimming for months while in DEP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gIrh2xJJ5E

futresailrfets · 04-30-2015, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rooster

My rate requires a Class II swim test and this video goes over that, however, the prone float is what you'd be expected to do even if you're not taking the Class II swim test. It's towards the end of the video. It helped relieved some worries I had regretting the prone float as well because I tend to sink. But the form that the sailor does in the video actually helps. I've been swimming for months while in DEP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gIrh2xJJ5E

Thanks so much for posting this video. Made me feel much more comfortable about the prone float.

Rooster · 05-02-2015, 08:29 AM

Yup, no worries.

Haasino · 05-03-2015, 01:04 PM

The thing to remember with the prone float is that your body has two natural internal flotation devices called "lungs"... take a deep breath, arch your back to put your lungs horizontal to the water's surface, and just relax. You may feel like you're sinking a bit at first, but you will float to the surface.

04-28-2015, 12:46 PM	#1
Terryakers Newbie Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 12 Rep Power: 7	Prone float I'm a pretty big guy being 6'6 230lbs with 12% BF I got a decent amount of muscle it makes it hard to float. Anybody have some tips ?

04-28-2015, 05:38 PM	#7
LT Guppy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 2,858 Rep Power: 343	The big thing to pass is to keep your face in the water except when you breathe and to make slow relaxed movements. __________________ Officers: making simple stuff hard since 1775 ACTIVE DUTY SAILORS - Click here to have your account verified

04-28-2015, 10:48 PM	#9
BonzerAsp Active Duty Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Everywhere Posts: 418 Rep Power: 47	I was worried about it too, but it ended up not being bad at all. I actually had my head up for quite awhile to take breaths. They really aren't strict. Just don't touch the wall pretty much. And don't make it look like you're really struggling, unless you are I suppose lol __________________ "It follows then as certain as that night succeeds the day, that without a decisive naval force we can do nothing definitive, and with it, everything honorable and glorious." President George Washington

04-29-2015, 10:25 PM	#10
Rooster Newbie Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 7	My rate requires a Class II swim test and this video goes over that, however, the prone float is what you'd be expected to do even if you're not taking the Class II swim test. It's towards the end of the video. It helped relieve some worries I had regarding the prone float as well because I tend to sink. But the form that the sailor does in the video actually helps. I've been swimming for months while in DEP. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gIrh2xJJ5E Last edited by Rooster; 05-03-2015 at 01:38 PM.

05-03-2015, 01:04 PM	#13
Haasino Active Duty Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 1,439 Rep Power: 286	The thing to remember with the prone float is that your body has two natural internal flotation devices called "lungs"... take a deep breath, arch your back to put your lungs horizontal to the water's surface, and just relax. You may feel like you're sinking a bit at first, but you will float to the surface. __________________ "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!"

04-28-2015, 03:28 PM	#2
FutureND Active Duty Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: California Posts: 756 Rep Power: 140	Relax, take deep breaths and stay still. When you need to breath use your arms a bit to stay afloat, then take another deep breath and stay still and calm.

04-28-2015, 04:25 PM	#3
Terryakers Newbie Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 12 Rep Power: 7	Thankyou ! Do you know how strict they are ? Like if I sink a little bit immediately get back to a float do they fail me ? Does it have to be a perfect float for 5 mins straight ?

04-28-2015, 04:44 PM	#4
jzhaun Active Duty Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 627 Rep Power: 127	They aren't super strict about form for the prone float. Mostly it's only people who are afraid and either refuse to put their face in the water or grab for the wall before the 5 minutes are up that fail.

04-28-2015, 05:19 PM	#5
YN2(AW)Williams ActiveDuty Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 199 Rep Power: 134	as I understand it, if you flail too much trying to stay oriented they might speak sternly to you, but other than that it will be pretty obvious you are muscle-heavy therefore denser than some of us...less-well-in-shape individuals. And unfortunately physics says you are just going to sink, nothing you can do about it except eat Twinkies.

04-28-2015, 05:33 PM	#6
Terryakers Newbie Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 12 Rep Power: 7	Thank you both for all the info !!! Unfortunately the way the navy measures body fat is inaccurate and really says I'm obese so I can't gain any fat. If j could I would make myself into a big flotation device ��

04-28-2015, 06:47 PM	#8
Terryakers Newbie Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 12 Rep Power: 7	Okay cool. Thanks everyone. I don't mind having my face in the water and won't freak out and start flailing around. I just don't float but from what I gathered as long as I don't freak out i should pass. Thanks again !

05-02-2015, 08:29 AM	#12
Rooster Newbie Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 7	Yup, no worries.