The problem with swimming while wearing most life vest designs is that you're fighting a design feature of the vest, which is to turn an unconscious person face up.
Yeah - its true. Ability to swim requires a lower center of floatation, and an orientation different from the 30 degree backwards angled body that life jacket designs aim for.
How about some form of backstroke? That's how I prefer to surface swim with scuba gear on (inflated BC, not using snorkle or regulator).
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