Originally Posted By: Jesselp
I learned this as a kid, too.

I must say, in cold water, I don't think that any advice that involves putting your head in the water is very good advice.

I'd advise you to wear a PFD instead. Then you don't have to worry about staying afloat!


Here in the Santa Barbara Channel, the water is quite chilly - to some degree even in the late summer, when the temps will reach into the mid-60s, which still isn't warm enough for prolonged immersion.

The key to survival in these waters is a full wetsuit, or at least a floatation jacket, preferably with beavertail. For those who are in the water for any length of time, a PFD simply makes retrieval of the remains a bit easier.

Some years ago, a fishing vessel sank here in the Channel with something like six or eight people aboard. One guy went into the water wearing a wetsuit; his fiancee did likewise, although she did not have a wetsuit. He survived, she did not.

There is another instance of another wetsuited guy drifting in the Channel for at least two days, until he reached one of the oil platforms, finally reaching safety.

For this environment, the best wetsuit is a full 1/4 or 3/8 thick, Farmer John with an integral hood - makes a huge difference.
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