One can still float in deep waters by doing the back float and applying the same tips and principles discussed earlier. However, actual swimmers will find it much easier to stay afloat through a technique called treading the water. Just like floating, treading water is an essential skill that all swimmers must learn and master before they go to deeper waters. This technique will allow you to keep your head above the water, preventing you from sinking and potentially drowning.
When treading water, your body will be in an upright or vertical position and you’ll be using your arms and legs to help keep you afloat. The arm movement is called skulling which involves sweeping your arms back and forth, moving them inward and outward to and from your body. You’ll need to keep your wrists still throughout the motion, while at the same time tilting your palms away from your body during the outward stroke and towards your body during the inward stroke. Technically, it will be your forearms (and the power it generates) that will be pushing the water around you.
Your legs will be below you when treading water, unlike the back float where it is almost aligned with your upper body. That being the case, you’ll have to do a flutter kick or move them in a scissor-like motion to help keep your whole body in an upright position. While doing this, you’ll want to avoid bending your knees but you’ll also want to keep your legs flexible and your toes pointed downwards.
Treading water can be a challenging skill to learn and master so you’ll want to start practicing in the confines of a swimming pool. And since you’ll be doing this in the deeper end of a pool, be sure that you have an instructor with you who will not only teach you how to do this properly but also keep an eye on you while you practice.