This argument really goes back 30+ years to when we wore lifejackets for
paddling (old Ottersports were de rigour at one stage) and the buoyancy
of them was so much greater that the floatation was such that being held
was a problem. The normal pfd that we now wear for kayaking are so much
lower in floatation that any dangerous stopper will sink the paddler and
keeping the pfd on is strongly recommended.


In message , Nidge
writes

F. Mason wrote


If you are thrashed about in a stopper and cannot swim out, in theory your
buoyancy can contribute to keeping you IN the stopper I believe.

Its fairly sound theory - the recirculating water is at the surface, the
flow through is in the deeper water ..... And that's what you need to dive
into to get out of the stopper. I'd try diving with my BA on first
'though cos if the flow is as strong as a stopper you (almost) can't get out
of implies you'll need you BA once you do get out of it. But I guess if you
were going to drown if you didn't.....

Nidge





--
Dave Manby
Details of the Coruh river and my book "Many Rivers To Run" at
http://www.dmanby.demon.co.uk