How should you prepare for landing in water?

Preparing for landing in water is critical for ensuring safety and improving chances of survival following a skydive. The correct choice is to inflate a flotation device and prepare for a parachute landing fall (PLF).

Inflating a flotation device before impacting the water helps to provide buoyancy upon landing, which is essential for staying afloat and facilitating recovery after impact. By preparing for a PLF, you are also readying yourself to roll upon impact, reducing the risk of injury. The technique of a PLF is vital when landing on a surface that may be unstable, such as water, as it helps distribute the forces throughout your body.

Considering the other options, removing your helmet and freefalling towards the water is unsafe and does not account for preparation for impact. Descending slowly without any gear would not provide any protection upon landing and could lead to difficulties with buoyancy. Cutting away the canopy before reaching the water eliminates the parachute’s ability to slow descent, increasing the risk of a hard impact with the water. All these actions could compromise safety during a water landing.

Therefore, inflating a flotation device and preparing for a PLF is the best course of action, ensuring safety upon landing in water.