If you are under your canopy in water, what should you do to escape?

When you find yourself under your canopy in water, the most effective action to take is to dive deep and swim away or follow one seam until you are out from underneath the canopy. This approach leverages your ability to maneuver and create distance between yourself and the entangled canopy, which is essential in preventing drowning or becoming more trapped.

Swimming down or following the seam allows you to control your exit from the situation effectively. Canopies are designed to catch air, and staying beneath it can hinder your movement and potential exit routes. By diving and swimming, you can gain the needed separation from the canopy, ensuring your safety.

The other strategies, such as waiting for assistance or relying on the wind, do not provide proactive measures to free yourself. Staying underwater until help arrives puts you at significant risk, as disorientation can occur, and oxygen can become a critical issue. Inflating the canopy to keep it afloat is not practical while entangled, as this could increase the risk of drowning. Relying on the wind to push you free is also impractical since the wind's effects are unpredictable and may not assist in your escape.