Sinking under

[Tris30]

Is there tyoes of mud / quicksand where you can keep sinking no matter the bounancy and what type of mud is this
Share some expierences

[zxy070401]

that's impossible

[dlodoski]

While it's nearly impossible to decipher the grammar of the original post, there are types of 'mud' that are of relatively low density.

There's more to it that just density. Viscosity (for lack of a better word) and suction also come into play. For example, I would want to encounter a deep bog with high organic content (with trapped gasses) while wearing heavy boots and not a lot of body fat.

This is an example from nature. Given a proper budget, it would be hard to (literally) cook up something diabolical.

[Fred588]

I will agree with Dave's reply here. Although there might be ways to concoct some sort of thickened, oil-based substance with a specific gravity less than one's body, itwould almost certainly be either very toxic or rather hot, and likely both. What one could do, and some of us have done, is to place a fairly thick layer of something that floats in water on a deeper body of water. Granulated cork would be one such material and there is a paper product also (although the paper decays with a putrid odor in a few days). Properly used this approach can be effective for a filming project but will not be very satisfying to those who are into sinking for sinking's sake. I have seen pools equipped with devices that release air bubbles on cue, for the purpose of softening the impact on a springboard or platform diver when the blow their entry (do a bellyflop). However, such systems are quite complex. for example, when one lands in the water, one penetrtes further because their air bubbles have reuced the viscosity. However, those bubbes also entrain the water they pass through, causing an upward current that will bring the diver back to the surface rather quickly. Sometimes a novice will then be carried all the way to the side of the pool, potentially dragged back under when they get there with the now downward flowing water. The system operator is suppose to control such possibilities but mistakes get made sometimes.

[bogbud]

In the wild (natural location) you won't find such a kind of substance as physics will not allow it. The more dense it is, the more heavy it is and "sinking" becomes impossible. The less dense it is, the more watery it gets and that's also not "sinking" in our definition.

There are places, though, that can become dangerous when you want too much, too fast. The bog i frequently visit is a mixture of thicker and thinner layers of mud/peat and when it's dry weather you can quite smoothly sink as deep as you dare (I never found a bottom!) with only little struggling. Problem is that you don't plop back up to the surface as the mud is just thick enough to hold you in place, so you have to struggle to get up, too. You have to keep calm and do the right moves slow and careful, otherwise you will drive yourself even deeper in. I sank right up to the tip of my snorkel and/or my outstretched hands without even noticing it a few times

[dlodoski]

I will agree with Dave's reply here. Although there might be ways to concoct some sort of thickened, oil-based substance with a specific gravity less than one's body, it would almost certainly be either very toxic or rather hot, and likely both ....

While I had something thermal in mind, it was more like baking a giant soufflé. You would have someone try it until it was cooled (much like the real thing ).

A no-bake idea would be to create a giant marshmallow. I always imagined that this would involve 'whipping' of some sort.

Either situation would allow for 'sinking'. And the density situation would be quite dangerous, given enough depth.

[KikimoraQ]

I will agree with Dave's reply here. Although there might be ways to concoct some sort of thickened, oil-based substance with a specific gravity less than one's body, itwould almost certainly be either very toxic or rather hot, and likely both.

[Fred588]

I will agree with Dave's reply here. Although there might be ways to concoct some sort of thickened, oil-based substance with a specific gravity less than one's body, itwould almost certainly be either very toxic or rather hot, and likely both.

How about diving into the mayonnaise?

Before writing this I looked up the specific gravity of mayonaise. For regular, full-fat mayonaise it comes in at 0.95. That means a totally inert human would, in fact, sink. And it would not be toxic or hot. However, I think we need to be at least somewhat reasonable here. Aside from being prohibitively expensive, enough mayonaise to submerge a person in would probably start to spoil before you had that much mixed and the stench would be pretty bad.

[NewCuriousSinker]

In the wild (natural location) you won't find such a kind of substance as physics will not allow it. The more dense it is, the more heavy it is and "sinking" becomes impossible. The less dense it is, the more watery it gets and that's also not "sinking" in our definition.

There are places, though, that can become dangerous when you want too much, too fast. The bog i frequently visit is a mixture of thicker and thinner layers of mud/peat and when it's dry weather you can quite smoothly sink as deep as you dare (I never found a bottom!) with only little struggling. Problem is that you don't plop back up to the surface as the mud is just thick enough to hold you in place, so you have to struggle to get up, too. You have to keep calm and do the right moves slow and careful, otherwise you will drive yourself even deeper in. I sank right up to the tip of my snorkel and/or my outstretched hands without even noticing it a few times

So... does anybody know of any areas like this in the UK?

[Boggy Man]

Petroleum jelly (Vaseline) has a specific gravity of approximately 0.8, which would allow a person to sink under, but it can irritate the eyes (reddening and tearing, but that might be for trace amounts in eye), and if ingested, can cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.