I'm curious if those of you who have this strong reflex have ever tried swimming with a diving mask? I ask because I used to be a bad swimmer and didn't like deep water, much the way people are afraid of heights. I was also unable to be under water without holding my nose, sooner or later I'd do the gasp-in thing. This all changed when I tried snorkeling in shallow water with a mask (I could SEE what was down there!), and in recent years I've become a passable swimmer too. I still have to wear a mask or goggles and nose clip, though. The really great thing about snorkelling with a mask and snorkel was having so much time, I learned I could just relax and look around and still breathe all the time.