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The question ‘Do Klingons not bathe or not like to take baths?’ got me thinking about whether a Klingon could swim. It looks like they hate water, but if thrown into a life-threatening situation, are they able to swim to save themselves? Or would they just sink like a rock?

In any of the Star Trek universes, is there an example of a Klingon swimming?

EDIT: Another reason I am wondering about their swimming ability is the fact that Klingons are very strong, much stronger than humans. That would mean that their muscle density is way higher than a human's, which should mean that they would not float as easily as a human would.

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    Doesn't Worf "swim" in ST:Generations after the plank is "removed"?
    – Jon Clements
    Commented Oct 10, 2016 at 7:27
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    @JonClements, I have no idea?
    – KyloRen
    Commented Oct 10, 2016 at 7:27
  • Well - he does but it was on a holodeck so... Not sure if it counts... But looked like swimming...
    – Jon Clements
    Commented Oct 10, 2016 at 7:28
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    @JonClements, if he is swimming make it an answer. Cheers
    – KyloRen
    Commented Oct 10, 2016 at 7:30
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    @JonClements Of course, Worf is maybe not the best example given that he was raised by human parents.
    – Thomas
    Commented Oct 10, 2016 at 11:43

3 Answers 3

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In TNG:Firstborn, K'mtar suggests Alexander Rozhenko (who is in 3/4 a Klingon), that he should try going swimming in the lake near his uncle's (Kurn's) house. From Chakoteya:

K'MTAR: Have you ever been to the Homeworld?
ALEXANDER: No.
K'MTAR: I think you would like it there. At your uncle's house there is a lake you can swim in that is so clear you can see all the way to the bottom.
ALEXANDER: Really?
K'MTAR: You have cousins there. They want to meet you.

This is the only reference found at https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Swim

Edit: In "DS9:Let He Who Is Without Sin", Dax and Worf have a conversation about taking a bathing suit and going swimming in the lagoon:

DAX: But it is my mistake to make. Now why don't you go up to our room and put on your bathing suit so we can swim in the lagoon.
WORF: As you wish.

and:

DAX: So what do we do now?
WORF: Now we watch the suns set.
DAX: I have a better idea. Why don't we go swimming.
WORF: I didn't bring a bathing suit.
DAX: I won't tell if you don't.

One can easily see that Worf does not oppose going swimming, however it may be possible it's because of Jadzia's assets... :)

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    And in Generations; youtube.com/watch?v=vfF4Jq478_s although this appears to be more not drowning.
    – Valorum
    Commented Oct 10, 2016 at 9:33
  • @Valorum, good find!
    – KyloRen
    Commented Oct 10, 2016 at 10:08
  • @Valorum - I agree, the clip does not show any swimming, just preventing from drowning :)
    – Edmund Dantes
    Commented Oct 10, 2016 at 10:35
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    I rather suspect that her goal is to have sex with him in the water. That merely requires paddling (presumably above waist-height) rather than actual swimming.
    – Valorum
    Commented Oct 10, 2016 at 10:58
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    @Valorum and, given what I've heard of Klingons, it seems that even if it were more dangerous to swim due to muscle mass, that increases the likelihood of them doing it.
    – Wayne Werner
    Commented Oct 10, 2016 at 13:29
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In Star Trek: Generations during a Holodeck adventure when Worf is promoted, he is given the challenge of retrieving his hat that is suspended high above an outstretched plank.

Riker comments:

He won't make it no one ever has.

However, Worf is indeed successful. Riker then proceeds to have the computer remove the plank. This causes Worf to fall into the water.

We see a now upset Worf treading water, and not struggling, so he is able to swim!

Starts at about 2:30 in the below clip.

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    Since the safeties are on, it's reasonable to assume that the holodeck would allow even the least capable swimmer to tread water and not drown. That's not the same as swimming.
    – Valorum
    Commented Oct 10, 2016 at 13:36
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    @Valorum But I am sure the holodeck could not control Worf's body movements... knowing how to tread water versus actively drowning are not the same thing either ;-)
    – Skooba
    Commented Oct 10, 2016 at 13:44
  • No, but since it can play with apparent gravity, each flail of the arms could be much much more effective than in reality.
    – Valorum
    Commented Oct 10, 2016 at 13:53
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    @Valorum Alright, I concede, its just a funny scene and shows a Klingon in water....
    – Skooba
    Commented Oct 10, 2016 at 13:55
  • That wile e coyote moment...
    – Adam Davis
    Commented Oct 10, 2016 at 19:26
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Regardless of the good evidence on Klingons swimming - they're humanoids, made mostly of water, with some flesh and bones. There's no reason to believe their buoyancy would be significantly different than that of humans; and their musculo-skeletal system is about the same. So, yeah, for sure they can swim.

Of course, if said Klingons are clad in heavy metal armor, that's a whole other matter...

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    Problem is that they were much, much stringer than humans, which could mean they were much more dence body weight wise.
    – KyloRen
    Commented Oct 10, 2016 at 10:42
  • And all the redundant internal organs can also affect their average body density.
    – Edmund Dantes
    Commented Oct 10, 2016 at 10:45
  • @KyloRen: Their being stronger means nothing unless they're made of metal or some weird elements instead of organic compounds.
    – einpoklum
    Commented Oct 10, 2016 at 10:55
  • @EdmundDantes: Redudant = copy or similar to the original = same density.
    – einpoklum
    Commented Oct 10, 2016 at 10:56
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    No, muscle density means means the muscle is far more densely packed with muscle fibers , which increases its weight without increasing its size.
    – KyloRen
    Commented Oct 10, 2016 at 11:01

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