In Canyoning/Canyoneering, floating ropes are used to make rope management a lot easier. Unfortunately for those of us interested in canyoning who don't live in Europe, specialized canyoning gear isn't easy to come by.
Is it possible to treat a regular static rope so that it will float?
No, because whether a rope floats or sinks is dependent on its specific gravity (which in turn is dependent on the materials used).
[...] Those with SG [special gravity] greater than 1 are denser than water and will, disregarding surface tension effects, sink in it. Those with an SG less than 1 are less dense than water and will float on it. [...]
As examples,
- Manila Rope 1.38
- Polypropylene Rope 0.91
- Nova Blue (Nylon) 1.38
- Spectra Fibre 0.98
