Learning how to swim.

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This doesn't address the OP's question, but I thought I'd throw my experience out there. I also have sensory issues with the water above my neck, and because of that (and the fact that I sink like a brick), I failed swimming lessons every year as a kid (probably 3-8 years old), and several times now as an adult. The last time I tried to learn to swim, I decided that I'm done with it. I want to be able to swim in theory a lot more than I want to be able to swim in reality.

I never go out in the ocean more than to dip my toes in, I get seasick no matter how big a boat is, and I have no qualms about wearing a life vest for any activity where I might need one. It was actually a big mental relase for me to just decide that I'm not going to try to learn anymore.

I salute you, OP, for trying though, and I hope you're successful.

I have that problem, too! I've never been able to do the breaststroke properly because my body stays underwater; when I turn my head for a breath, my mouth and nostrils are still underwater.

I taught myself to swim when I was about 15. I had 'swimming lessons' when I was a kid that were a disaster. Basically hang onto the edge of the pool, and kick hard. It taught me nothing.
Also all the loud noise, other children screaming with excitment etc. caused sensory issues, although I didn't realise that at the time. I am also terrified of getting water on my face, and I mean seriously - until a few years ago I took a towel into the shower in case my face got wet. Even now it's not far away

Finally I found a nice quiet pool I could go to every few days, and just bobbed around at a depth I was comfortable in (around chest height) and kept taking my feet off the bottom. I just kept doing this until finally I learnt how to float. It took ages, but the key for me was just to relax and get used to the water - every time I tried to 'swim' I just freaked out and sunk.

For me, floating was the key. Once I could do that, and had faith that the water would hold me up, it was just a case of leaning forward and doing breaststroke. You can just watch other swimmers to get the idea of how to do it, or watch youtube. To this day I still look a bit funny, my head is firmly as far above the water as I can keep it, but I can do 100 lengths like that if I want to. I may not look like a swimmer, but I can swim.

I may still not be able to do the crawl, and I might still freak if someone splashes me in the face- but if I fall in the water I can get out, or if I go to the beach I can go for a swim, and to me that is all that matters. We can't all have the style of an Olympic champion.

I hope some of this advice helps. Good luck, and let us know how you get on