How good of a swimmer do you need to complete open water course

[dmaziuk]

I like this one best--and coming from a good swimmer.

Meh. You don't need to swim, you have the BCD to keep you afloat. I'm not rescuing you, though, when the *it hits the fan. At least not until you lose consciousness and go limp.

 

[boulderjohn]

On the float/tread--I always add not to forget drownproofing (for the negatively buoyant), though I did once assist a PADI instructor who said she didn't allow it...hmmm...

Some people erroneously believe that the head must be above water at all times, although there is no such requirement. Here is what the standards say:

Before Open Water Dive 2, have student divers demonstrate
that they can comfortably maintain themselves in water too
deep in which to stand by completing a 10-minute swim/
float without using any swim aids.
​

We once had a thread in which someone revealed that he was teaching a class that included two teens with excellent swimming ability. During the 10 minute "float," they swam around having fun, diving under water, coming back up, etc. the pool was on the shop premises, and the owner came in and told the instructor that he had to fail them on the exercise because they were not allowed to go under water. As you can see, the standard does not say anything like that.

 

[pasley]

The swim evaluation portion of some (many, most, all?) of the certification agencies is just an evaluation of your comfort level in the water and physical fitness. Being able to swim is a good thing for SCUBA diving but it is SCUBA diving not SCUBA swimming. Several of my students cannot swim an inch due to total paralysis.

 

[TMHeimer]

john, Interesting. I knew the standard, but interesting that you could swim around and still pass the float. I never thought about swimming around to get the test done.

pasley, Don't they (how would they?) have to pass the 200/300 swim test to be certified? Maybe they are able to do the m/f/s 300? I would assume either arms or legs would have to be working to be on scuba anyway?

 

[VR78]

Crap, I have to do 500 yards in <14 min in my next class...

 

[Luke Fosburg]

I was worried about this at first also. Its not a major issue and usually the swimming portion of the class is short. They just want to make sure you can swim if you have to and hold your breath for 50ft under water. Just do it you will be happy.

 

[Neilwood]

I was worried about this at first also. Its not a major issue and usually the swimming portion of the class is short. They just want to make sure you can swim if you have to and hold your breath for 50ft under water. Just do it you will be happy.

The 50ft underwater is not a standard for all agencies - PADI for example do not have an underwater swim test.

 

[boulderjohn]

The 50ft underwater is not a standard for all agencies - PADI for example do not have an underwater swim test.

Very few agencies have that requirement.

 

[TMHeimer]

I was worried about this at first also. Its not a major issue and usually the swimming portion of the class is short. They just want to make sure you can swim if you have to and hold your breath for 50ft under water. Just do it you will be happy.

Very old stuff on SB, but I'll never really know exactly what (PADI) wants to know re the swim test. Is it can you swim properly or just beat yourself to near death any old way to get 200 yards done? "If you have to" means somehow you will be at sea with no boat or scuba gear--and what's the % of that ever happening? Many cite comfortability in water--you can be very comfortable (for 40+ years in my case) even though your proper swim technique from HS Swim Team has faded over that time--especially if you snorkeled all that time with fins on.

 

[Marie13]

My instructor just sort of shook his head at me. I'm more comfortable UNDER water, at least in the deep end.