Crush
Contributor
Recently my very young son and I were at the local pool. He knows no fear and jumps into deep water with style. Unfortunately he can't swim. What is more, he is incensed when I fish him out of the water. "Let GO of me! I CAN SWIM!" he insists. He is as adamant that he CAN swim as I am that he can't. By way of demonstration he pushes away from me and wiggles/kicks, making surprising headway while holding his breath, until I fish him out (again). To him, being able to swim means making some headway underwater, possibly while holding one's breath. To me, swimming necessarily also includes the ability to breathe. Therein lies our disagreement - we have different definitions of what it means to be able to swim.
This got me thinking about many things, not the least of which was scuba. I remember thinking I CAN scuba dive (three years ago) - to me scuba diving meant buoyancy control and safe ascents and descents. Now, with more training and practice it means so much more.
I don't believe that you have to be an Olympic-class swimmer to be able to swim, nor do I think that you need to be an elite tech diver to be able to dive.
To your understanding, what is the ability to scuba? Buoyancy control? Trim? The ability to trouble-shoot? Being able to rescue someone? CAN you scuba dive?
This got me thinking about many things, not the least of which was scuba. I remember thinking I CAN scuba dive (three years ago) - to me scuba diving meant buoyancy control and safe ascents and descents. Now, with more training and practice it means so much more.
I don't believe that you have to be an Olympic-class swimmer to be able to swim, nor do I think that you need to be an elite tech diver to be able to dive.
To your understanding, what is the ability to scuba? Buoyancy control? Trim? The ability to trouble-shoot? Being able to rescue someone? CAN you scuba dive?