PADI swim test

[TMHeimer]

When I did my OW 5 yrs. ago we did the MSF. The class I just DMCd did the 200 swim. Neither class was given a choice. Same LDS, different instructors. My point is there should be one standard for all. If that minimum standard is determined to be too low the agency should then raise it or change it. It should not be either a choice made by the student OR the instructor. All the written exams for all the courses are the same for each student. If a choice exists, it should exist for all candidates in all places. Debating the value of being a good swimmer, comfortable in the water,(vs.) knowing swim/water skills in order to dive/rescue others safely, etc. can be argued endlessly. If there should be no choice as to which swim is required, then PADI should change the rules and put it in writing. This is not at all a "PADI bashing post". I hope to DM soon with them and have enjoyed taking most of my PADI courses. I've read that NAUI instructors have much more leeway in establishing requirements for students. I would assume that this has a positive result regarding different techniques for different locales, but like PADI, it no doubt results also in some instructors' standards being higher/lower than others'.

 

[Walter]

Why is it absurd to allow a 300yd MSF option? Has there been a negative impact on safety?

Keep in mind any answers to your questions will be opinion.

Snorkeling isn't swimming. I taught myself to swim as an adult. Before I could swim, I could easily snorkel 300 yds. The snorkeling option allows non-swimmers to be certified.

In my opinion, a diver who cannot swim is much more likely to panic than one who can.

 

[Crush]

Question for the assembled: Why is it absurd to allow a 300yd MSF option? Has there been a negative impact on safety?

Please note my brief diving history - my comment is based upon the observation of human beings rather than upon experience diving.

I have loved being in the water for decades. I have had the opportunity to observe people who are calm in the water and people who panic in the water. The difference seems to be that those who are calm in the water can abstract beyond a troubling situation in which they find themselves to envision a solution (i.e., follow their training) while those who panic cannot. Here is a concrete example (and one which was required in my ACUC basic OW course) - wearing fins only, swim 25 yards underwater and without surfacing, locate your gear underwater and don it. Those who can abstract beyond the aching, clawing need to breath have the presence of mind to follow their training - they abstract beyond the immediate pain and within seconds are rewarded with air. Those who cannot abstract follow a primal urge to bolt to the surface.

What kind of diver would you want to be? What kind of diver would you like for a buddy? Would the panic-buddy have a negative impact on your safety if **** hits the fan?

I realize that my post does not directly address the question of swimming, but it does address comfort in the water (which swimming skills should impart) and a dedication to train.

 

[AquaExplorer]

It was our choice for the swim test...and my wife and I were the only ones that choose the swim test besides one woman who was a former competitive high school swimmer.

BIG mistake! LOL Why? Because I am what they call a "rock" in technical terms when it comes to treading water. I was tired after the swim and it took everything I had to tread water....I was soooooo freaking glad when that was over!

 

[Diver0001]

BIG mistake! LOL Why? Because I am what they call a "rock" in technical terms when it comes to treading water. I was tired after the swim and it took everything I had to tread water....I was soooooo freaking glad when that was over!

It's not a requirement to do the treading water directly after the swim. Your instructor could have given you time to rest or they even could have done swimming and treading water on different days....

It would have been better to do that than to take the snorkel option, imho.

Either way you got through it so that's all that matters.

R..

 

[TMHeimer]

Keep in mind any answers to your questions will be opinion.

Snorkeling isn't swimming. I taught myself to swim as an adult. Before I could swim, I could easily swim 300 yds. The snorkeling option allows non-swimmers to be certified.

Absolutely. Swimming is a sport (which I define as something which CAN be competitive). It is totally different from diving. However, I do feel anyone taking a dive course is crazy if they really can't swim! How far and how fast is another debate.

 

[BettyRubble]

In my class in May, we had someone that couldn't swim . . we found out the 2nd day of class! Based on that and a few other issues, I ended up chosing a different shop and cert program for my OW cert dives. I won't mention the cert organizations involved, as I think it was more the dive shops approach then the agencies requirements.

 

[Walter]

In my class in May, we had someone that couldn't swim . . we found out the 2nd day of class!

That brings up another issue. That should be discovered on the first day. SEI requires students pass a swim test before I can begin in water training. Does anyone else have an entrance test or are they all exit tests?

 

[redacted]

Not including certification requirements, how far (or how long) does a scuba diver have to swim when diving? How does that relate to the various certification requirements discussed in the thread?

 

[TMHeimer]

That brings up another issue. That should be discovered on the first day. SEI requires students pass a swim test before I can begin in water training. Does anyone else have an entrance test or are they all exit tests?

The PADI OW course I took required the swimming stuff before anything else in the pool.