Tips for the 10 minute treading portion of OW certification?

[purbeast]

Well can you swim for 10 minutes straight without fins and snorkel? That should be acceptable as long as you don't touch the sides (don't do wall turns).

I wouldn't be able to tell you as I've probably never done that before in my life. The only time I've ever "swam" for more than 10 minutes in that fashion is while snorkeling and being out there for an hour+ without touching down on anything. But obviously completely different situation than in a pool.

 

[tbone1004]

I guess, I still don't think that is really a realistic comparison. If you're out in the ocean without fins or your gear, chances are it's not going to be calm like it is in a still water pool.

What is the reasoning behind them letting you choose to do the swimming portion with fins or not? Why do they let you do that with fins but not the treading part, for a longer period of time?

(serious question too)

it's all about the instructor and the agency. The agencies set minimum standards to cover their butt from lawsuits. Instructors may change that.
I.e. I require a 10 minute tread, 200m swim, 25m underwater swim, and retrieval of a 10lb brick from the dive well before I accept someone into a basic OW class. Later, they learn to scull with fins on *basically treading water with fins but no arms allowed*, then have to complete a 800m circuit with 25m u/w swim, 375 surface swim, while treading water don mask/fins/snorkel, 25m u/w kick, 375 surface kick, and a bunch of other stuff that has nothing to do with diving directly, but everything to do with in water comfort.
The agencies want to make it easy,

 

[dmaziuk]

I wouldn't be able to tell you as I've probably never done that before in my life. The only time I've ever "swam" for more than 10 minutes in that fashion is while snorkeling and being out there for an hour+ without touching down on anything. But obviously completely different situation than in a pool.

I would get in the pool then and try it. You might find there's nothing to it, actually, for someone who's able to stay out for hour+ wearing mask and fins.

 

[purbeast]

I would get in the pool then and try it. You might find there's nothing to it, actually, for someone who's able to stay out for hour+ wearing mask and fins.

Well I also had a snorkel lol. That helps quite a bit

 

[purbeast]

it's all about the instructor and the agency. The agencies set minimum standards to cover their butt from lawsuits. Instructors may change that.
I.e. I require a 10 minute tread, 200m swim, 25m underwater swim, and retrieval of a 10lb brick from the dive well before I accept someone into a basic OW class. Later, they learn to scull with fins on *basically treading water with fins but no arms allowed*, then have to complete a 800m circuit with 25m u/w swim, 375 surface swim, while treading water don mask/fins/snorkel, 25m u/w kick, 375 surface kick, and a bunch of other stuff that has nothing to do with diving directly, but everything to do with in water comfort.
The agencies want to make it easy,

I see.

I thought (at least from the research I did) though that it's standard that the 200m or 300m with fins is required for OW, as is the 10 minutes "dont drown" test. Is that not the case and it is all just instructor dependent?

FWIW the one I am planning on using seems to have high praises in the area based on the research I've done. And I got a good vibe in the orientation I went to.

 

[lowflyer]

What is the reasoning behind them letting you choose to do the swimming portion with fins or not? Why do they let you do that with fins but not the treading part, for a longer period of time?

(serious question too)

I don't know about other agencies, but PADI standards say you have to "complete a 200 meter/yard continuous surface swim (without swim aids) or a 300 meter/yard swim with mask, fins and snorkel." So no 200 yard swim with fins, etc.

The 10-minute swim/float must be done without swim aids (tennis balls, cut down wet suit, etc).

There is wording suggesting that "if conditions warrant" an exposure suit can be used if weighted for neutral buoyancy.

 

[dmaziuk]

Well I also had a snorkel lol. That helps quite a bit

Not that much when you think about it: it just lets you keep your head underwater when you inhale. It's not that much more effort to do this:

 

[purbeast]

I don't know about other agencies, but PADI standards say you have to "complete a 200 meter/yard continuous surface swim (without swim aids) or a 300 meter/yard swim with mask, fins and snorkel." So no 200 yard swim with fins, etc.

The 10-minute swim/float must be done without swim aids (tennis balls, cut down wet suit, etc).

There is wording suggesting that "if conditions warrant" an exposure suit can be used if weighted for neutral buoyancy.

Well yeah that is what I'm wondering - why let you do the swim with equipment but not the tread part? I guess that is why I don't fully understand the reasoning behind the 10 minutes of treading without any gear. It just seems like it would make sense that if you could do the swim with gear, you could also do the tread with gear.

Not that much when you think about it: it just lets you keep your head underwater when you inhale. It's not that much more effort to do this:

You're right that doesn't take much effort, but it's still not the same as me just lying face down in the water and breathing like I normally would. It's different than having to keep putting my head up out of the water to take a quick gasp of air then going back underwater.

But you're right that doesn't look like much effort. I'm probably way overthinking this now and just psyching myself out.

 

[tbone1004]

@purbeast because a 10 minute tread with fins is a joke. We regularly make our students sit sculling at the surface for 20+ minutes doing video review, lectures, etc. It's SUPER easy

 

[purbeast]

@purbeast because a 10 minute tread with fins is a joke. We regularly make our students sit sculling at the surface for 20+ minutes doing video review, lectures, etc. It's SUPER easy

Well I'm not saying to make it 10 minutes with fins. I'm saying make it longer than that just like they do with the swim using fins and equipment.

And I know it's easy just like the 300m swim with fins is easy, and why I'd prefer it