PADI DM 400M freestyle and 15M tread

[TMHeimer]

I understand your pain, LOL... after seeing the huge strides that a couple of months makes, I feel like I would be selling myself short if I settle for anything less than a 5 ... not to mention the additional time Im getting out of the same air on dives with similiar conditions and depths. I'll admit that living in Florida, I have a huge advantage that allows me to swim essentially any time I want. LOL. I guess the other thing is Id prefer to swim laps over running on a hamster wheel at the gym. I cant leave out the satisfaction I get at the pool when I see the look on the face of the younger swimmers when they get beat by the "fat old guy" LOL...

A 5 is really tough. Back in '09 when I first took the test our instructor said only one guy at the shop ever got a 5 on the 400. I believe he was (is?) a competitive swimmer province-wide. My older brother (75) has bee swimming laps regularly for maybe 40 years and still wins medals swimming 2 miles in the ocean (well, most of the competition in his age group are swimming in the big pool in the sky now). It's the greatest exercise one can do--pretty much all the muscles without pressure on joints like with running, jogging. But, boring as Hell. Snorkeling is great, but pool laps means looking at the sides and bottom of a pool. I'd rather go for a walk or do the stationary bike watching TV.
Well, OTOH, I guess swimming laps to train for a competition wouldn't be so boring since you have a finite goal. I wonder if I actually could've made it to a 5 at then age 55 if I had a pool close by and trained daily--will never know.

 

[donburde]

A 5 is really tough. Back in '09 when I first took the test our instructor said only one guy at the shop ever got a 5 on the 400. I believe he was (is?) a competitive swimmer province-wide. My older brother (75) has bee swimming laps regularly for maybe 40 years and still wins medals swimming 2 miles in the ocean (well, most of the competition in his age group are swimming in the big pool in the sky now). It's the greatest exercise one can do--pretty much all the muscles without pressure on joints like with running, jogging. But, boring as Hell. Snorkeling is great, but pool laps means looking at the sides and bottom of a pool. I'd rather go for a walk or do the stationary bike watching TV.
Well, OTOH, I guess swimming laps to train for a competition wouldn't be so boring since you have a finite goal. I wonder if I actually could've made it to a 5 at then age 55 if I had a pool close by and trained daily--will never know.

I'm 47 now. I'm shooting for the 5, no telling whether I will get it. I'm doing the test in a few months. In October my time was not passing,now I'm easily getting times for a 3 and beginning to flirt with the floor of 4 times. I have been a little lazy the past couple of weeks, it's a little chilly a lot of nights (by florida standards lol) ...

 

[TijlVDB]

Tips for your equipment exchange:

2. I'd swap mask first. That's the hardest IMHO, because at one point both of you are blind and one of you doesn't have air.

To be fair: as a DM you shouldnt be blind.

A lot of skill demonstration requires you to keep your eyes open underwater. I get that it's not comfortable but if there's ever a stresa situation you're not gonna complain about having had itchy eyes.

This is supposedly a stress test and though it might be PADI standards to close your eyes during the mask swap, I feel you should always have them open. You're gonna wanna see where that Reg is at or if your buddy is in distress or ...

Swapping out masks is just a twenty second thing, you'll live.

 

[TMHeimer]

To be fair: as a DM you shouldnt be blind.

A lot of skill demonstration requires you to keep your eyes open underwater. I get that it's not comfortable but if there's ever a stresa situation you're not gonna complain about having had itchy eyes.

This is supposedly a stress test and though it might be PADI standards to close your eyes during the mask swap, I feel you should always have them open. You're gonna wanna see where that Reg is at or if your buddy is in distress or ...

Swapping out masks is just a twenty second thing, you'll live.

I can't remember from 9 years ago, but would assume I closed my eyes while we swapped masks. As mentioned, it takes very little time. Salt water OK, but I hate chlorine.

What other skill demonstrations require you to keep your eyes open--without a mask--? When I demonstrated mask removal (30 seconds)/replacement, clearing it, I always closed my eyes ---have to say it--"Well I was so good I could demo that skill with my eyes shut". I can't think of any other skills like that.
When we did the no mask swim the instructors would hold on to and guide each student--they were told they could (probably should) close their eyes.

 

[Seaweed Doc]

To be fair: as a DM you shouldnt be blind.

A lot of skill demonstration requires you to keep your eyes open underwater. I get that it's not comfortable but if there's ever a stresa situation you're not gonna complain about having had itchy eyes.

This is supposedly a stress test and though it might be PADI standards to close your eyes during the mask swap, I feel you should always have them open. You're gonna wanna see where that Reg is at or if your buddy is in distress or ...

Swapping out masks is just a twenty second thing, you'll live.

Of course you'll live. But having good vision, is really helpful. Eyes open underwater is effectively blind. I kept mine open, but it's really helpful to see clearly when swapping second stages.

Arguably, it might be advantageous to demonstrate skills blind. Vis can go to zero where I dive, especially with newbies in the water. That said, given a choice, better vision is worth prioritizing.

 

[Diving Dubai]

What other skill demonstrations require you to keep your eyes open--without a mask--? When I demonstrated mask removal (30 seconds)/replacement, clearing it, I always closed my eyes ---have to say it--"Well I was so good I could demo that skill with my eyes shut". I can't think of any other skills like that.
When we did the no mask swim the instructors would hold on to and guide each student--they were told they could (probably should) close their eyes.

When you're demoing skills to students, you should be keeping your eyes on them at all times. So at least one eye open while mask removal and when demoing the mask off swim.

When I learnt to dive, mask clear/mask removal was my biggest problem, I'd let the "worry" go to my head. While having no problems in the pool sea water was another thing. Eventually I overcame my phobia but my eyes were firmly shut.

One of our confined areas is salt water, so as a Pro you need to "man up" and deal with it. Only in teh summer when the water is very very salty here does it sting underwater, obviously you get a sting when you clear but it's short lived.

 

[Diving Dubai]

For the stress test - think about it before you ever come to it.

The actual requirements are detailed in the instructor manual which is part of the DM crew pak, I encourage DM's to look over the DM section. Being able to use the IM is part of the DM standards exam (open book) so practise looking up info rather than asking. If you need assistance with the interpretation then by all means ask.

I organised it so that the person with the reg made 3 breaths, counting each with his fingers, and the person off the reg took off or put on equipment. This meant if there was an issue the person with the reg could assist.

I left exchange mask till last.

Go slowly, you don't need to accomplish each task in one breath hold (except mask clear) - you'll be surprised how much you can do on one breath hold, it will give you confidence for in water activities

My first attempt I hit a perfect 5. However part of the reason behind the test is problem solving, so my instructor asked me to do it again this time putting in problems. (this wasn't marked) so he could see, and I could learn problem solving whilst "under pressure"

This is something I now do with candidates. No matter how good they are, I want each lesson to have some learning opportunity for them. I'm not beasting them and mark to the standards, but if someone can breeze through the course they've not learnt or challenged themselves, and haven't got their money's worth from the training opportunities.

Occasionally the student comes up with a solution that I haven't' thought of which works thus is a training experience all round

 

[TMHeimer]

When you're demoing skills to students, you should be keeping your eyes on them at all times. So at least one eye open while mask removal and when demoing the mask off swim.

When I learnt to dive, mask clear/mask removal was my biggest problem, I'd let the "worry" go to my head. While having no problems in the pool sea water was another thing. Eventually I overcame my phobia but my eyes were firmly shut.

One of our confined areas is salt water, so as a Pro you need to "man up" and deal with it. Only in teh summer when the water is very very salty here does it sting underwater, obviously you get a sting when you clear but it's short lived.

When I demonstrated the mask off for 30 seconds the instructor was always there watching the group. I never did the no mask swim--the instructors did while I watched the rest of the class. I actually like salt water in my eyes, but figured no need to get chlorine in them while the instructor was watching the group. I have no "worry" about chlorine in my eyes, just don't like it.

 

[kelemvor]

Note these standards are minimum standards. I tend to dislike aiming for bare minimums.

When I did mine I was dropped off at sea and told to swim home, avoid the boats... No joke.

Tread water was arms out, don't know how long I was kept doing it.

The other guy in the program was a lifeguard and it was challenging.

When it came time for scoring, it was easy after the prep.

Cameron

That's pretty hardcore. Afterwards, you'll either get a dm card or a watery grave. Surely they must have a spotter or assistant or someone watching you?

 

[TMHeimer]

That's pretty hardcore. Afterwards, you'll either get a dm card or a watery grave. Surely they must have a spotter or assistant or someone watching you?

Maybe he was close to shore, but maybe he was in James Bay and REALLY needed a spotter....