NWGratefulDiver:I was thinking the same thing ... in fact, according to NAUI Standards, grabbing the wall and kicking off aren't allowed ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
REALLY??? wow; that seems excessive and fortunately PADI doesn't do that
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
NWGratefulDiver:I was thinking the same thing ... in fact, according to NAUI Standards, grabbing the wall and kicking off aren't allowed ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
There are no walls to hang onto in the ocean...TheHobster:REALLY??? wow; that seems excessive and fortunately PADI doesn't do that
Why? As I explain to my students, if an old, fat guy like me can do it surely an aspiring young DM candidate can.TheHobster:REALLY??? wow; that seems excessive and fortunately PADI doesn't do that
SparticleBrane:If someone specifically wants me to touch the wall and turn around, fine, I'll do that. However, if I were grading, I'd let people do flipturns--there's no reason not to. Whether or not you like it, this is a swimming skill and I'm much more impressed by people who use proper swimming technique than people who don't.
Note that usually the test is given in a pool, thus I use "proper POOL swimming technique". If the DM cert process really cared about my stamina they'd make the test harder...400m is a joke for a stamina requirement. If you pace yourself, most people with an ounce of swimming ability can make it.
but as I said, why not turns? if you master them that just shows that much more skill in the water - and the value of the exercise is to show stamina and watermanship - plus if you are training to do it, and do so with a Masters or Age group swim team, you better be doing turns or you'll interrupt the flowNWGratefulDiver:Why? As I explain to my students, if an old, fat guy like me can do it surely an aspiring young DM candidate can.
They somehow manage.
Seems to me a lot of the DM exercises are about self-discipline ... the 400 yard swim is no exception. If you can't manage the discipline to train for it, perhaps you should reconsider whether or not being a DM is the right thing for you to do ...
... Bob (Grateful Diver)
Rainer:Nope, they're proper POOL swimming technique. DM cert process doesn't make you do the swim test because they care about your pool swimming abilities. They do it to make sure you have the stamina. If you can't do the swim test without using flipturns, it's time for you to practice. Not that many walls in the open ocean...