Since I last posted on this thread I have been swimming alot, I stated in a previous reply that I was "out of shape", I kinda lied just for the simple fact that the I felt there must be different level of fitness required for swimming. I am 6' 1", and I am at a perfect weight for my height, I regularly run, and also I play football alot, I do weights training in the gym at least 4 times a week and have been for the past 5 years. So I am technically not out of shape. With me swimming alot recently I spoke to a instructor to find out why I did not have the physical stamina to last 200m (8 lengths) NON STOP (baring in mind i can comfortably swim 30 lengths but I NEED a break after a couple of lengths). The instructor looked at how I was swimming and told me my technique is good BUT he noticed I am negatively buoyant, and told me I get tired because I have to use more muscle power to keep me afloat, and it is the same for when I tread water, I asked him for techniques which he showed me but they don't seem to adding to the time or the stamina.
I completely understand the whole point of why the watermanship is in place, but surely PADI have compromises for people in my situation (negatively buoyant people), because I know of disabled people who learn to SCUBA dive. I realise negative buoyancy is nothing compared to a disability but there is obviously some compromise within the rules.
With me finding out this news about being negatively buoyant I was kinda annoyed because I am studying Marine Biology at university and for me to be able to SCUBA dive adds a lot more job and career opportunities for me, and at the moment, even after all the practise I feel it's a bridge to far, unless there is a compromise I can work out between me and my instructor.
