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Scuba Forum / General / February 2007Progress -- with over a month to go :-)
I'm trying to work on my swimming skills and get more comfortable in the water before my scuba class starts. I've only been in the pool 3 times now, since who knows how long, and I've taken one swimming lesson. Today I was able to swim the required 8 lengths of the pool to pass the swim test. Whether you can call it "swimming" or not is up to the observer, but my soon to be scuba instructor said, "Any way you can do it," so I did it any way. Hopefully I'll have my surface swimming skills improved enough to cover the distance in a shorter period of time, and with less effort. I keep forgetting that even though I'm in the water I'm still at 8000', and there ain't a lot of oxygen up here. I'm also learning more about buoyancy. I think my swim instructor helped me a lot with this, teaching me that my center in the water is more like a foosball player than any other sport (up high). I'm also learning that if I exhale I can get to the bottom of the pool. Inhaling and trying to get down there doesn't work very well. I've ordered some inexpensive swim goggles with the closest we can get to my prescription to see how that works, just for kicks. I'll let you know how that turns out. I've also got a snorkel coming. I'd like to use the snorkel to get my swimming down and then add the breathing later. Breath control and timing has been my biggest problem in trying to get a good freestyle stroke going. I'm looking forward to this, and seem more comfortable face down in the water and under the surface than upright and out of the water, which I guess is a good sign for someone who wants to dive. Thanks again for everybody's help and encouragement. I'm learning a lot here. Sheldon > I'm trying to work on my swimming skills and get more comfortable in the > water before my scuba class starts. I've only been in the pool 3 times [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > with less effort. I keep forgetting that even though I'm in the water I'm > still at 8000', and there ain't a lot of oxygen up here. If you have not already done so, talk to your swimming instructor about the Elementary Backstroke. It's one of the least taxing recognized strokes in swimming. Other good choices include the breast stroke, inverted breast strike and sidestroke. The sidestroke is particularly handy for towing, as in rescuing a buddy. Here's some examples of the various swimming strokes. http://wellness.lattc.edu/real/strokes.html > I'm also learning more about buoyancy. I think my swim instructor helped > me a lot with this, teaching me that my center in the water is more like a > foosball player than any other sport (up high). I'm also learning that if > I exhale I can get to the bottom of the pool. Inhaling and trying to get > down there doesn't work very well. While what you say is true and is, in fact, buoyancy, it's not quite what we normally mean when we use the term relative to scuba. What we are referring to is the ability to become neutral, neither positively or negatively buoyant. Neutral buoyancy is affected by the way you breathe and, eventually, you'll take advantage of that. At the entry level, however, most of what you will do will involve use of a buoyancy compensator, normally an inflatable jacket or rear mounted wing. > I've ordered some inexpensive swim goggles with the closest we can get to > my prescription to see how that works, just for kicks. I'll let you know > how that turns out. I've also got a snorkel coming. I'd like to use the > snorkel to get my swimming down and then add the breathing later. Breath > control and timing has been my biggest problem in trying to get a good > freestyle stroke going. You'll find that swimming while using the snorkel is easier than swimming without one. Turning your head to breathe uses energy and causes drag. I do not recommend you continue to use goggles for long. You will have to use a mask when diving, it's different, and there are skills you could be practicing now rather than trying to deal with them when you're supposed to be learning about scuba. > I'm looking forward to this, and seem more comfortable face down in the > water and under the surface than upright and out of the water, which I > guess is a good sign for someone who wants to dive. It can't hurt. > Thanks again for everybody's help and encouragement. I'm learning a lot > here. It's refreshing to see someone actually interest enough to work to prepare himself for the course. I suggest you ask around and see if you can get a copy of the course book for whatever agency you'll take your training with. Advance study, like preparation for other elements, makes the course itself easier. Lee >> I'm trying to work on my swimming skills and get more comfortable in the >> water before my scuba class starts. I've only been in the pool 3 times [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > handy for towing, as in rescuing a buddy. Here's some examples of the > various swimming strokes. http://wellness.lattc.edu/real/strokes.html Looks like I've been doing the breast stroke and side stroke. I can also swim around on my back. >> I'm also learning more about buoyancy. I think my swim instructor helped >> me a lot with this, teaching me that my center in the water is more like [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > however, most of what you will do will involve use of a buoyancy > compensator, normally an inflatable jacket or rear mounted wing. I understand about the boyancy compensator. Sounds like you become a human submarine. Would love to experience it in a real dive. >> I've ordered some inexpensive swim goggles with the closest we can get to >> my prescription to see how that works, just for kicks. I'll let you know [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > practicing now rather than trying to deal with them when you're supposed > to be learning about scuba. I ordered a mask with the snorkel. I don't want to spend a lot of money until our scuba instructor shows us a variety of masks and things so I can see what fits me and what doesn't. I'm not sure a quality mask should be purchased on the Net, unless you know exactly what you want and what fits. If the mask that comes with the snorkel fits okay (no leaks), I'll wear that when swimming with the snorkel and trying to swim underwater. >> I'm looking forward to this, and seem more comfortable face down in the >> water and under the surface than upright and out of the water, which I [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Lee Thanks for the kudos. I've got all the NAUI training materials and videos. I've learned a lot about diving and the equipment which should help. I've also been studying how to use the NAUI dive tables, and found a computer program that throws questions at you regarding using the tables and you have to answer them. The program can pull up just about any table in existence. My instructor may use the PADI system, but I figure anything at this point will give me a head start. > I understand about the boyancy compensator. Sounds like you become a human > submarine. Would love to experience it in a real dive. http://grumman581.googlepages.com/scuba-certification 24.9.102.199... Hmmm... Colorado Springs isn't really known as a hotbed for diving activity, is it? >> I understand about the boyancy compensator. Sounds like you become a >> human submarine. Would love to experience it in a real dive. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > 24.9.102.199... Hmmm... Colorado Springs isn't really known as a hotbed > for diving activity, is it? Thanks for the info, and I'm up at 8000' in a ski resort. Don't really know what the deal is in Colorado Springs, but we do have ski groups from Miami come here, so you never know. > Looks like I've been doing the breast stroke and side stroke. I can also > swim around on my back. Good enough. Chances are that your form isn't just right, but who cares. Your goal is to move through the water efficiently, not to be a model of correct form. > I understand about the boyancy compensator. Sounds like you become a > human submarine. Would love to experience it in a real dive. You do. You will. > I ordered a mask with the snorkel. I don't want to spend a lot of money > until our scuba instructor shows us a variety of masks and things so I can > see what fits me and what doesn't. I'm not sure a quality mask should be > purchased on the Net, unless you know exactly what you want and what fits. > If the mask that comes with the snorkel fits okay (no leaks), I'll wear > that when swimming with the snorkel and trying to swim underwater. I'm sure that it's quite risky. It's usually better to spend a few more dollars once than to spend a little less more than once. Still, you may get lucky. > My instructor may use the PADI system, but I figure anything at this point > will give me a head start. I figure you're right. There may be differences in the tables provided by different agencies, but the underlying principals will be the same. Understand the concepts and the details will follow. Lee >> Looks like I've been doing the breast stroke and side stroke. I can also >> swim around on my back. > > Good enough. Chances are that your form isn't just right, but who cares. > Your goal is to move through the water efficiently, not to be a model of > correct form. Well, part of my problem is lack of upper body strength (I mosty play ice hockey, hike, run, stuff like that, and doing any exercise at 8000' is a chore). More time in the pool should help with everything. >> I understand about the boyancy compensator. Sounds like you become a >> human submarine. Would love to experience it in a real dive. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > dollars once than to spend a little less more than once. Still, you may > get lucky. I figured there wasn't much risk involved since I'm still in a pool, and mostly at 3'. When it comes to actually diving I'll purchase a good mask that fits. At worst, if this mask fits "pretty" good, I'll still be able to learn how to clear a mask, again giving me a step up on the class. As many of you have said, along with the info you've pointed me to, panic is what kills people, and the more I can do to eleviate panic and anxiety the better off I am. >> My instructor may use the PADI system, but I figure anything at this >> point will give me a head start. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Lee >>> I ordered a mask with the snorkel. I don't want to spend a lot of money >>> until our scuba instructor shows us a variety of masks and things so I [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > I figured there wasn't much risk involved since I'm still in a pool, and > mostly at 3'. I was speaking of the financial risk. The most important aspect of a mask is how it fits and you can't test fit of a mask that you order on line. If you're concerned with the cost of things, you may have made a poor decision. Lee >>>> I ordered a mask with the snorkel. I don't want to spend a lot of >>>> money until our scuba instructor shows us a variety of masks and things [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Lee Well, it works in the bathtub, and for $20 I didn't take much of a risk. I knew I might be throwing away $20, and I can afford that kind of risk. I WILL make sure I have a quality mask for diving, whatever the cost. > I WILL make sure I have a quality mask for diving, whatever the cost. Don't get too carried away with brand names, etc. Quality masks don't always cost a lot. For example, I used Tusa Liberator masks that happen to be on sale right now from diversdirect.com for $29.99 including a snorkel. This may not be the right mask for you, but they fit me well and are quite durable. Lee >>I WILL make sure I have a quality mask for diving, whatever the cost. > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Lee Amen! I'm very hard to fit - skinny and wrinkled - and have found over several decades that there is an inverse corelation between price and quality/fit of masks; the cheaper ones are often better made and fit better. And the best I ever had was one I found on the bottom. esg > Amen! I'm very hard to fit - skinny and wrinkled - and have found over > several decades that there is an inverse corelation between price and > quality/fit of masks; the cheaper ones are often better made and fit better. And yet another amen. The mask that is one of the most popular and sold under the most different brand names wholesales for less than $10 in very large quantities. It was pretty expensive with a Scubapro label, and cheaper with a Sherwood Magnum 2 or Genesis label, and cheaper yet with various other labels. This mask fits a wide range of faces. The mask I prefer is a $45 Posiedon. > Don't get too carried away with brand names, etc. Quality masks don't > always cost a lot. For example, I used Tusa Liberator masks that happen to > be on sale right now from diversdirect.com for $29.99 including a snorkel. > This may not be the right mask for you, but they fit me well and are quite > durable. The nice thing about popular brands is that they're easy to replace on the go. At $26.95 at Leisurepro, Cressi Big-Eyes are hardly costly, making a spare mask a no-brainer, yet they're sold in practically every other dive shop around the world, obviating the need to bring a spare except on a liveaboard. (Though a backup is still a good idea since they're likely to be pricier than Leisurepro when abroad - still, I found one in Grand Cayman for a decent price when I was desperate). > I've ordered some inexpensive swim goggles with the closest we can get to my > prescription to see how that works, just for kicks. I'll let you know how > that turns out. I've also got a snorkel coming. I'd like to use the > snorkel to get my swimming down and then add the breathing later. Breath > control and timing has been my biggest problem in trying to get a good > freestyle stroke going. A snorkel will not help here, but in contrast burden you with the mammalian reflex that will tell you that you cannot breathe with your nose exposed to the water. With a snorkel, use a diving mask. Unless you are a competition fin swimmer. These have overcome this reflex. Try to learn craxl style, take your time. You aids like a foam float between your thighs. To get into the rhythm, start each hand stroke from a stretched out in front position, do the full cycle, and only then start the other arm cycle, when arms are parallel in front as well. You will see how much improves your style by the streching. Pull your hand with the palm in a vertical position, once the palm has passed the ribcage, push until the arm is stretched parallel to the thigh. Move arm forward with the hand close to the body ( thumb scratching sideline..) and the elbow being the highest point, then stretch out. Then strech out farther. Start next stroke. Breath in to you favorite side while the arm passes the ribcage, look sideways to the back when inhaling. Exhale fully into the water. Matthias >> I've ordered some inexpensive swim goggles with the closest we can get to >> my prescription to see how that works, just for kicks. I'll let you know [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > With a snorkel, use a diving mask. > Unless you are a competition fin swimmer. These have overcome this reflex. I understand, and I do plan on using a mask with the snorkel. I ordered the snorkel with a mask. The new goggles are mostly a cheap way to find out if I can use "over the counter" diopter inserts for diving and swimming. My optometrist gave me the proper diopters to use, but said I may be too far gone for them to work -- astigmatism. And, as I said, my scuba instructor does not want me to wear contacts to class. > Try to learn craxl style, take your time. > You aids like a foam float between your thighs. > To get into the rhythm, start each hand stroke from a stretched out in > front position, do the full cycle, and only then start the other arm > cycle, when arms are parallel in front as well. You will see how much > improves your style by the streching. My swim instructor explained a lot of this, but did not mention the exercises. Thanks. > Pull your hand with the palm in a vertical position, once the palm has > passed the ribcage, push until the arm is stretched parallel to the thigh. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Matthias There is supposed to be this "pocket" of air created around my armpit which I couldn't find. Yesterday when my swim instructor was lifeguarding I asked him about this. He laughed and said, "You kinda have to get a wake going to find that pocket, and you're not there yet." Damn, he makes it look so easy.
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