 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| HomeArticlesDiving DestinationsLearning Scuba DivingMarine LifeMiscellaneousDiscussion GroupsGeneralScuba EquipmentScuba LocationsAustralian ScubaUK ScubaDirectoryScuba Clubs |
Scuba Forum / General / March 2007getting certified
I wonder how strict scuba training teachers are about the swim test requirements? I may barely be able to pass the test. > I wonder how strict scuba training teachers are about the swim test > requirements? I may barely be able to pass the test. At the risk of sounding glib, how do you feel about finding yerself floating around in the Atlantic a few miles off shore with waves taller than you and the diveboat nowhere in sight? Decent (not great) swimming skills are truly a comfort then. 8) JF > > I wonder how strict scuba training teachers are about the swim test > > requirements? I may barely be able to pass the test. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > JF I only know how the PADI instructor I work with evaluates swimming skills. He ensures everyone performs the skills exactly as PADI describes them. For example, if they stop swimming during the continuous swim. They must perform the skill prior to the end of the class without stopping or he doesn't certify them. I concur with JOF, you should be comfortable with a worse case scenario and have the swimming skills to match. On Mar 1, 12:16 pm, stuart.obr...@gmail.com wrote: > I only know how the PADI instructor I work with evaluates swimming > skills. He ensures everyone performs the skills exactly as PADI [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > you should be comfortable with a worse case scenario and have the > swimming skills to match. In the worst case scenario, the best swimming skills won't make a difference. I'd rather be able to hold my breath for 5 minutes. > On Mar 1, 12:16 pm, stuart.obr...@gmail.com wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > In the worst case scenario, the best swimming skills won't make a > difference. I'd rather be able to hold my breath for 5 minutes. as you surface? > On Mar 1, 12:16 pm, stuart.obr...@gmail.com wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > In the worst case scenario, the best swimming skills won't make a > difference. I'd rather be able to hold my breath for 5 minutes. If you're in the water without fins, you're f.cked (unless your last name is Spitz). If you're in the water with fins, common pool swimming has little bearing. > > I wonder how strict scuba training teachers are about the swim test > > requirements? I may barely be able to pass the test. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > taller than you and the diveboat nowhere in sight? Decent (not great) > swimming skills are truly a comfort then. 8) Maybe after you lose your BC. Otherwise, I just inflate and sit back. > > > I wonder how strict scuba training teachers are about the swim test > > > requirements? I may barely be able to pass the test. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Maybe after you lose your BC. Otherwise, I just inflate and sit back. I can't speak for you, but I know how to swim, and I'm pretty relaxed in the water, but try to imagine what it would be like if you had at best rudimentary swimming skills (like, you could just barely tread water). I doubt that most folks that describes would be at ease in that scenario. I could be wrong though. I have been before, once or twice. JF >> > I wonder how strict scuba training teachers are about the swim test >> > requirements? I may barely be able to pass the test. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >> taller than you and the diveboat nowhere in sight? Decent (not great) >> swimming skills are truly a comfort then. 8) > Maybe after you lose your BC. Otherwise, I just inflate and sit back. Try that here and we may be looking for your remains somewhere along the northern portions of Europe. Lee >>I wonder how strict scuba training teachers are about the swim test >>requirements? I may barely be able to pass the test. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > JF I'll plan on my BC to keep me on the surface.  Signature“TAANSTAFL” ____________________________________________________________________________ Something to think about, from a wise man now long dead….: “In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American. “There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. “We have room for but one flag, the American flag. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.” --Theodore Roosevelt...1907 ____________________________________________________________________________ "A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them; The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences." - Proverbs 22:3 ____________________________________________________________________________ On Mar 1, 6:26 pm, dazed and confuzzed <dedmann@comcast_remove.net> wrote: > > At the risk of sounding glib, how do you feel about finding yerself > > floating around in the Atlantic a few miles off shore with waves [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > I'll plan on my BC to keep me on the surface. I usually ditch mine. 8) JF > I usually ditch mine. 8) That's only because it slows you down so much with all the ice that accumulates on it up there... Must be like trying to paddle an iceberg around... On Mar 1, 6:55 pm, Grumman-581 <grumman...@DIE-SPAMMER-SCUM-gmail.com> wrote: > > I usually ditch mine. 8) > > That's only because it slows you down so much with all the ice that > accumulates on it up there... Must be like trying to paddle an iceberg > around... Nah, but I worry about getting a hakapik in the back of the head when the damned seals start confusing me with an island. JF >> I wonder how strict scuba training teachers are about the swim test >> requirements? I may barely be able to pass the test. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > JF That's a ridiculous argument. In this case swimming skills are not going to help much. More important is that you are comfortable in the water. Adam > More important is that you are comfortable in the water. Agreed... Swimming 8 laps in a pool is not going to help you in a real situation... Being able to float / tread water with a minimal amount of effort will definitely help you... Quite often, people drown because they panic... Of course, not being comfortable in the water could easily lead to panic as you start to drown... <grin> >> More important is that you are comfortable in the water. > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > because they panic... Of course, not being comfortable in the water > could easily lead to panic as you start to drown... <grin> I agree with everybody who says "swimming" isn't that important to diving. However, it's part of the test so what can you do? As my soon-to-be instructor said, "any way you can." So, define swimming? I think if the instructor can see that you are "comfortably" moving in the water the swim test will be fine. Just find a stroke that works for you. >>>More important is that you are comfortable in the water. >> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > instructor can see that you are "comfortably" moving in the water the swim > test will be fine. Just find a stroke that works for you. While some here disagree - I think enough personal experience has been posted to lead to the conclusion that you need to have at least average swimming skills I have surfaced to the boat (Key Largo) being further away than I wanted there was a time upon the Nekton in Belize that we misread currents - there was no way to swim back without advanced swimming skills. True - to dive - you really don't but I can see a lawyer suing the dive agency because a scuba diver was lost and the dive agency didn't provide 'adequate' swimming skills >>>>More important is that you are comfortable in the water. >>> [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > agency because a scuba diver was lost and the dive agency didn't provide > 'adequate' swimming skills Did you swim or just fin your way back to the boat? >>>>>More important is that you are comfortable in the water. >>>> [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Did you swim or just fin your way back to the boat? well actually both - in KEy Largo it was very rough seas - in Belize there was no way - my other dive partners were out of air > While some here disagree - I think enough personal experience has been > posted to lead to the conclusion that you need to have at least average > swimming skills There you go with the meaningless personal anecdotes like usual (i.e., my neighbor never killed anyone with his gun, therefore all guns are safe). Find someone here who actually died on scuba because they couldn't swim, and then I won't disagree with you. > I have surfaced to the boat (Key Largo) being further away than I wanted > there was a time upon the Nekton in Belize that we misread currents - > there was no way to swim back without advanced swimming skills. Advanced swimming skills? What is that, butterfly stroke? I'll have to try that next time I'm facing a stiff current though I'm not sure how easy it's gonna be with all my gear on. In the past, I've simply inflated my BC, laid back, and kicked back to the boat. Advanced to me means I kick harder, but I bet even a non-swimmer could figure that out. > True - to dive - you really don't but I can see a lawyer suing the dive > agency because a scuba diver was lost and the dive agency didn't provide > 'adequate' swimming skills. Fortunately you're not a lawyer. No one expects dive agencies to teach people how to swim, they teach them how to dive. If you fell down while walking on a dive boat, would you sue the dive agency because they didn't provide adequate walking skills? > Fortunately you're not a lawyer. No one expects dive agencies to > teach people how to swim, they teach them how to dive. If you fell > down while walking on a dive boat, would you sue the dive agency > because they didn't provide adequate walking skills? Damn Greg... Keep talking like that and they'll take away your ambulance chaser card... >>While some here disagree - I think enough personal experience has been >>posted to lead to the conclusion that you need to have at least average [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > safe). Find someone here who actually died on scuba because they > couldn't swim, and then I won't disagree with you. I could give a rat's a.s whether you agree with me or not >>I have surfaced to the boat (Key Largo) being further away than I wanted >>there was a time upon the Nekton in Belize that we misread currents - [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > how easy it's gonna be with all my gear on. In the past, I've simply > inflated my BC, laid back, and kicked back to the boat. \ And I think you posted some crap about being in the Galapagos and having a huge problem just getting back in your zodiac or similar boat Advanced to > me means I kick harder, but I bet even a non-swimmer could figure that > out. then kick harder - good luck >>True - to dive - you really don't but I can see a lawyer suing the dive >>agency because a scuba diver was lost and the dive agency didn't provide >>'adequate' swimming skills. > > Fortunately you're not a lawyer. I am way to educated for that - lawyers to me are crab grass upon the lawn of life No one expects dive agencies to > teach people how to swim, they teach them how to dive. If you fell > down while walking on a dive boat, would you sue the dive agency > because they didn't provide adequate walking skills? Typical lawyer response > > There you go with the meaningless personal anecdotes like usual (i.e., > > my neighbor never killed anyone with his gun, therefore all guns are > > safe). Find someone here who actually died on scuba because they > > couldn't swim, and then I won't disagree with you. > > I could give a rat's a.s whether you agree with me or not Of course you care. Otherwise you wouldn't be getting so defensive right now. > > Advanced swimming skills? What is that, butterfly stroke? I'll have > > to try that next time I'm facing a stiff current though I'm not sure [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > And I think you posted some crap about being in the Galapagos and having > a huge problem just getting back in your zodiac or similar boat Huh? Not me. Or should I say, cite? I can't remember anytime in the Galapagos or anywhere else for that matter where I needed to break out the "advanced swimming skills". If I ever needed to kick back to the boat, I simply inflated my BC, rolled on my back, and kicked away. Occasionally in California, because of the kelp, I've swum on my stomach instead. That can be a bit more difficult I suppose, since I don't use a snorkel and therefore have to lift my head out of the water in order to breathe, but still hardly what I call advanced. If I'm in a situation where I can't make it back to the boat or shore against a strong current, then it's time to begin emergency signaling, not waste time trying out my "advanced swimming skills" even though I do swim a mean butterfly stroke. > then kick harder - good luck What do you do Joe, use your hands to paddle? > I am way to educated for that - lawyers to me are crab grass upon the > lawn of life Sure, Joe. "To" much educashun. That's the ticket. > No one expects dive agencies to > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Typical lawyer response Someone has to defend the innocent agency against the ambulance chaser that you hired to bring your frivilous lawsuit. Fortunately there are special people that do that sort of noble thing. They're called lawyers. > Someone has to defend the innocent agency against the ambulance chaser > that you hired to bring your frivilous lawsuit. Fortunately there are > special people that do that sort of noble thing. They're called > lawyers. Sounds like job security, being both the problem & the cure. > Sounds like job security, being both the problem & the cure. http://grumman581.googlepages.com/lawyer-problem-solution http://grumman581.googlepages.com/gators-gotta-eat-too > > Someone has to defend the innocent agency against the ambulance chaser > > that you hired to bring your frivilous lawsuit. Fortunately there are > > special people that do that sort of noble thing. They're called > > lawyers. > > Sounds like job security, being both the problem & the cure. Yeah, but we have to cure everything. Besides picking up after the bad lawyers, we take care of the bad doctors, the bad engineers, the bad drivers, and even the bad diving instructors. >>>Someone has to defend the innocent agency against the ambulance chaser >>>that you hired to bring your frivilous lawsuit. Fortunately there are [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > bad lawyers, we take care of the bad doctors, the bad engineers, the > bad drivers, and even the bad diving instructors. Another set of situations that isn't being solved >> More important is that you are comfortable in the water. > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > because they panic... Of course, not being comfortable in the water > could easily lead to panic as you start to drown... <grin> True. The ability to swim 8 laps in a pool isn't a big deal. It isn't going to ensure that you'll be okay in open water. However, the INABILITY to swim 8 laps probably indicates that you are not going to be okay. > True. The ability to swim 8 laps in a pool isn't a big deal. It isn't going > to ensure that you'll be okay in open water. However, the INABILITY to swim > 8 laps probably indicates that you are not going to be okay. I believe it would be a more useful test if they just required you to remain afloat for a certain period of time without a BC or wetsuit... One of the things that I made Kaitlyn do when I was teaching her to swim was to tread water / float for 20 minutes before I allowed her to use the pool without direct supervision... The thing I was trying to achieve was for her to be comfortable enough in the water that if she slipped and fell into the pool or someone pushed her into it, she wouldn't panic and drown... >> More important is that you are comfortable in the water. > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > because they panic... Of course, not being comfortable in the water > could easily lead to panic as you start to drown... <grin> Some people have a hard time staying afloat. I always had a hard time passing swim tests. I could NOT float. I'd take a full lung full of air and then slowly sink to the bottom. I could to 1-1/2 lengths of an Olympic pool underwater but had a rough time doing even two laps on the surface. A friend (a body builder) could not swim more than two strokes before he sank out of site. It was kind of comical to watch him try to swim ... he'd churn the water into a maelstrom in a vain attempt to stay on the surface. But divers have wet suits and BC's to solve the floating problem. > A friend (a body builder) could not swim more than > two strokes before he sank out of site. It was kind > of comical to watch him try to swim ... he'd churn > the water into a maelstrom in a vain attempt to stay > on the surface. Sounds like a prime candidate to be a Mk-V diver... <grin> I wonder if some instructors will let him take the test, wearing a shorty wet suit? That would give him the floation to pass the test, but I don't know if any will allow that. >I wonder if some instructors will let him take the test, wearing a > shorty wet suit? > That would give him the floation to pass the test, but I don't know if > any will allow that. He could just say he gets cold and wear the suit. What's the difference between a wetsuit and 30 extra pounds of flab. Just start eating lots of Oreos. <BG> >>I wonder if some instructors will let him take the test, wearing a >> shorty wet suit? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >between a wetsuit and 30 extra pounds of flab. Just start eating lots of >Oreos. <BG> Instructor that certified me would let you wear fins and wet suit, but time and distance doubled. >>>I wonder if some instructors will let him take the test, wearing a >>> shorty wet suit? [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Instructor that certified me would let you wear fins and wet suit, but > time and distance doubled. Yeah, but even a mediocre swimmer can cover the distance much quicker with fins. I'd never used them till a couple weeks ago and it was like putting a motor up my a.s. Anyway, AFAIK, there is no time limit for a beginners swim test in a pool. You must have taken an advanced test. >>>>I wonder if some instructors will let him take the test, wearing a >>>> shorty wet suit? [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >motor up my a.s. Anyway, AFAIK, there is no time limit for a beginners swim >test in a pool. You must have taken an advanced test. Cool, I took the class, you tell me what it was > On Sun, 18 Mar 2007 15:53:20 -0600, "Sheldon" > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Cool, I took the class, you tell me what it was Did your beginner class require that the swim test be completed in a certain amount of time? >> On Sun, 18 Mar 2007 15:53:20 -0600, "Sheldon" >> [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > Did your beginner class require that the swim test be completed in a > certain amount of time? If you're asking me I haven't taken the test yet. Mid April is when my class starts, and I've been "told" that the swimming part of the test has no time limit. I guess this is up to the instructor's discression. After about 3 hours your swim test might start to get on everybody's nerves. lol > If you're asking me I haven't taken the test yet. Mid April is when my > class starts, and I've been "told" that the swimming part of the test has no > time limit. I guess this is up to the instructor's discression. After > about 3 hours your swim test might start to get on everybody's nerves. lol If you're still afloat after 3 hours then arguably you've proven you can survive in the water. JF >> If you're asking me I haven't taken the test yet. Mid April is when my >> class starts, and I've been "told" that the swimming part of the test has [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > If you're still afloat after 3 hours then arguably you've proven you > can survive in the water. I'll keep that in mind. :-) >>If you're asking me I haven't taken the test yet. Mid April is when my >>class starts, and I've been "told" that the swimming part of the test has no [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > If you're still afloat after 3 hours then arguably you've proven you > can survive in the water. What's more, this would be ample time to include/complete several other specialties within. Matthias > >>If you're asking me I haven't taken the test yet. Mid April is when my > >>class starts, and I've been "told" that the swimming part of the test has no [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > What's more, this would be ample time to include/complete > several other specialties within. No kidding. One of PADI's many benefits. 8) Is this your first visit back since you went AWOL? How goes the battle? JF >>>If you're asking me I haven't taken the test yet. Mid April is when my >>>class starts, and I've been "told" that the swimming part of the test has [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Matthias Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp?????????????? How ya doing? That was funny as hell, BTW. >> If you're asking me I haven't taken the test yet. Mid April is when my >> class starts, and I've been "told" that the swimming part of the test has [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > If you're still afloat after 3 hours then arguably you've proven you > can survive in the water. Sure. For three hours. Thus spake "Douglas W \"Popeye\" Frederick" <Popeye@finalprotectivefire.com> : >>> If you're asking me I haven't taken the test yet. Mid April is when my >>> class starts, and I've been "told" that the swimming part of the test has [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > For three hours. If you're a drunk, naked cruise ship passenger, that's not long enough. Signaturedillon The pen may be mightier than the sword, but I've never seen a .sig beat a Sig. On Tue, 27 Mar 2007 18:27:27 -0400, "Douglas W \"Popeye\" Frederick" <Popeye@finalprotectivefire.com> wrote: > Sure. > > For three hours. An argument could definitely be made that being able to remain afloat for 3 hours is a more survival oriented skill in such situations than just being able to swim a couple of laps in the pool... I suspect that if you can remain afloat for 3 hours, the swimming part is going to probably take care of itself... But 'ell, what does John know about it anyway? All the water up there comes in solid format instead of liquid... <grin> > >> On Sun, 18 Mar 2007 15:53:20 -0600, "Sheldon" > [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > time limit. I guess this is up to the instructor's discression. After > about 3 hours your swim test might start to get on everybody's nerves. lol Actually, I was asking Rod, who said "Instructor that certified me would let you wear fins and wet suit, but time and distance doubled." In the PADI OW course there is no time limit, and I was wondering what his time limit had been. After 3 hours, you'll be very wrinkly. :-) Good luck with your course, Sheldon! kari >> >> On Sun, 18 Mar 2007 15:53:20 -0600, "Sheldon" >> [quoted text clipped - 46 lines] > > kari Thanks. >> >> On Sun, 18 Mar 2007 15:53:20 -0600, "Sheldon" >> [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] > >kari yes there was a time limit, but I don't remember what it was. I do remember that when some folks took the limit they didn't get a rest like the other folks did, they went straight into the next phase of the class. > I wonder how strict scuba training teachers are about the swim test > requirements? I may barely be able to pass the test. Diving and swimming are different skills entirely. But sooner or later, you have to surface. In some circumstances, you might have to swim. To save your own life, you might have to swim some distance. (Low probability, I'll admit, but still quite possible.) You should learn to swim reasonably well before learning to dive. -- John Eells > You should learn to swim reasonably well before learning to dive. You should learn to swim reasonably well before you are somewhere that there's lots of water around and certainly before you start splashing around in it. Lee > > You should learn to swim reasonably well before learning to dive. > > You should learn to swim reasonably well before you are somewhere that > there's lots of water around and certainly before you start splashing around > in it. I think swimming is as basic a skill as walking or riding a bike. I'm dumbfounded whenever I find out there are people that can't swim. Are these the results of abused children locked in a closet until they turn 18? But I still don't believe swimming is absolutely necessary to diving, any more than walking is necessary to diving. There's no doubt in my mind, however, that it makes it easier and/or more comfortable. > I wonder how strict scuba training teachers are about the swim test > requirements? I may barely be able to pass the test. Maybe you shouldn't scuba dive > Maybe you shouldn't scuba dive Nawh, he'll do just fine... As long as he carries an extra 100 lbs or so of lead... Hell, it worked for the MK-V -- it's not like you needed to know how to swim with it... >I wonder how strict scuba training teachers are about the swim test > requirements? I may barely be able to pass the test. I'm also planning on getting certified. My PADI instructor said we have to swim eight lengths of the pool "any way we can." I can do it, but with strokes nobody has ever seen. Meanwhile, I have a month before the class starts, and I've been spending time at the local pool and working with a swim instructor. My goal is to be able to to an easy freestyle stroke before the class starts. I kind agree with one of the posters. If you can't swim, I would hold off until you feel more comfortable in the water. Can you tread water that's way over your head? And for how long? Good luck to you. I feel very comfortable in the water now, but just need to work on my swimming. My opinion is that a good instructor will want you to swim well, but form may not be an issue. A poor instructor may let things slide, but in an emergency you may need those skills to save your own life or the life of your "buddy." BTW, I'll continue to practice my skills at the pool even after I pass the test. >>I wonder how strict scuba training teachers are about the swim test >> requirements? I may barely be able to pass the test. [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > BTW, I'll continue to practice my skills at the pool even after I pass the > test. I'm sorry but..... If you can't swim well why would you want to go diving. I would of thought( and I am only an Aussie who doesn't like US gun laws ) if you don't like the water enough to learn to swim and than snorkel why the hell do you want to dive? > I'm sorry but..... If you can't swim well why would you want to go diving. I > would of thought( and I am only an Aussie who doesn't like US gun laws ) if > you don't like the water enough to learn to swim and than snorkel why the > hell do you want to dive? Because he wants to walk along the bottom and see all the pretty fisheys? <snicker> >> I'm sorry but..... If you can't swim well why would you want to go >> diving. I [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Because he wants to walk along the bottom and see all the pretty > fisheys? <snicker> OKI won;t dive witt it > I'm sorry but..... If you can't swim well why would you want to go diving. I > would of thought( and I am only an Aussie who doesn't like US gun laws ) if > you don't like the water enough to learn to swim and than snorkel why the > hell do you want to dive? Maybe he's just in it for the free lobster. >> I'm sorry but..... If you can't swim well why would you want to go >> diving. I [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Maybe he's just in it for the free lobster. I don't know what the draw is. I couldn't swim worth a damn before I signed up for my scuba course. However, the more time I spend in the water now the more I begin to enjoy it and the more I want to do this. > I don't know what the draw is. I couldn't swim worth a damn before I signed > up for my scuba course. If you grow up in an area with a lot of water, it's common to have water recreational activities... It could be water skiing, swimming & drinking with a bunch of friends at the local lake or pond, fishing, or whatever... Basically, if you grow up near the water, it's kind of expected that you are going to learn how to swim... If you grew up in Colorado, I can see how you might not have these opportunities... Probably not that many lakes and the ones you do have are probably a bit cold most of the year... On Mar 2, 9:57 pm, Grumman-581 <grumman...@DIE-SPAMMER-SCUM-gmail.com> wrote: > If you grow up in an area with a lot of water, it's common to have > water recreational activities... It could be water skiing, swimming & [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Probably not that many lakes and the ones you do have are probably a > bit cold most of the year... Yeah, and I bet they don't have any swimming pools there either. Fortunately I grew up near the ocean and in a warm climate so I was able to take advantage of swimming lessons in the local YMCA's indoor pool. >> I don't know what the draw is. I couldn't swim worth a damn before I >> signed [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Probably not that many lakes and the ones you do have are probably a > bit cold most of the year... A "bit" cold? It's all meltwater. May as well be swimming in a highball glass full of ice. We have a huge reservoir up here, and everybody who uses it wears a full wet suit on the hottest days in the summer. >>>I wonder how strict scuba training teachers are about the swim test >>> requirements? I may barely be able to pass the test. [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > if you don't like the water enough to learn to swim and than snorkel why > the hell do you want to dive? I'm not sure if you are referring to me or the original poster. I'm learning to swim and putting in the time and effort so I won't be a hazard to myself or my buddy. I can snorkel, but I've only done it in a pool so far, and I've covered the 8 laps with strokes nobody seems to have names for. Also, for the first time in my life I'm really enjoying the water and can't wait to be underwater and free from the tether of a snorkel. >>>>I wonder how strict scuba training teachers are about the swim test >>>> requirements? I may barely be able to pass the test. [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > for. Also, for the first time in my life I'm really enjoying the water > and can't wait to be underwater and free from the tether of a snorkel. My comments were to no one in particular even though were in reply to your post it was really just musings on my part. It just seems a strange sport to pick if you can't swim. In practice you don't swim when diving even on the surface. You have a BCD that even if you have used all your air you can inflate and normally in my case anyhow a 3mm or 5mm wetsuit which gives you extral bouyancy as well so you just paddle with your fins. Anyhow good luck with your training and I hope that you continue to love the sport. remember a bad days diving is better than a good day at work and always blow little bubbles >>>>I wonder how strict scuba training teachers are about the swim test >>>> requirements? I may barely be able to pass the test. [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > for. Also, for the first time in my life I'm really enjoying the water > and can't wait to be underwater and free from the tether of a snorkel. I was a mediocre swimmer when I got my C card (and have improved since then), but absolutely did do the required distance in the cold pool in a rotten rubber wet suit. I am not fast, but can sure get where I need to. There are important reasons for the rules <at least if you consider your life important>. > I'm also planning on getting certified. My PADI instructor <snip> You're gonna die... >> I'm also planning on getting certified. My PADI instructor > > <snip> > > You're gonna die... Well, I'm kinda hoping you guys are gonna help save me. lol > Well, I'm kinda hoping you guys are gonna help save me. lol Nawh, but if your ol'lady is cute, we'll consider doing the body recovery... <evil-grin> >> Well, I'm kinda hoping you guys are gonna help save me. lol > > Nawh, but if your ol'lady is cute, we'll consider doing the body > recovery... <evil-grin> You mean you recover "her" body and leave me on the bottom? > You mean you recover "her" body and leave me on the bottom? Nawh... Grieving widows are sometimes very appreciative... <dirty-old-man-grin> Of course, we also recommend that the newbies get the very best and most expensive gear that is available so that we can then get it at a very good discount from the new widow who just "wants to get rid of it"... Obviously, you want to get an Atomic Aquatics T1X/T2 regulator... Or better yet, you'll need 2 of them with a Y-valve... You'll need tanks if you're going to be a *real* diver... A pair of Beuchat 190s are obviously the tanks that you'll need... Anything else and everyone will know that you're just a poser... > A pair of > Beuchat 190s are obviously the tanks that you'll need... Anything else > and everyone will know that you're just a poser... Make sure you get some chain with those 190s.......then the dive boat can use them for anchors. > Make sure you get some chain with those 190s.......then the dive boat > can use them for anchors. It might be interesting to see Doug remove all the air from his BC and try his maximum descent rate entry technique with a pair of them... <evil-grin> >> Make sure you get some chain with those 190s.......then the dive boat can >> use them for anchors. > > It might be interesting to see Doug remove all the air from his BC and try > his maximum descent rate entry technique with a pair of them... > <evil-grin> A 300 ft bottle and a super wing? >> You mean you recover "her" body and leave me on the bottom? > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Beuchat 190s are obviously the tanks that you'll need... Anything else > and everyone will know that you're just a poser... Sounds like skiing. lol >>> Well, I'm kinda hoping you guys are gonna help save me. lol >> >> Nawh, but if your ol'lady is cute, we'll consider doing the body >> recovery... <evil-grin> > > You mean you recover "her" body and leave me on the bottom? We used to have a guy here, he's dead now, that would say "There's only one way to comfort a young widow...". On Mon, 5 Mar 2007 02:24:06 -0500, "Douglas W \"Popeye\" Frederick" <Popeye@finalprotectivefire.com> wrote: > We used to have a guy here, he's dead now, that would say "There's only > one way to comfort a young widow...". Lyle's dead? > On Mon, 5 Mar 2007 02:24:06 -0500, "Douglas W \"Popeye\" Frederick" > <Popeye@finalprotectivefire.com> wrote: >> We used to have a guy here, he's dead now, that would say "There's only >> one way to comfort a young widow...". > > Lyle's dead? Or pussy whipped. It's the same thing, isn't it? >>>Well, I'm kinda hoping you guys are gonna help save me. lol >> >>Nawh, but if your ol'lady is cute, we'll consider doing the body >>recovery... <evil-grin> > > You mean you recover "her" body and leave me on the bottom? Yes he does >>>I'm also planning on getting certified. My PADI instructor >> [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Well, I'm kinda hoping you guys are gonna help save me. lol What - help ya die?? Many here will give you excellent advice. Many here don't like PADI - they believe they have valid points. I was PADI trained - but then I only dive in my above ground pool. No true - but I swam in dove competitively so being in the water, treading water, free diving, snorkeling, were all things I had done previously and felt comfortable doing. My certification at Norfolk Lake in Arkansas was a JOKE. Too many people - to small a boat. Some of the instructors giving skill tests has such bar buoyancy they kicked up all the silt and dropped the viz to 0' - we lost several divers (who were taking the test) in the silt out. At one time there were so many people on the pontoon boat the front(aft) of the boat was in the water - we had to squeeze towards the back (stern) of the boat. I learned enough in the PADI classes to kill myself. Thank God I was still a bad enough of a student to survive the classes, the training, and the skills test! > My certification at Norfolk Lake in Arkansas was a JOKE. Too many > people - to small a boat. Some of the instructors giving skill tests has [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > was still a bad enough of a student to survive the classes, the training, > and the skills test! Ummm, the front of the boat is called the bow. Aft means toward the rear and stern means at the rear. Thus proving that those of us that think poorly of PADI training were right all along. Lee > Ummm, the front of the boat is called the bow. Aft means toward the rear > and stern means at the rear. > > Thus proving that those of us that think poorly of PADI training were right > all along. Awh, come on... He's in St. Louis... What does he know about water other than that muddy little creek that runs through there? <grin> >> Ummm, the front of the boat is called the bow. Aft means toward the >> rear and stern means at the rear. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Awh, come on... He's in St. Louis... What does he know about water other > than that muddy little creek that runs through there? <grin> Don't need your help Gru! :-) > Don't need your help Gru! :-) Awh, gee... Ya' try to help someone and look at the thanks ya' get... Hell, I was willing to cut you a bit of slack since the only boat you probably ever see around there is a barge and for some of those, it might just be a bit difficult to tell the difference between the bow and the stern... Then again, there's canoes... Not exactly that easy to determine the bow vs the stern in them, I guess... Kind of relative to which way the people are sitting in it... So, if you have two people sitting in the canoe and they are facing each other, which end is the bow and which end is the stern? <grin> > Awh, gee... Ya' try to help someone and look at the thanks ya' get... > Hell, I was willing to cut you a bit of slack since the only boat you [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > canoe and they are facing each other, which end is the bow and which > end is the stern? <grin> Funny you should mention that. Ft.Lauderdale has a bunch of tug boats that have a drive under the center of the boat that can be turned in any direction. It is fairly obvious which parts are the sides of the boats, but not at all obvious which is the bow and which is the stern. Lee >>Don't need your help Gru! :-) > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > canoe and they are facing each other, which end is the bow and which > end is the stern? <grin> For me the bow of a canoe is which end is heading down the river first - this usually changes during a trip down the river - especially after a few (or not) >>My certification at Norfolk Lake in Arkansas was a JOKE. Too many >>people - to small a boat. Some of the instructors giving skill tests has [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Lee whoops! >> Thus proving that those of us that think poorly of PADI training were >> right all along. > whoops! 8^) You're the perfect straightman. >>>Thus proving that those of us that think poorly of PADI training were >>>right all along. > >>whoops! > > 8^) You're the perfect straightman. glad to oblige > I wonder how strict scuba training teachers are about the swim test > requirements? I may barely be able to pass the test. I feel your pain-- for me, the hardest part of the course was the damn swim test. Specifically, the requirement to tread water for 10 minutes. And no, the instructor (SSI) wouldn't let it slide. I can swim, but not very well. I learned to swim in the ocean, but of course the blasted test is in a swimming pool. I'm skinny and I don't float so good in fresh water. Comfort isn't the issue; I'm fine around water, I just swim like a spastic crab. Diving resembles swimming about as much as it resembles golf. You'll propel yourself with fins, without using your arms. Wetsuit and BC take care of any floating you'll need to do. The last time you'll need to swim as a scuba diver is to pass the test. Unless you fall off the boat. > Diving resembles swimming about as much as it resembles golf. [snip] > Unless you fall off the boat. If you fall off the boat, it is a boating problem, not a diving problem. In diving class you are taught how to snorkel at the surface as part of your skin diving skills development. Breathing throught the snorkel, propelling yourself with fins and wearing a dive mask is a very effective method of swimming very long distances. In my few years of experience (only since 1986) of teaching scuba, I often have had less trouble teaching non-swimmers than I have with swim-team members. (Non-swimmers had to complete the swim test before certification as a diver.) I have observed that avid water-skiers made the best divers. They are used to bobbing around in the water, in close proximity to the boat, handeling lines, equipment and themselves quite well. The swim test is a hold over from when YMCA was the main authority in diving in the US. It is not relevent to the activity of SCUBA diving. > In diving class you are taught how to snorkel at the surface as part of > your skin diving skills development. Breathing throught the snorkel, > propelling yourself with fins and wearing a dive mask is a very > effective method of swimming very long distances. Not in any diving course I've taken. NAUI used to have a snorkeling certification. Maybe they still do, but it's not a diving class. What agency taught you to snorkel as part of a diving class? > I have observed that avid water-skiers made the best divers. They are > used to bobbing around in the water, in close proximity to the boat, > handeling lines, equipment and themselves quite well. Thanks, but I don't recall that water skiing helped my diving at all. I suspect what you found was more the result of people who enjoy being in and around the water than any specific skils learned in the process. > The swim test is a hold over from when YMCA was the main authority in > diving in the US. It is not relevent to the activity of SCUBA diving. A lot of divers would not agree with you. A few would. Personally, I consider swimming an essential skill, but more as a safety issue than as something you actually do during the dive. I also consider it essential for boating, fishing and just about any other sport that involves being in or around water. YMMV. Lee >> In diving class you are taught how to snorkel at the surface as part of >> your skin diving skills development. Breathing throught the snorkel, [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > certification. Maybe they still do, but it's not a diving class. What > agency taught you to snorkel as part of a diving class? NAUI and PADI do, or at least they very recently did. You have to master snorkeling before you can touch any (other?) breathing apparatus. >> I have observed that avid water-skiers made the best divers. They are >> used to bobbing around in the water, in close proximity to the boat, [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Lee Douglas W Popeye Frederick wrote > NAUI and PADI do, or at least they very recently did. > You have to master snorkeling before you can touch any (other?) breathing > apparatus. Must be new. Jayna was PADI certified around 1991. Snorkeling was not part of her course. I was NAUI certified in 1969 and it was not part of my training either, not that it means a lot now, but there was a snorkeling certification back then. In fact, two students were certified as snorkelers on the same trip as my open water dives. They went shallow. I had to go all the way to 30 feet. Woohoo. Lee > Douglas W Popeye Frederick wrote > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Lee There is a skin diving component to the confined water portion of the PADI OW course, normally in module 4, but in any confined water session from 2 to 5. kari > I have observed that avid water-skiers made the best divers. They are > used to bobbing around in the water, in close proximity to the boat, > handeling lines, equipment and themselves quite well. And let's not forget -- they're used to taking unexpected falls into the water... I suspect that this would add to their comfort level of being in the water... Of course, it could be the other way... Someone who grows up in an area where water activities are the norm would end up being comfortable in the water and as such would consider water skiing an acceptable activity... I suspect that you don't need to impress upon water skiers the danger of being near a boat's prop like you would someone else... > And let's not forget -- they're used to taking unexpected falls into > the water... I suspect that this would add to their comfort level of > being in the water... I took quite a few falls in trick, slalom, jumping and barefooting competitions. I don't remember any of them being what I'd call comfortable. I suppose they did, however, teach me just how much I could punish my body and still remain conscious. The worst fall I ever took was during a slalom run. I had rounded a ball and was really laying into the line trying to make it around the next one. I was laying over nearly horizontal and almost certainly going something over 50 when the ski lost contact with the water. I hit sideways and rolled forever and ever amen. I was afraid to breath I hurt so bad, but, much to my surprise, broke nothing. We had very good ski vests back then. > I suspect that you don't need to impress upon water skiers the danger > of being near a boat's prop like you would someone else... 10-4. Lee > I took quite a few falls in trick, slalom, jumping and barefooting > competitions. I don't remember any of them being what I'd call comfortable. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > hurt so bad, but, much to my surprise, broke nothing. We had very good ski > vests back then. I had a fall once that consisted of me coming around an outcropping of trees and heading into shore for a beach landing... Well, turns out that there were boats all parked along the shore where I was expecting to come to a stop... By the time I noticed that my target was occupied, I had already let go of the rope... All I could think of doing at that point was just to avoid the boats, so I turned back towards the tow boat which put me straight in line with hitting the dock... I plowed into it and the skis came off my feet and just kept going, followed soon thereafter with me sliding down the surface of the side of the dock and back into the water... Luckily, the side of the dock was solid plywood and was tall enough that the impact distributed the force over most of my body... That one *hurt*... Back in the late '70s, I was skiing behind a jet boat on a 100 ft rope... He was making a high speed U-turn and I went to the far outside to get as much speed as possible... I was realling leaning into it to get to the point where I was nearly perpendicular to the boat... It was definitely a hoot seeing the water go past that fast... Well, at least to the point where the rope broke... At that speed, you just skim across the water... Well, technically, you're probably rolling across it... They said that I looked like a comet with all the spray that was being kicked up as I tumbled / skipped across the water... No physical injuries, but it definitely was a painful fall... I let someone else ski for the rest of the day... I was sore enough that I was more than happy to act as spotter... And some people wonder why women live longer than men... Duhhh... > I let someone else ski for the rest of the day... I was sore enough > that I was more than happy to act as spotter... Been there, done that. A couple of the falls I remember most was barefooting. For those that don't know, the shorter the ski, the harder the fall seems to be. There are no skis shorter than bare feet. There was the time that around 60, I fell and hit head first, kind of sideways. It jerked my neck so hard I could not turn my head for weeks. Then there was the time that I went in face first, with my eyes open. I think they eventually returned to the front of my fact after being driven into the back of my head, but I can't be sure. I soon learned to tuck and roll. Then there were the motorcycle days, during which I flipped a dirt bike in the middle of an enduro. I went over the handle bars and, armed with knowledge I gained skiing, I tucked and rolled. I was doing fine until the motorcycle flipped over and landed on my a.s in mid roll. That one broke a vertibrae and tore a ligament or so. On most mornings, I could point to which ones. Figuring that dirt bike racing was probably too dangerous for me, I decided to take up a safer hobby, big bore motorcycle drag racing. I made it to the regional championships three years in a row. Best finish in the championships was quarter finals. I don't have to wonder why women live longer than men. It's because we're nucking futs. Lee > I don't have to wonder why women live longer than men. It's because we're > nucking futs. Well, as I've previously said: http://grumman581.googlepages.com/leadingcauseofdeath >I wonder how strict scuba training teachers are about the swim test > requirements? I may barely be able to pass the test. Lew: If I was you, I couldn't care less how lenient the teachers are about the swimming test. On the other hand, I would care! I'd want the test to be as strict as necessary to ensure that I passed it legitimately. I'd want to know that my passing it meant that I was reasonably competent - not just that they didn't care. The reason to test it is, after all, to ensure that the diver-to-be can handle reasonable requirements. When you need that skill, knowing you passed the test isn't going to be enough - knowing you were good enough to pass the test is what you need. Hope you get your priorities right. - David >>I wonder how strict scuba training teachers are about the swim test >> requirements? I may barely be able to pass the test. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > - David As long as this thread is still going, what are the hardest parts of the certification test? Diving, when all goes well, looks like the easy part. I've heard they: 1. Make you swim 8 lengths of the pool without touching bottom or holding on to anything. 2. Not sure about this treading water thing, but I could see where that could get to some people. 3. Drop all your equipment to the bottom of the pool and make you go down and put it on. ( Is that in 3 feet or 12 feet of water?) Would love to hear from any and all. I will probably getting PADI certified. Sheldon > As long as this thread is still going, what are the hardest parts of the > certification test? Diving, when all goes well, looks like the easy part. Getting up early enough in the morning to drive to the location that they're using for the "open water" dives... Quite frankly, I suspect that the most difficult part for most people is just getting comfortable enough in the water... Once you're comfortable enough with being underwater and breathing at the same time, the other skills that you might need to demonstrate are no big deal... Hell, there's plenty of us old farts around that taught ourselves how to dive... You just take it one step at a time... > As long as this thread is still going, what are the hardest parts of the > certification test? Diving, when all goes well, looks like the easy part. None of it's particular hard if you have the right skills. None of it's particularly easy if you don't. > 1. Make you swim 8 lengths of the pool without touching bottom or holding > on to anything. As I recall, you indicated you had learned several strokes that should allow you to do this with minimum effort as long as the test is not timed. > 2. Not sure about this treading water thing, but I could see where that > could get to some people. Treading water tends to be harder than swimming, at least to me. > 3. Drop all your equipment to the bottom of the pool and make you go down > and put it on. ( Is that in 3 feet or 12 feet of water?) Interesting. I thought that requirement had gone away long ago. When I had to do it, you had to take the gear to the bottom, leave it there and go back and get it. Not really hard as long as you remember what order to do everything in. The last thing you do if you're leaving it, is take the regulator out of your mouth. The first thing you do if you're recovering it, is put the regulator back in your mouth. Puttin |
Enable EMail Alerts
Start New Thread
Reply to this Message