Tips for shaving time off stamina swims?

[Disneymom]

Oh, great Gods of canned air.... I need your advice!

My intention is to start working on my Divemaster sometime NEXT summer - maybe. I have a LONG way to go, I know - and my intent here is not to get into the debate about how many dives a person needs to have, or how big a hurry one should be in. I'm getting as much diving in as possible, but being middle aged, my clock is ticking....

That said, being middle aged, I need to work on my stamina swim times -
both for the regular swim and the snorkel swim. I'm starting NOW so that when the time comes I'll be prepared - doing either 500 yard swims or 900 yard snorkel swims as many times a week as I can. Any tips on shaving time off?

Any particular FIN that will provide excellent speed? (don't want to get into the paddle vs. split debate here - that's as dangerous as the Republican vs. Democrat debate!) I personally dive splits but don't know as they're offering me as much speed as I could get. (Aeris Velocity Duos and Tusa Xpert Zooms at my disposal) would a paddle serve me better for this task?

Your tips, pointers and advice are greatly appreciated!

[fisheater]

Start by swimming laps, on a regular basis, with just a swimsuit and goggles. That will build up your general physical conditioning, both muscular strength and aerobic capacity. It'll also boost your confidence and water comfort.

Later, add fins, mask and snorkel and you'll be flying.

[ScubaToys Larry]

We have people doing the swims all the time - working on speed... and splits are always much faster. Normally about a minute in the 900.

[dive10killer]

Originally Posted by ScubaToys Larry

... and splits are always much faster

That's what I'm talking about!

[severian]

can someone lay out what type of swims are required for divemaster thru PADI?

[Don Wray]

For PADI, 400 yard swim and 800 yard mask, snorkel and fins, 100 yard rescue tow and 15 minute tread; all timed, the faster, the more points gained; you must accumulate 12 points to qualify. On the tread, the last 2 minutes is with your hands out of the water.

[severian]

Originally Posted by Don Wray

For PADI, 400 yard swim and 800 yard mask, snorkel and fins, 100 yard rescue tow and 15 minute tread; all timed, the faster, the more points gained; you must accumulate 12 points to qualify. On the tread, the last 2 minutes is with your hands out of the water.

Thanks!


in what body of water? Ocean? Lake? Pool? The 400 yard swim I suspect is with goggles and bathing suit only? I assume the rescue tow is in full scuba gear? The 15 min tread... fins or no fins? I appreciate any info you can add

[SkuaSeptember]

Originally Posted by severian

Thanks!


in what body of water? Ocean? Lake? Pool? The 400 yard swim I suspect is with goggles and bathing suit only? I assume the rescue tow is in full scuba gear? The 15 min tread... fins or no fins? I appreciate any info you can add

Usually in a pool in consideration of conditions and safety. Also, scoring on skills is usually done in the pool. No fins for the tread.

[SkuaSeptember]

DISNEYMOM

First of all, Good for you!
Unless you have been a competitive swimmer in the past, one of the best recommendations I can make for the 400yd swim is to vary your stroke between laps to include the sidestroke and or the elementary backstroke. While neither of these is especially speedy, they both allow you to get your face well out of the water so that you don't get winded. More often than not if you can finish the swim your time will be adequate. Candidates who start out too fast and then can't catch their breath often don't finish.

[DivingCRNA]

Originally Posted by ScubaToys Larry

We have people doing the swims all the time - working on speed... and splits are always much faster. Normally about a minute in the 900.

I have found that it depends on the splits on a surface swim. My Oceanic Vortex fins were TERRIBLE on my surface swim test the first time. I am getting better results with a pair of light, long, stiff blades in my training to redo that test...

The Oceanics are heavy and really floppy, decreasing their propulsion at the surface.