DivingCRNA's PADI DM Journey

[texdiveguy]

Thanks for your update....its semi-hard work but fun!

[Lineman Larry]

Go CRNA Go.

Education is a wonderful thing.

[caroln]

Congrats on your journey so far. It sounds like you have the 'fun' parts left to do

[DivingCRNA]

So far this thread has been all about how easy the tests were and how much fun I have been having. Not today.

I totally bonked the swim tests. I did a 17:34 on the 800 yard mask/snorkel/fin for 2 points and I f'd up keeping my hands out of the water for the last 2 minutes of the float/tread by starting too early (3 points) and I collected the 1 point I expected on the 400 meters swim.

So, I have 6 points with the tired diver tow to go. It is only worth 5 points if you max out. I need to redo the mask/snorkel fin and/or float tread and come up with some points! This depends on how the tired diver tow goes. I might have to redo both.

I think my piece of crap Oceanic Vortex V12 fins really hurt me. They are about the floppiest split fins in the world. I have been meaning to replace them, but have not, until today. I picked up a pair of Aqualung Blade 2's. Long and stiff. They should help. I can frog kick in them too. I tried them in the LDS pool. I also need to start the hands out of the water at the right time.

So, I am pretty depressed and down on myself for my crappy performance. I knew I swim like a brick, but man did I SUCK HIND TEAT today

I need to do better. But maybe I needed a big fat reminder of how not awesome I am.

[Divingguy]

Only someone who has EARNED or is WORKING on DM can truly appreciate how difficult some of these tasks can be. Do NOT give up, or be too hard on yourself. Humbling though, isn't it? Good luck.

[mm_dm]

Originally Posted by DivingCRNA

So far this thread has been all about how easy the tests were and how much fun I have been having. Not today.

I totally bonked the swim tests. I did a 17:34 on the 800 yard mask/snorkel/fin for 2 points and I f'd up keeping my hands out of the water for the last 2 minutes of the float/tread by starting too early (3 points) and I collected the 1 point I expected on the 400 meters swim.

So, I have 6 points with the tired diver tow to go. It is only worth 5 points if you max out. I need to redo the mask/snorkel fin and/or float tread and come up with some points! This depends on how the tired diver tow goes. I might have to redo both.

I think my piece of crap Oceanic Vortex V12 fins really hurt me. They are about the floppiest split fins in the world. I have been meaning to replace them, but have not, until today. I picked up a pair of Aqualung Blade 2's. Long and stiff. They should help. I can frog kick in them too. I tried them in the LDS pool. I also need to start the hands out of the water at the right time.

So, I am pretty depressed and down on myself for my crappy performance. I knew I swim like a brick, but man did I SUCK HIND TEAT today

I need to do better. But maybe I needed a big fat reminder of how not awesome I am.

Brother, I swam for about six months before I took the test...and NAUI just does a pass/fail test. I passed all the test and put on a happy face, but deep down I felt like a big whiner who still had to step it up. There are some people who become Divemasters and go on to help the shop out and do something with their training and those who become Divemasters and disappear off the face of the earth. Sometimes I think the being a Divemaster is all about the becoming. It's what you see in yourself and how you deal with it in your quieter moments that determines where you go with it.

[BoomerNJ]

Thanks DivingCRNA for posting this. Though I am still a newbie, I intend on going to at least the DM level in the next few years. When I did the swim test for OW that first pool night, I got a wake-up call. I used to be a life guard & a swimming instructor years ago & I took my swimming skill for granted. I haven't had to do any required swim test in years, so that 10 minutes (or whatever it was), actually had me struggling... I have since joined the local YMCA so I have access to a pool, that way I can get my chops back as a swimmer & get a better consumption rate too...

Good luck with your DM cert & again, thanks for the play by play...

Boomer

[cummings66]

Originally Posted by DivingCRNA

I totally bonked the swim tests. I did a 17:34 on the 800 yard mask/snorkel/fin for 2 points and I f'd up keeping my hands out of the water for the last 2 minutes of the float/tread by starting too early (3 points) and I collected the 1 point I expected on the 400 meters swim.

While it won't help you with the mask/fin/snorkel bit it will help with the 400 yard swim, the book Total Immersion Swimming will improve you so much that it will make your head spin. I used to struggle with distance until I got the book/dvd and now I have been able to increase my swimming distance dramatically.

Do you have to do the 800 yards in mask/fin/snorkel? Just curious about that, not that I'd suggest it any other way due to time. I think choosing a stiffer fin was a good idea as well, you're probably going to do much better next time.

I'm glad to see you post here of the failings, all too often all we see from people doing classes is the passes. You're an honest person, and I'm sure you'll make a good DM.

[DivingCRNA]

FYI:

From the Instructor's manual:

Stamina Exercise 1: 400 Metre/Yard Swim
The candidate must swim 400 metres/yards without stopping using no
swimming aids and using any stroke or combination of strokes desired.
If a candidate stops, the exercise is incomplete and must be repeated.
400 yards
Time Points
under 6 min 5
6 to 8 min 4
8 to 10 min 3
10 to 12 min 2
more than 12 min 1
stopped incomplete stopped

Stamina Exercise 2: 15 Minute Tread
Using no aids and wearing only a swimsuit, the candidate will stay
afloat by treading water, drown proofing, bobbing or floating for 15
minutes, with hands (not arms) out of the water during the last 2 minutes.
A candidate with a physical challenge that makes it difficult/impossible
to hold hands out of the water is exempted from that portion
of the exercise with no effect on the score.

Criteria Points
Performed satisfactorily 5
Stayed afloat, but hands not out of water entire 2 minutes 3
Used side/bottom for momentary support no more than twice 1
Used side/bottom for support more than twice incomplete

Stamina Exercise 3: 800 Metre/Yard Snorkel Swim
Using a mask, fins, snorkel and swimsuit only (no BCD or flotation
aids) and swimming with the face in the water, the candidate must
swim nonstop for 800 metres/yards. The candidate may not use arms
to swim, unless the candidate has a physical challenge that limits leg
use and arm-swimming is the individual’s normal swimming method
while diving. If a candidate stops, the exercise is incomplete and must be repeated.

800 yards
Time Points Time
under 13 min 5
13 to 15 min 4
15 to 17 min 3
17 to 19 min 2
more than 19 min 1
stopped incomplete stopped

Stamina Exercise 4: 100 Metres/Yard Inert Diver Tow
Wearing full scuba equipment, the candidate must push or tow an inert
diver in full scuba at the surface 100 metres/yards nonstop without
assistance. Note that this is a swimming power evaluation (speed-against-drag)
not a rescue evaluation. If a candidate stops, the exercise is incomplete and must
be repeated.
100 yards
Time Points
under 2 min 5
2 to 3 min 4
3 to 4 min 3
4 to 5 min 2
more than 5 min 1
stopped incomplete stopped

[ReefHound]

Given your other scores I would expect you'll have to fight hard to get a 3 in the tow. In split fins you wouldn't have stood a chance as you have all that extra mass to move. Nobody in my class got a 5 on it. Hopefully you'll be pulling a petite girl and not a husky man.

For the 800 yd mfs you want to proceed at a comfortable but relentless pace with hands on your back. If you have turns to make do them in a rounded arc. Should be able to get a 3 and possibly a 4 here.

Redoing the tread is your best shot for making up points, you should be able to easily get a 5 if you conserve your energy for the end by staying as low in the water as possible and minimizing movement. It's all legs the last few minutes so leading up to that rest your legs by using arms or floating.