PADI Divemaster Swim Test Times

[Skred]

Originally Posted by DMWiz

Just out of curiosity... How many of you did your swim tests in a pool and who did it in the ocean or other natural body of water?

I'm a sinker and poor swimmer, but have good endurance so I elected to test in the ocean 'cause I would have failed every single one of those in a pool. It worked!

I was not given a choice...did them in a pool.

I was never a really proficient swimmer so I booked a couple of sessions with an instructor at the local Y to learn stroke technique. After that, I practiced my tail off at my gym and at the neighborhood pool all summer.

DMWiz, did you do all 4 in the same day?

[DMWiz]

Nope, I did treading and 800 yd. in lovely washing machine-like conditions on a Saturday. Then 400 yd the following week. I did a bunch of tows during my training specially during shore entries just for kicks and giggles that was the easiest part for me.

[scubasamurai]

did all the swims in the pool and all on the same day. most of the swims i did in rescue in the open water as well. my advice is just practice swimming. if your not in too good of shape stick to the breast stroke. most important take your time and focus on your swimming, not on what the other person is doing of your time, you will be surprised how fast you really can go good luck

[cjwaid]

Originally Posted by DivingCRNA

I knew there would be a few "I knew this one guy" stories. But how often does a DM really need FAST swimming skills? Does it count if you train your butt off for the test, and then stop when you pass?

WELL... I KNEW THIS ONE GIRL... My girlfriend is a certified rescue diver, and she is also a heck of a swimmer (volusia county lifeguard, big waves, heavy surf, lot's of non-swimmers wondering into the rips)... For her part, When I put on her rescue class (yeah, I was her instructor), I did so in overhead waves, she was the strongest swimmer out of all of us, which shined through when she was the only person that could handle controlling the victim, and delivering accurate and deliberate rescue breaths while removing equipment in those conditions (yeah, I made her do what is to be done in only calm waters while dealing with 6-8' waves and heavy current... Her swimming ability is what gave her the upper hand, no doubt about it, those legs never quit kicking to control the rescue.

Another thing is that a well trained DIVER should be completely comfortable in the water, it's what separates a divemaster from an open water diver, the divemaster must be someone that people can look to when things get tough.

As far as the swimming ability goes, why wouldn't a divemaster want to be a good swimmer??? if they don't want to work hard at becoming a swimmer what makes you think they will work hard at anything else that is challenging???

[Tom H]

There has been some talk about swimming vs. diving, etc. Swimming involves strength (particularly arms), good cardio, stamina, etc.--but most important is form. I don't think it is really a true test for divers. About the 3rd thing you learn in Rescue is keep mask, fins, snorkel ready at all times. When would you ever be without those--even if they were still in the car when you arrived to see someone in need of rescue. Where does swimming without these tools come in here? I agree that all LDS's should allow the tests to be done in salt water as well--I, too am a sinker. Still can't figure out how to keep my hands out the last 2 minutes on the float. But I WILL....Then when my boat sinks in the middle of the Pacific and it's just me floating with no aid, after 3 hours I can stick my hands out of the water for 2 minutes just to make it a bigger challenge! So--elliminate the 400 swim and the hands out thing. But make HARDER (longer) the 800, the tired diver tow and the floating (yes, I figured out how to do this in the pool, but it's way harder for me than just lying on my back with no movement at all in the ocean). These are things that a divemaster will at some point have to do to rescue someone....Although since the diver is only tired, not panicked, the need for speed is questionable. And I know it's possible, but try to think of a scenario where you are in bathing suit only and must float--and in fresh water to boot....

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by Tom H

There has been some talk about swimming vs. diving, etc. Swimming involves strength (particularly arms), good cardio, stamina, etc.--but most important is form. I don't think it is really a true test for divers. About the 3rd thing you learn in Rescue is keep mask, fins, snorkel ready at all times. When would you ever be without those--even if they were still in the car when you arrived to see someone in need of rescue. Where does swimming without these tools come in here? I agree that all LDS's should allow the tests to be done in salt water as well--I, too am a sinker. Still can't figure out how to keep my hands out the last 2 minutes on the float. But I WILL....Then when my boat sinks in the middle of the Pacific and it's just me floating with no aid, after 3 hours I can stick my hands out of the water for 2 minutes just to make it a bigger challenge! So--elliminate the 400 swim and the hands out thing. But make HARDER (longer) the 800, the tired diver tow and the floating (yes, I figured out how to do this in the pool, but it's way harder for me than just lying on my back with no movement at all in the ocean). These are things that a divemaster will at some point have to do to rescue someone....Although since the diver is only tired, not panicked, the need for speed is questionable. And I know it's possible, but try to think of a scenario where you are in bathing suit only and must float--and in fresh water to boot....

I'm afraid I have to disagree with nearly everything you said.

But I'll leave it at that.

[mitsuguy]

Lets play out a scenario that happened here recently. An instructor was out with two discover scuba diving participants. One was having ear issues, so, they were on the surface discussing it, approximately 200 feet from shore. A call for help is heard farther out from their location. The instructor has the DSDers inflate their BC's all the way and swim towards shore, as she swam full speed towards the person in trouble... He was actively having a heart attack (though he was just snorkeling, not diving) She towed him all the way back to shore, where help was waiting...

I'd like the process in rethinking those rescue plans? The only alternative would have been to spend 10 minutes putting one of our boats in the water...

Also, about the option of doing it in salt water versus freshwater... You should be able to do the tests in the scenario you intend on working in. Salt water makes us naturally more buoyant. I did all of mine in a pool, because at the time, I would be assisting with courses in freshwater. If you can do them in freshwater, however, saltwater is even easier...

Originally Posted by DivingCRNA

Because a diver spends so much time swimming....

When is the last time a DIVER had to swim FAR and FAST?



Anyone who thinks good swimming is needed for rescue needs to rethink their primary rescue plans, BTW...

As for split fins... They suck for the 800 yd snorkel. I used my POS Oceanic V12 vortexes (floppy and heavy as heck) and scored 2 points. I run and am in decent shape.

I got some Aqualung Blade 2s (long, light and stiff) before doing the inert diver tow and just missed 4 points. I am gonna redo the snorkel in these because splits blow on the surface.

[Tom H]

mitsuguy, I can't think of any better way to do that rescue. It sort of makes my point, that though obviously strength and stamina are very important, the Instructor did the recsue in full scuba gear, not swimming in her bathing suit. Towing him back without fins 200 yards would have been interesting.