PADI Divemaster Swim Test Times

[Warby]

Hi Everyone,

I'm currently studying for my PADI Divemaster and am trying to find out the times that the points are awarded for completing the 400yd, 800yd, 100yd tow and the 15 mins tread water. I realize that the points awarded are 1-5 but need to know the times associated with each discipline. I need to know how much pool work to put in!

Thanks in advance!

Warby

[ScubaSteve]

Unless they've changed...

You must score a combined 12 points or greater. So, in other words you can't get by with a 2 on every skill.

400 yd swim:
< 6 min. - 5 points
6 - 8 min - 4 points
8 - 10 min - 3 points
10 - 12 min - 2 points
>12 - 1 points

15 min tread (hands out last 2 min):
completed - 5 points
completed, but hands not out last 2 min - 3 points
used side/bottom momentarily no more than twice - 1 points

800 yd snorkel:
< 13 - 5 points
13 - 15 - 4 points
15 - 17 - 3 points
17 - 19 -2 points
>19 - 1 points

100 yd tow:
< 2 - 5
2 - 3 - 4 points
3 - 4 - 3 points
4 -5 - 2 points
> 5 - 1 points

[ScubyDoo]

ScubaSteve has posted the times required for each point level. The only things I would add from my experience would be...

1. Pace yourself on all long swims. If you go out too fast, you WILL run out of gas. I run marathons so I know a thing or two about endurance.

2. Don't swim on a full stomach. You will regret it. Eat a moderate meal about 2 hours before your swim. This allows enough time for the food to be broken down, processed, and exchanged to energy. If you feel you need some extra energy before your swim, eat a banana (potassium keeps cramps at bay). Staying hydrated will also keep away cramps. Drink gatorade that day with your meals. You can also eat some energy gels (Hammer Gel or Gu Gel are popular) about 30 minutes prior to your swim. It will take your body about 30 minutes to process and absorb them.

3. If you have split fins, make sure you use them for the 800 yd. snorkel swim. I wore my regular fins on my first attempt and was very unhappy with the results. On the make-up swim I wore the splits and increased my time by over 4 minutes.

4. On the 400 yd. free swim, plan to swim multiple forms. Different muscles will get tired requiring you to switch back and forth from freestyle, butterfly, backstroke, etc.

5. Encourage your fellow divemaster candidates as they are swimming. Cheer them on. Listen to their cheers as you swim. It could give you that extra determination to dig just a little deeper and gain a few extra seconds of time. It could be the difference between how many points you earn.

[Warby]

Thanks for your posts, there is some great advice there. I'm determined to score max points so I better step up my training!

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by ScubyDoo

ScubaSteve has posted the times required for each point level. The only things I would add from my experience would be...

1. Pace yourself on all long swims. If you go out too fast, you WILL run out of gas. I run marathons so I know a thing or two about endurance.

2. Don't swim on a full stomach. You will regret it. Eat a moderate meal about 2 hours before your swim. This allows enough time for the food to be broken down, processed, and exchanged to energy. If you feel you need some extra energy before your swim, eat a banana (potassium keeps cramps at bay). Staying hydrated will also keep away cramps. Drink gatorade that day with your meals. You can also eat some energy gels (Hammer Gel or Gu Gel are popular) about 30 minutes prior to your swim. It will take your body about 30 minutes to process and absorb them.

3. If you have split fins, make sure you use them for the 800 yd. snorkel swim. I wore my regular fins on my first attempt and was very unhappy with the results. On the make-up swim I wore the splits and increased my time by over 4 minutes.

4. On the 400 yd. free swim, plan to swim multiple forms. Different muscles will get tired requiring you to switch back and forth from freestyle, butterfly, backstroke, etc.

5. Encourage your fellow divemaster candidates as they are swimming. Cheer them on. Listen to their cheers as you swim. It could give you that extra determination to dig just a little deeper and gain a few extra seconds of time. It could be the difference between how many points you earn.

Excellent advice. I actually did all of those things to get through my tests. I found all of them quite easy except for the 400 yd swim, which was definitely the most challenging of the group.

[ScubaSteve]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

Excellent advice. I actually did all of those things to get through my tests. I found all of them quite easy except for the 400 yd swim, which was definitely the most challenging of the group.

Yep, I'd agree with that!

[bubbles]

I also found that I tend to overbreathe my snorkel on long swims...so i bought the Scubapro Shotgun 2 snorkel which has a "double barreled" area....you can't overbreathe it! Made a huge difference in my performance.

[gtjason2000]

I would recommend full footed fins for the 800yd. I was lucky that the local indoor pool we did the swims at had a bunch of full footed fins for the swim team. I had wanted to get a 5 on everything but the 800 was too slow with my regular fins but I was able to do it with the full footed.

[ScaredSilly]

Originally Posted by Warby

I'm determined to score max points so I better step up my training!

I stroved for mediocracy ... went for 4s and enjoyed my self

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by ScaredSilly

I stroved for mediocracy ... went for 4s and enjoyed my self

I have no idea what my scores were... my instructor didn't actually tell us. I just know I passed and "did just fine", which is good enough for me.