Stamina Skills

[panamkat]

I agree with Crowley that the stamina tests are important if you want to be a professional diver. You are responsible for other people's safety as well as your own. I've just always had trouble with being timed. The Instructor's Exam doesn't time the 800 m snorkel/fin. Why do you have to swim fast?

 

[Crowley]

The Instructor's Exam doesn't time the 800 m snorkel/fin. Why do you have to swim fast?

I have no idea why this is even part of the IDC - however it did give me a chance to get a lot of paperwork done!!

 

[TMHeimer]

Swim test question. You need 12 points total to pass. Our LDS has a "shop standard" of needing to get a 3 on each of the 4 tests. Is this normal, and in keeping with PADI?

 

[Jang]

Having just completed the skills evaluation, our LDS and my instructor wants us to achieve at least a 3 in all skills and tests, and prefers 4s and 5s from each candidate. The passing score of 3 is just the bare minimum. In fact, our LDS prefers that DMCs have more than the bare minimum in all respects such as a minimum of 10 CW and 10 OW evaluations (if not more) instead of 5 each.

As not yet completed, but pretty damn close, I think we (collectively as DMCs) should be setting the bar higher than the bare minimum. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Joe-Diver]

Swim test question. You need 12 points total to pass. Our LDS has a "shop standard" of needing to get a 3 on each of the 4 tests. Is this normal, and in keeping with PADI?

An Instructor or LDS can "expect" higher scores, but cannot "require" them for certification. As long as you get a total of 12 points from all 4 swims you are meeting the certification requirements.

 

[TMHeimer]

Thanks Joe. That's what I thought. It's not that I'm just striving for the bare minimum, but I'm 55 and live way out in the country with no real access to a pool. So I'm running a lot, which may help some. Having been on the H.S. swim team in 1970 isn't much help.

 

[bsumner]

Keep your lungs as full as possible - inhale fully then breathe shallow. Try not to work to hard, only enough movement to keep your face out of the water with your head tilted back.

This is good advice - thanks.

 

[Joe-Diver]

I wrote a six article series on the Divemaster program for my LDS's newsletter. I give it to all of my Candidates to help them through the process.

Here's a snippet from the Swim section:

The first part of this is the one most candidates worry about, but don’t! It’s really not that hard to get through: Swim Evaluations. You are required to do 4 individual swim tests, and you must score at least 12 points in total (all 4 swims together) in order to be successful. You earn anywhere from 1 to 5 points on each swim, depending on your performance. The first is the 400 yard swim. Simply swim 400 yards, using any stroke you wish, or combination of strokes, without stopping and without any swimming aids. This is just swimming laps in the pool, or a designated distance in open water. Swim hard, swim slow, alternate between the two or however you like, but finish before 10 minutes and earn a 3. The next evaluation is a 15 minute tread. In any water too deep to stand in, tread water for 15 minutes, with your hands out of the water for the last 2. Do this, and it’s an easy 5! Remember, it’s just “hands” out of the water for the last 2 minutes so don’t make it harder than it has to be. The 800 yard snorkel swim is next. You will probably do this on open water unless you have easy access to an Olympic size pool for laps. You use your mask, fins, and snorkel. The key to this one is a great snorkel. A large bore without any restrictions (like valves that close when you submerge) will serve you well. Finish this swim in less than 17 minutes and you have another 3. The final evaluation is a Tired Diver Tow. Pick a small diver and use your choice of tows: pull or push. The push is for most the fastest way to go. Go 100 yards in less than 4 minutes and you’ve got another 3. For all of these swims, the faster you go the better your score and you can earn 4 or 5 points in each if you’re in good enough shape, but what I’ve listed above is an average and will get you the required 12 points you need.

 

[DBailey]

An Instructor or LDS can "expect" higher scores, but cannot "require" them for certification. As long as you get a total of 12 points and completed all 4 swims you are meeting the certification requirements.

Added the bold as a technicality. Another way to say it, you need a total of 12 points while scoring at least 1 point in each stamina exercise.

 

[dhuskins]

Having just finished the four swim tests (three swimming ones in one morning), I can tell you its not as hard as I first feared. While I have strong legs, I am clearly overweight and too old to have that fitness found in younger bodies.

The 15 minute tread says "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". Floating on your back with an occasional flutter of your feet (spinning in circles) works. That will get you a 5 on the skill.

If you can get a 5 on the above skill, then you only need 7 points amongst the remaining three skills. Two 3's and a 1 or one 3 and two 2's. I knew my 400m swim was going to be my worst. I cannot swim well. I did it entirely on my back and barely got a 3. Nonetheless, it was a 3. That meant I only needed 4 points amongst the remaining 2 skills.

You must score a 1 or more on each skill. So, if one of them is a bit more difficult for you, work on your strengths to see if you can pop one of them up a number, leaving your weakest skill with only needing a 1.