Can people really get scuba certified without knowing how to swim?

[sharkbait2010]

This past year, I came across two certified divers that mentioned they actually do not know how to swim.

Is this actually possible? Isn't this a basic requirement of all agencies?

Am sincerely interested to hear from those that were certified without knowing how to swim and the teaching methods applied.

No, you must know how to swim. All agencies require a basic swim test, which is the very first skill when you do your first pool entry.

Aside from that , if some tells you they do not know how to swim and still received their certification, they are utter fools risking their life as well as that of their buddy. What happens, God forbid, if you come up out of air and had no air in your BC. First thing you need to be able to do is SWIM to the surface. A BC is not supposed to be used to lift you to the surface. It is a buoyancy COMPENSATING device, not an elevator device. So once on the surface, with the empty BC, you will need to tread water(swim) while trying to manually inflate the BC. Then guess what????? You will need to SWIM to shore or the boat.

Anyway, I am sure you get my point. Learn to swim then get your certification. I sure would want my buddy to be able to swim.

 

[Tigerman]

And I would want my buddy to be a trained MD with a pilots license and his medevac helicopter standing ready at the beach, but then again youre not gonna get all you wish for..

 

[k ellis]

And I would want my buddy to be a trained MD with a pilots license and his medevac helicopter standing ready at the beach, but then again youre not gonna get all you wish for..

I would also wish he was a multimillionaire who would be thankful I could save his life and reward me with a million or so because I did. I would also want him to have a beautiful daughter of around my age who was single and attracted. Then I would want him to have a spare beach house in cozumel that I have open invitation to use anytime I want right next door to the premiere dive op of whom he can pull a few strings and get me free dives anytime I wanted.

I know but hey since we are on the subject of wishful thinking I had to put my 2 cents in

 

[Jim Lapenta]

My agency does not allow MSF as an option. It's 200 yds to start the course 300 for certification. Usually do the 300 right off. In Europe the MSF is not an option. It must be a swim without aids. If I were on a boat and found out someone was on there who could not swim and was going to dive I'd refuse to dive with them. If it happened before we left the dock I'd get off and get my money back.

 

[kathydee]

I was never asked to take a swim test for any scuba class until after earning a rescue cert. The agency required it, the instructors did not.

 

[oldogre]

On a lighter note, I know of an Instructor who said to a female OW student that he would not insult her by asking her to do the swim test. (She had just won a swimming medal in the Olympics!)

 

[boulderjohn]

On a lighter note, I know of an Instructor who said to a female OW student that he would not insult her by asking her to do the swim test. (She had just won a swimming medal in the Olympics!)

I had a similar experience, although I made him do the swim. He came to class with an Arizona Swimming shirt on, and when he was in his bathing suit, I saw a University of Arizona tattoo. I jokingly mentioned that he would probably not have too much trouble with the swim test. He said that when at Arizona, he had been ranked 6th in the world at that distance. I made him swim it anyway, and in doing so I saw for the first time in my life the difference between the way a swimmer like that performs and we mere mortals. He did the swim in a relaxed crawl, making no effort to impress--but it was impressive beyond words. His "bow wave" went from one side of the pool to the other. Anyone who was going the same direction as he was helped; anyone going the other direction on that lap was hindered. I quickly went to the retail floor to get people to come to the pool to see it, and they were absolutely amazed.

He, of course, did the float effortlessly with his arms folded. In college had had had to hold weights.

 

[RTee]

If I were on a boat and found out someone was on there who could not swim and was going to dive I'd refuse to dive with them. If it happened before we left the dock I'd get off and get my money back.

Jim, then I assume you don't drive because it would also mean sharing the roadways with people who do not know how to drive even though they have valid drivers's license as well as potential drunk drivers.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

If I know someone cannot swim I do not dive with them. Or as stated will not be on the boat with a diver that cannot swim. It is a conscious choice I make. I do not know about the other drivers on the road. I have to trust that someone is licensed, passed some type of test, and is not drunk. If I see someone weaving or driving erratically I get out of the way and call 911. If I see someone stagger out of a bar and get into a car I call the cops. Not diving with someone who cannot swim or being on the same boat with them is the same defensive strategy. I choose not to out myself in a situation that is an unaccpetable risk to myself and others. A person who cannot swim is an unacceptable risk to me. They cannot help me if I have a problem in the water without taking valuable time to gear up. By the same token I'm not going to risk my life for their decision to skirt what I consider a basic life skill. I see too many people who want to cut corners and not put in the work required to do something properly. In all areas of life. I choose not to enable them, condone the behavior, or support them in any way. I work for what I have and if I still cannot attain it I try harder or do without. I had a lady call me for lessons last fall. She explained she was a very poor swimmer. I told her I'm not a swim teacher and that she needs to learn how to swim before I cann accept her and why. If that loses me a student so be it. In this case she saw the logic and is now taking swim lessons.
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[nimoh]

On a lighter note, I know of an Instructor who said to a female OW student that he would not insult her by asking her to do the swim test. (She had just won a swimming medal in the Olympics!)

if she just won an olympic gold in swimming, then why not have her do the swim test? I understand it isn't necessary, but she obviously likes swimming, and it only takes a few minutes. I see this as similar to the gimme in golf, if it is so easy, why not just do it?