Open Water Fitness Tests

[TMHeimer]

Last few posts says a lot about these tests, no?

 

[tursiops]

I honestly didn't know that anybody actually did the swim test for their OW training....

Really? I've watched OW classes for many years in many countries and have always seen the swim test (and tread) included. Did you not do one?

 

[victorzamora]

Really? I've watched OW classes for many years in many countries and have always seen the swim test (and tread) included. Did you not do one?

I've seen well over a dozen OW classes in 4 countries and never seen a swim test. Neither my wife nor I had a swim test. Two countries, two shops. I literally didn't know it was a thing people did.

 

[tursiops]

I've seen well over a dozen OW classes in 4 countries and never seen a swim test. Neither my wife nor I had a swim test. Two countries, two shops. I literally didn't know it was a thing people did.

That is both astounding and depressing.
Not to mention it's a violation of RSTC (PADI, PDIC, SDI, SSI) Standards:
(2) Physical Conditioning and Watermanship Evaluation.

The student shall effectively demonstrate basic watermanship ability by performing, to an instructor, the watermanship evaluation required by a training organization. This watermanship evaluation shall include either: a) continuous 200 yard (183 metre) surface distance swim and a 10 minute survival swim/float without the use of mask, fins, snorkel or of other swimming aids;b) 300 yard swim using mask, fins and snorkel, and a 10 minute survival swim/float without mask, fins, snorkel or other swimming aid. If an exposure suit is used, the wearer must be neutrally buoyant at the surface.

 

[TheHuth]

I've gone out the last three days to do 200 meter swims at my fitness club. Its still not an easy task, but its getting easier. I decided to bring my gear with me this time, and tried it on after doing my laps. I didnt want Sunday to be the first time I tried it on. I'm glad I did. The fins really cramped my feet up. They're the right size, and its all doable. But its going to take some coercion to get my body to play ball. I need to try to go to the pool at least one more time before this weekend.

 

[kelemvor]

For fitness, I like to try fitness piece of pizza in my mouth.

That is both astounding and depressing.
Not to mention it's a violation of RSTC (PADI, PDIC, SDI, SSI) Standards:
(2) Physical Conditioning and Watermanship Evaluation.

The student shall effectively demonstrate basic watermanship ability by performing, to an instructor, the watermanship evaluation required by a training organization. This watermanship evaluation shall include either: a) continuous 200 yard (183 metre) surface distance swim and a 10 minute survival swim/float without the use of mask, fins, snorkel or of other swimming aids;b) 300 yard swim using mask, fins and snorkel, and a 10 minute survival swim/float without mask, fins, snorkel or other swimming aid. If an exposure suit is used, the wearer must be neutrally buoyant at the surface.

Because it couldn't have been one of the other 143 agencies that teach open water classes, right?

 

[dmaziuk]

a) continuous 200 yard (183 metre) surface distance swim and a 10 minute survival swim/float without the use of mask, fins, snorkel or of other swimming aids;b) 300 yard swim using mask, fins and snorkel, and a 10 minute survival swim/float without mask, fins, snorkel or other swimming aid

Well, clearly, unless you have access to a 183+ metre body of water, you can't do a). Specifically, the continuous bit. With turns and push-offs it's gotta be the 300 in snorkelling kit. And you're going to be there forever: if you ever tried going faster than disabled-snail-on-ketamine pace with the regular (on the side) snorkel, you know why.

 

[tursiops]

Because it couldn't have been one of the other 143 agencies that teach open water classes, right?

LOL, he said elsewhere he took his training in 1990, and I don't think there were quite 143 back then!

 

[tursiops]

Well, clearly, unless you have access to a 183+ metre body of water, you can't do a). Specifically, the continuous bit. With turns and push-offs it's gotta be the 300 in snorkelling kit. And you're going to be there forever: if you ever tried going faster than disabled-snail-on-ketamine pace with the regular (on the side) snorkel, you know why.

Cute, but of course both wrong and irrelevant.
"Continuous" means you don't stop, and anyone who has completed the PADI (and other) DM classes knows you can do quite well with a timed snorkel/fins swim.

 

[dmaziuk]

Swimmer's snorkels are like this:

for a reason.