400yrd swim

[bermudaskink]

My advice to you would be to use a combination of strokes for your 400 yrd swim. You can still get 3 points for your swim if you complete it in 11 mins. I would think that you are getting warn out so much because you are doing front crawl all the way. A fairly fast stroke but very tiring and if you are not perfect at it it can be a very inefficient stroke to use - as others are saying Try doing breast stroke and back stroke whenever you get tired of front crawl. You will find that this makes the distance a lot easier to accomplish. Freestlye will produce a lot more lactic acid in your muscles caused from anerobic respiration - this is what makes your muscles hurt and tire quickly. Breast stroke and back stroke will help your body to respire more aerobically and will give the lactic acid a change to go away.

You can't sprint a 400m race like you can 100m race. Same thing with swimming.

I think that this method of taking it a little easier on yourself, not trying to score so hiigh ( I am sure your other scores will make up for it!) and changing strokes will see you through. Good luck!

I did my tests all together one after the other in choppy seas in a rain storm and swallowed a lot of water (and nearly gave up several times) but managed to scrape by and I am not that physically fit at all and I know my swimming technique is not so hot either but by alternating strokes and only using freestlye (front crawl) when I could manage it - got me through. I don't know what my score was but I passed. You are not trying to impress anyone remember!

You really don't have to be a great swimmer to pass these tests! Just don't push yourself too hard and avoid going too fast at the start and running out of steam towards the end. Ask your intstructor to tell you how many laps/ distance you have left and what your time is a few times throughout the swim so you know how to pace yourself.

Best of luck to you.

Remember - you are not allowed to wear a wetsuit or complete the rest of the exercise later (by PADI standards). If it is not completed it must be restarted and finished in full.

 

[jepuskar]

I am retrying my 400 yarder tomorrow evening. The Total Immersion book has helped me out a great deal, the cool part is the author kept mentioning breaking old bad habits, but I never had any swimming habits to begin with..hehe

The only thing I don't feel comfortable with is my breathing right now. I don't have the pivot down to where I can breath effortlessly.....shouldn't be too big of a problem though.

I have only practiced in my pool which is 21 feet across....could only get two strokes in before I would reach the wall, but I practiced everything I felt I needed to do in order to get this done.

I'll report back tomorrow.

 

[jepuskar]

I am now a DiveMaster! How exciting is that? :snore:

Completed my 400yd swim tonight with no problems. I would of liked to of been a tad faster and done it a different way, but nonetheless, it got done.

Now it is time to take a break from advancing up the PADI chain and think about what I want out of Scuba diving.

 

[WileEDiver]

Congrats on your accomplishment, Jason! Save a seat for me, I hope to join you within a month.

 

[Kat]

Aren't you glad that PADI lets you wear water wings for the swimming tests. heehee

 

[Big-t-2538]

jepuskar once bubbled...

Now it is time to take a break from advancing up the PADI chain and think about what I want out of Scuba diving.

Ummm...easy....Diving enjoyment

 

[BILLB]

I did my 450 yard swim at age 54. It took practice. Technique is what it is all about. First I had to get control of my technique and then go slowly and build up. It took several months to get to the point I could do this swim in ten minutes (NAUI standard).

 

[ZenSquirrel]

jepuskar once bubbled...
I am now a DiveMaster! How exciting is that? :snore:

Completed my 400yd swim tonight with no problems. I would of liked to of been a tad faster and done it a different way, but nonetheless, it got done.

Now it is time to take a break from advancing up the PADI chain and think about what I want out of Scuba diving.

First off, congradulation!

Second, if you don't mind telling, I was curious as to how long it took. My friend is getting close to the end of her DM course and is worried about the 400m swim and 800m snorkel.

From what I gather you have to score 12 points total on 4 swim tests to pass the swimming section. Some advice from another DM was that it was easiest to score 5's on treading water and doing a tired diver tow and then just finish the two swims to total 12. Is that right?

Just curious.

 

[SubMariner]

PADI Stamina Assessment and Development:

There are four exercises that evaluate stamina and waterskills, each rated by points. There is no passing score for any single exercise, but a combined score of 12 or more is required prior to certification.

In addition, candidates must complete all exercises prior to certification. Candidates who fall short of a combined score of 12 may be given time to practice and develop their abilities while continuing in other areas of the course.

Meanwhile, congrats jep... you da man!

 

[divemistress]

for what it's worth:

* a LOT of women find the tread extremely easy, because of their (usually) higher body fat percentage. guys who are very muscular generally have a bear of a time.....does padi still allow the dead man's float? if so, that's a good way for a sinker to endure till the finishes.

* not all fins are created equal. for the mask, fin and snorkel event, does padi specify specify "scuba fins"? if not, try using a pair of swim fins -- shorter, more flexible; and much easier to use on the water's surface. surface of the pool..