A somewhat unexpected side benefit from diving

[tparrent]

I became certified in December and have been on two trips so far (St Vincent and Grand Cayman). I have been pretty comfortable in the water throughout training and the dive trips with one problem: I can't swim and I can't tread water. I passed the PADI test floating on my back and kicking and I passed the float test lying on my back (and actually falling asleep!). For all the time I have spent around the water over the years sailing and kayaking I know I should have learned to swim but it seemed like I had some sort of mental block.

Well, the other day it all came together. I recently moved to an California and am living temporarily in an apartment complex with a pool. I was out playing tennis and got all heated up so I decided to go for a quick dip. Before entering the pool, I told myself "This is stupid! I'm a diver and I can't swim? Balderdash!"

I jumped in the deep end and swam like a fish! I could effortlessly tread water, swim lengths under water, crawl stroke, sidestroke, back stroke - whatever! I would swim along and suddenly dive under and swim 8 feet to the bottom and then surface and just sort of float with my nose just clearing the water.

I finally figured out that swimming is NOT difficult. It's that whole "learning" to swim that's tough. Once I realized that I am comfortable in the water while diving, I simply stopped thrashing around and relaxed.

Of course I was swimming in a fresh water pool in a swimsuit. Saltwater and a 7mm wetsuit will be a piece of cake.

All these years and it was just a mental block :11doh:

Now maybe I can take a real swim class on work on the mechanacs so that I can use swimming for exercise. It's got to be better than biking or running through the heat.

For those of you who are poor swimmers - think about how you feel underwater and get that relaxed vibe going the next time you jump in the water. You might just astound yourself

 

[Eagle-scuba]

What an accomplishment....good for you, keep up the good attitude, see ya` under

 

[ZzzKing]

One thing I've noticed since taking up diving is that I have to remind myself not to inhale while underwater when swimming.

 

[tparrent]

Been there, done that! I was diving in a pool for a tuneup before a trip. After I was done diving, I decided to try swimming a few laps in my wetsuit jsut to see if I could. Sure enough, I took a BIG breath of water after a couple of strokes!

 

[Auspicious Spear]

Im not bashing anyone but why would you scuba dive without being able to swim?

I grew up in the water so i take being able to swim for granted...

With saftey being a concern in all diving aspects one would think that SWIMMING would be pretty high up on the list of things to know

 

[drbill]

Congrats on "getting into the swim" of things.

Hey, another benefit of diving is lowered blood pressure. Mine dropped quite a bit when I increased my diving frequency!

 

[Natasha]

Congrats..and kudos to you.

 

[tparrent]

Everyone told me you really didn't need to swim well to dive and I figured I would pick up more skills as I went along. Obviously that turned outto be true but it would have been easier and less stressful for me had I been a strong swimmer to start with.

On the other hand, I never had ANY issue with mask/regulator removal or any of the other skills (except removal of weights and BCD removal at depth - no problem, just wanted to make sure I had the technique right. The other skills were literally no problem at all). No nerves at all underwater - unlike many newbies. It was the surface that bothered me.

 

[Matsya]

Everyone told me you really didn't need to swim well to dive....

NOT being able to swim at all is different from not being able to swim WELL.
To dive you needn't swim WELL but I though knowing to swim was a prerequisite for any diving course before certification.
As Auspicious Spear said, not trying to bash anyone but just curious to know if you got certified without knowing to swim at all.

 

[tparrent]

I back kicked my through the swim test and floated on my back during the float test.

I could swim just enough to get across a pool width sidestroking but I could float well enough on my back.

I certainly did not consider myself a "swimmer" but I suppose it's not technically correct to say I "could not swim". I could swim a little. Now I can swim a lot.

Everybody ok with that?