are you kidding me?

[Adrenalinerush]

I just found out that you have to swim 500 yards (or whatever?). this used to be no big deal for me. I got half way and just died. Couldn't do it. Huge road block mentally since I used to be albe to pound out laps.
I have to do this by next monday. do or die.
ehh, now I have to go find a lap pool since the pd already shut down

 

[SteveDiver]

It is not that bad...just remember to take your time so you do not exhaust yourself. You can use any stroke that you want. I found swimming on my back to be the easiest...

 

[wstein]

Like Goofystan said, take your time and use pretty much any stroke that you feel comfortable with. I didn't succeed on my first attempt at the 500 yd swim the first time I did it. Had to do all my other swims before hand so I was a little tired out. Just relax and take your time. You'll do ok.

Paul

 

[IslandHopper]

Excuse my ignorance, but...

what do you have to do a 500 YARD swim for ?

 

[Seuss]

> what do you have to do a 500 YARD swim for

For PADI, I thought it was:
* 200 yard for OW, not timed
* 100 yard tired diver tow for Rescue Diver, not timed (?)
* 15 minute tread, last two minutes /w hands out of water for Divemaster
* 100 yard tired diver tow for DiveMaster, timed
* 400 yard swim for DiveMaster, timed
* 800 yard snorkel for DiveMaster, timed

 

[Xanthro]

You have to do the 500 yard swim for OW.

I used to be a lifeguard, and I used to swim in competitions. I could swim laps fast forever, YEARS AGO.

I also found the 500 yard swim to be the hardest test. I started out with a standard Aust. crawl, complete with competition turns, as soon found myself exhausted and hard to switch to easier strokes.

Key point to remember is there is to time limit or stroke limit. Simply do a back float and kick. Just take your time, it doesn't have to be a REAL swim.

I completely underestimated how much my swimming had deteriorated, but you can pass, just don't make it a competition.

Xanthro

 

[Adrenalinerush]

You have to do the 500 yard swim for OW.

I used to be a lifeguard, and I used to swim in competitions. I could swim laps fast forever, YEARS AGO.

I also found the 500 yard swim to be the hardest test. I started out with a standard Aust. crawl, complete with competition turns, as soon found myself exhausted and hard to switch to easier strokes.

Key point to remember is there is to time limit or stroke limit. Simply do a back float and kick. Just take your time, it doesn't have to be a REAL swim.

I completely underestimated how much my swimming had deteriorated, but you can pass, just don't make it a competition.

Xanthro

Dude, you have no idea how much that sounds like me

 

[Mako Mark]

I recommend that you take the first third at half speed, then the second at three quarters speed, then full speed for the last bit. Otherwise you burn out half way.

 

[MechDiver]

You have to do the 500 yard swim for OW.

Xanthro

For who's OW?

 

[HammerNoMore]

You have to do the 500 yard swim for OW.

For which agency?