DIR Instruction

[SparkySFD]

As far as the swim requirements. 50 METERS (about 150 feet) on one breath hold, underwater is one of the final tests for U.S. Navy Seals (in BUD/S). Just to give a little perspective.

My Fire Departments entry test for the water rescue team is a 25 METER underwater swim, one breathhold. I would venture a guess that a significant amount of the U.S. population could not do it.

As said earlier, you must be very relaxed in the water. I did it again yesterday just to see if I could. I didnt care if I made it as it didnt matter and was VERY relaxed. I could tell a BIG difference. I didnt try to go fast. Just gliding along waiting till I almost quit moving before beginning another swimstr0ke. Was MUCH easier, in that I didnt feel nearly as out of breath at the end. I could have gone quite a bit farther.

If you are an average swimmer if you just relax and take it very easy the GUE standard of 50 FEET or 15 meters should be not much of a problem for you.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

50 feet underwater swim ... some agencies require that for OW certification ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[cyklon_300]

I end my workout with a 33-yd breathhold swim...if my wheezebag lungs can make it, it can't be that all that hard.

The whole key is to go SLOWLY and EXHALE small amounts periodically. Trying to haul ***** and get to the end quickly is the worst thing you can do...mental distraction helps too, think about anything but what you're actually doing. It helps keep your mind from focusing on the 'need' to surface for air.

 

[rjens]

I end my workout with a 33-yd breathhold swim...if my wheezebag lungs can make it, it can't be that all that hard.

so what kick do you recommend? the dolphin kick, a leisurely flutter, a modified breast-******? I am curious what you have found works best.

 

[cyklon_300]

I use a quasi-breast******.

I pull thru with my hands and frogkick and then try to 'glide' as far as possible before resuming the next power cycle. I try to emphasize being very smooth and not jerky with my movements. Any attempt to gain speed is really detrimental to going longer distances.

Oh yeah, humming seems to help suppress the impulse to breathe...

And FWIW, my longest breath hold swims (~55 yds) were done after really thrasher workouts.

 

[cyklon_300]

taking out the word 'stroque' is ludicrous.

 

[jonnythan]

taking out the word 'stroque' is ludicrous.

Wow, I had no idea it did that. That's really, really obscene.

 

[Boogie711]

I was just about to notice and comment on that. LOL - we can't say 'stroeke' now? Oh - come on!

That's pushing it a bit too far, don't we think?

 

[large_diver]

Ditto on the quasi-breast, long glides and staying relaxed.

On a normal surface breaststoke, you would pull your hands down to mid chest before shooting them forward during the glide. When swimming underwater, I whip my hands all the way down until they are flat against my thighs, really pushing against the water the whole way down, and then glide as far as I can. This extra hand movement really helps push you through the water.

 

[Big-t-2538]

For UW swimming, the best combo I've found is a full butterfly pull all the way down past your hips....then leave your hands there and glide. Next, do the breast-strok kick and glide again. Slowly recover your hands up underneath and very close to your body, then repeat the motion until you get to where you're going.