I did it sidestroke -- 400 yards in 10 1/2 minutes, with 14 allowed, IIRC. The breath-hold swim was almost a deal-breaker, but I managed that, too, with no concept of technique. ANYBODY can pass the swim test, because I did.
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When the time comes I'll try for it, it's just discouraging for me to see them raising the bar for that particular hoop. I'm in good shape for an older guy, go the the gym 4 days a week, I just don't like swimming very much.
jjones9527
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goodeatsfan
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I have to agree... I find that the swim test requirements seem to be one of the biggest hangup for alot of divers thinking/considering taking up fundies... it's odd because it's really much easier than it reads. even the breathhold is do-able for most... AND they really do enjoy making us swim a longer distance than what's stated in the requirements don't they? wonder why.....
SparticleBrane
Contributor
We did the required distance for GUE-F in my class.
For the OW classes I work with, we have the students do an OOA drill where a buddy pair is hovering -- 1 on each end of a 25-yard pool. One is told to go OOA and they swim to each other. Great demonstration of why you should be close if you're diving as a buddy pair or a team; it really hits home for them after that drill.
Ed Hayes had us do a 25 foot OOA swim to our buddies in Buoyancy 1. I wouldn't have wanted to go much farther.
lamont
Contributor
You really need to just get into the pool consistently for a couple of months.
Mostly its about getting used to how you have to breathe and learning how to not tire yourself out.
I went from only swimming on my back to being able to do the 400 yard test in 10:25 and being able to swim 1/2 mile non-stop.
The only reason the swim test is a barrier is if you don't spend some time in the pool. Once you can swim laps consistently freestyle, doing 10 laps isn't really that big of a deal...
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The actual swim is all about pacing, 14 mins is damned generous. I was the slowest skinniest dude on my college water polo team and haven't swam in years and finished with gobs of time to spare.
The breathhold has alot of technique to it (if you aren't aquatically gifted). There are some posts/threads on DIRexplorers about it - they are pretty good. If this is a potential barrier I recommend checking over there.
You'd get a ton out of the class even without passing the fitness elements.
The breathhold has alot of technique to it (if you aren't aquatically gifted). There are some posts/threads on DIRexplorers about it - they are pretty good. If this is a potential barrier I recommend checking over there.
You'd get a ton out of the class even without passing the fitness elements.
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Thinking about this today...
With the advent of scootering in my diving, my new buddy seperation metric is time not distance. Assuming buddies can still see each other, I'm ok with 8-10 seconds of seperation. Which ends up being 8-12 feet when swimming (no more than 1/2 the 25ft you did in the drill) but a bit more scootering. Breathhold part of test is good to help understand what's reasonable. Less useful as a fitness metric IMO
lamont
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yeah, if you suck at swimming the swim test can be challenging though. used to be that i could barely do 6 laps backstroke in 12 minutes (old fundies test). i'm naturally negative with short arms and legs and a larger cross section and i just naturally suck at swimming so i needed to do a little work. i had to learn how to swim freestyle and learn how to breathe correctly, had to learn how to not kick so hard (mostly i kick to try to keep my body horizontal rather than for propulsion). and i did 400 yards in 10:25 after not swimming for awhile and without any prep beforehand, but i'm better off building up my upper body strength with a little practice in order to do 500 yards...
if i can do it, anyone can, it just takes committing a few months of practice at the pool...
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