Instead of having the student float for 10 minutes, time would be better spent actively teaching people drown proofing techniques, although that in itself is a bit of a misnomer. No guarantees issued about not drowning.
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Yeah, that's what I harp on. Treading, floating, drownproofing--who cares? What's the objective?--I assume just to survive for 10 minutes. Maybe NAUI figures floating is too easy (not for ME--in fresh water), requiring no muscle work, whereas treading (I CAN easily do this) shows muscular prowess???For my NAUI OW we were not allowed to just float. We had to tread water for 10 mins and if the instructor caught you floating he would start the timer over. I can float for hours, but I did tread like he asked me to. We also did the underwater swim. For the 200m swim, I just backstroked my way through it. Being the old guy (50yrs) I just went slow and steady. I finished before the young guys who took off fast and tried to make a race out of it.
Anything you can learn from open water Scuba training -or an added advantage of having previous swimming skill & experience- can give you a potential survival edge in an emergency contingency. Practice it for competence, develop with confidence, and you'll do it without panic if ever an emergent condition arises.Hi,
Pretty new to diving and was walking around Bali and see a lot of shops offering open water courses. Some to a few of them and a couple of them said that I need to be a good/steering swimmer to do the open water course. Others were more of the opinion that diving and swimming are different activities.
On my own, I can swim on my own in the pool. There was a time I could do 400 mts but dad to say that I have not kept my fitness level and would probably be exhausted at 100 mts today. Have no experience of open water swimming (35 M).
Should I take up the open water course?
Yeah, that's what I harp on. Treading, floating, drownproofing--who cares? What's the objective?--I assume just to survive for 10 minutes.
You don't need to swim, you have the BCD to keep you afloat.
Exactly my way of thinking. You don't need to be able to swim to dive, but some day you may need to swim to survive.Until it pukes and you drown. Staying alive on the water is not just about mechanical devices working properly to keep you alive.
You don't need to swim, you have the BCD to keep you afloat.
Until it pukes and you drown. Staying alive on the water is not just about mechanical devices working properly to keep you alive.