You don't really need the swimming skills unless you REALLY need the swimming skills... 
How strong of a swimmer are you?
- Thread starter ImUnderwater
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I understand your attempt to make a point but I fear it can mislead. I think you need the knowledge that you have swimming skills long before the skill is called for. Incorrectly thinking you have swimming skills is sorted out before you get out of a pool, even if you are cocky enough to believe it before putting on a mask. Knowing you don’t have the skills makes you dangerous well before you actually need them. Panic is a powerful emotion.
I believe there is a good chance that attitude will kill you even if you arent left behind. You dont even have to be able to swim 5' on the surface to survive, only keep your airway above water until you are rescued. Practice a really easy stroke like the side-stroke until you convince yourself that you wont drown. Comfort in the water, free of fear, is the objective not distance covered. You will enjoy diving much more when you know in your gut that youre just as safe on the surface without fins, a BC, and a full tank as with.
Your instructor didnt do you any favors, the shop only collected a fee.
freewillie
Contributor
I would call myself a strong swimmer. I swam competitively in high school and played water polo. I definitely feel very comfortable in the water.
IMO one doesn't need to have strong swimming skills to scuba, one simply needs good scuba skills to scuba.
Stronger swimmers are more confident swimming but that does not automatically translate to strong scuba skills. It does help one to feel more comfortable which does help breathing and air consumption.
IMO one doesn't need to have strong swimming skills to scuba, one simply needs good scuba skills to scuba.
Stronger swimmers are more confident swimming but that does not automatically translate to strong scuba skills. It does help one to feel more comfortable which does help breathing and air consumption.
Tiggin
New
Having lived most of my life inland, my ocean swimming skills are not fantastic. This is proving to be a bit of a worry with my new scuba passion as it is all ocean dives. I grew up in the water and I am VERY confident in flatish water of lakes and rivers, but the ocean does freak me out a bit due to the big waves and rips and the fear of being lost at sea.
I think this will improve with more practice and understanding how the ocean works. Since moving to australia 12 years ago my aussie mates have done their best to make me crap scared of the ocean haha.
I think this will improve with more practice and understanding how the ocean works. Since moving to australia 12 years ago my aussie mates have done their best to make me crap scared of the ocean haha.
Crush
Contributor
Oh, to answer the question: BOW cert required a non-stop 350 yard swim in under 10 min. When I began practicing I could barely swim 50 yards w/o stopping. Three months later I did 350 yards in under 8 min and I work to maintain or exceed this standard regularly. It isn't great, but it is better than nothing. BTW I am now over 1000 yards non-stop.
I'm a average swimming IMHO which is one reason I boat dive only. I pay for the boat to come get me,have ALL the safety equipment on my kit,and plan my dive so that I surface near/under the boat or within sight. If I have to swim to the boat then adjustments will be made or I take my business elsewhere.
"Living life without a hard bottom"
KT
"Living life without a hard bottom"
KT
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The thread in New Divers asking if you must know how to swim to dive is a scary one. IMO you are crazy to take up diving if you actually can't swim. How preficient a swimmer you should be is one of those "risk/assessment" things. Depends on where you dive/what kind of diving you do. But as mentioned, if you do any activity even near water regularly, you should be a decent swimmer. With and without fins on is night and day.
sambolino44
Contributor
I'm definitely not a strong swimmer, but I'm comfortable in the water, so that means I'm relaxed, and that means I can swim for a long time without getting tired. Now, when I have to swim against a swift current this level of ability is not so good, so I address that issue by trying to plan so that I never have to swim against current. But you know, emergency skills are not for the plan, they're for when the plan goes awry.
Tigerman
Contributor
You can be as strong a swimmer you want, if the current is too bad you just CANT swim against it. Thats why the OW class covers how to handle them - Unless they took that part away that is..
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