tonka97
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- I'm a Fish!
Oh yes.
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In order to learn to dive you should be comfortable in the water. I've never met a non-swimmer who is comfortable in the water.
Swimming is like riding a bike...it's just something all kids should learn to do, it's a right of passage.
I'm assuming if he had a disability preventing him from swimming he would have said so. Also the language should have been "Is it possible for me to dive even though I can't swim" instead he said, "is it possible for me to dive even though I don't know how to swim." If he was unable to swim because of a disabilitity he shouldn't have worded it as something he doesn't know how to do. Therefore, I'm about 95% there isn't a disability preventing this guy from swimming.
PADI OW diver here. IMHO, I certainly would NOT want to dive with a buddy who knows how to scubadive but doesn't know how to swim. Given a worst case scenario especially at the surface (well, we all seek the surface in this case), I would be able to extend rescue, but I don't think rescue can be extended to me by someone who is a non-swimmer.
The buddy system is supposed to be reciprocal. And the whole idea is to promote safe diving.
Just my two cents.