Newbie question

[Robothell]

Hello all,

About to embark on my PADI OW course tomorrow and just wanted to ask a really stupid question before I kick off. Both my fiancee and I are getting our first confined dive tomorrow night - I am a fairly strong swimmer (but a little out of shape) but my better half is not so strong a swimmer. Obviously one of the first things we need to do is a 200m swim.

My question is this - are we allowed to pause against the wall of the pool to catch our breath or must the 200m be completed continuously? If it must be done continuously I'll need to slow my regular pace down as I normally do 50 - 100m sprints in the pool and then rest for a minute or two to let my heart rate go back down. In addition, if it is continuous my fiancee may find it more tricky (although should be OK in terms of pace and stamina).

I realise there are several threads about whether this is a test of stamina, whether it is realistic, whether it should be done with aids or not etc but none that I can find actually answer my question above.

Many thanks,

Dave

 

[Karibelle]

The swim is to be done continuously. The intent is for the instructor to see that the student has reasonable swimming ability. As to the question of aids, the requirement is to "have students complete a 200 metre/yard continuous surface swim or a 300 metre/yard swim with mask, fins and snorkel."

I hope that helps!

kari

 

[CT Sean]

I don't know if you are specifically prohibited from hanging on the edge of the pool (though in my worthless opinion it should be prohibited) but the swim test can take as long as it takes and you can use any stroke you like - including mixing them up. EPrsonally I think you'll be fine - uif you can sprint 100, then a leisure 200 should be cake. If your fiance needs a break, perhaps just roll over and do a back stroke - she can also just float there for a few moments to recover. I believe you also have to option of doing it in fins and snorkel though the distance required gets longer.

 

[irmo]

From what I remember from my OW course, the swim must be continuous, however you can use any stroke you want (including sidestroke). So, you can swim 50 yds then do 25 in a resting stroke. There is no time limit to finish. Just take your time and swim nice and easy, switch to a heads up breast stroke or side stroke to rest up and catch your breath if you need to.

 

[h90]

continuous, but you can swim a while on you back and relax....when I did it, there was no time limit.

 

[fjpatrum]

I did freestyle and backstroke the entire time, alternating between lengths of a 12m pool. We weren't allowed to touch the sides but it was a reasonably easy swim, considering you can do it however you want and take as long as you like.

 

[Robothell]

Thanks folks, much appreciated. Been looking forward to this for ages so hopefully this won't put a dampener on things!

Dave

 

[Jim Lapenta]

This is where you should begin to develop your buddy skills. The swim is not timed and can be done with any stroke. In my classes however there is no racing or lapping of buddies permitted. If your gf is a slower swimmer you adjust your pace to stay with her and while not allowed to help you can gently encourage her to do her best. Any time I have one person who wants to actually lap or outswim their buddy I may let them. Then when they get to the end and are all smiles I make them do the additional laps with their buddy that they just abandoned. Drives the point home rather well. Slow down, enjoy the swim, and begin to develop the habits that help keep both of you safe from the beginning. In our system it is 300 yds with no stopping for certification. 200 just to begin training on scuba.

Hello all,

About to embark on my PADI OW course tomorrow and just wanted to ask a really stupid question before I kick off. Both my fiancee and I are getting our first confined dive tomorrow night - I am a fairly strong swimmer (but a little out of shape) but my better half is not so strong a swimmer. Obviously one of the first things we need to do is a 200m swim.

My question is this - are we allowed to pause against the wall of the pool to catch our breath or must the 200m be completed continuously? If it must be done continuously I'll need to slow my regular pace down as I normally do 50 - 100m sprints in the pool and then rest for a minute or two to let my heart rate go back down. In addition, if it is continuous my fiancee may find it more tricky (although should be OK in terms of pace and stamina).

I realise there are several threads about whether this is a test of stamina, whether it is realistic, whether it should be done with aids or not etc but none that I can find actually answer my question above.

Many thanks,

Dave

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Remember the story about the tortoise and the hare? Well, in this case you want to be the tortoise ... slow and steady. The swim test is as much about showing your instructor your comfort level in the water as it is about displaying your swimming ability. So just relax and take it at a pace that'll get you through it without stopping.

Holding onto or pushing off from the side of the pool is generally not allowed ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[tbone1004]

4 laps is nothing... We don't allow our students to hang on the edge at all and generally discourage them from touching the wall above the water. If you do that, it's not continuous...
If you're not a strong swimmer, the sidestroke is your friend. It's faster than the breast stroke and more relaxing if done properly. You don't need to freestyle and hell you can doggy paddle it if you want. That's a LONG doggy paddle, but oh well. Just relax and if she isn't that strong, work with her and even if you're doing the elementary backstroke or sidestroke next to her it will be better than nothing so you can talk to her and keep her going