non swimming diver? HELP!

[Medic]

I have been interested in diving for a long time now and recently took a discover SCUBA course. I did okay, but ran out of time and had to leave early for work. This is all kind of funny because I cannot swim a lick! I loved being undewater and seeing the fish, ect, and cannot wait to get back in the water! I think I need to feel more comfortable in the water. So what do you guys think, should I try and take some swimming lessons before I continue or do you think if I keep getting in the water with the gear, I will learn how to swim that way? I have heard of people who did not know how to swim and became divers, but I don't know if this is true or not. I really need your help on this one. But one thing is for sure, whatever it takes, I will do because this sport is too awsome to give up!!

 

[wreckchick]

I think that knowing how to swim and being comfortable in the water with a maximum of a swim suit should be required to learn to dive.

I've known how to dive since before I can remember and being comfortable with water accelerated my diving education during my OW class significantly. I had no problems with water on my face, starting up my nose, any number of things that were giving other people in my class a hard time.

I would most definitely take the time to learn how to swim. Heck it's summer! Go to the pool and practice. That way you can start diving over the winter and be ready to go next spring!

Rachel

 

[Walter]

It is possible to learn to dive even if you can't swim, but you'll be an accident waiting to happen, IMHO.

Take a swimming class, get comfortable with your swimming, then search for the best (most comprehensive) dive class in your area.

 

[washow88]

I thought you have to pass the swimming test first. At least that’s what my instructor is doing.
If you do not pass the swimming test, he would not teach you scuba.

 

[drbill]

When I was certified the ability to swim 100 (200?) yards was a requirement as was treading water for several minutes. I think it is imperative to know how to swim to be a SCUBA diver. But then I also think it is imperative to be a bit "different" by terrestrial society's standards!

Dr. Bill

 

[Juls64]

but once, my husband and I decided to swim across the lake. We took a compass heading, descended and headed across. As we continued there was no visibility, nothing to see, nothing for reference other than the bottom of the lake and I was getting creeped out. The way I reassured myself was to mentally tell myself that it is a small lake and I am a good swimmer (which I am). This little episode was very minor in the world of diving, but I could see where a situation like this could cause someone to panic. I think being comfortable in the water is extremely important. While you don't need to be an Olympic swimmer, being able to get around competently in the water is rather important.

That is just my opinion.

Julie

 

[diverbrian]

You will need to be able to swim if a reputable instructor will pass you. You may have to take your gear off and hand it up to a boat or go into the water and have them hand it down to you. You may run out of air (equipment problem or operator error, doesn't matter) and have a long surface swim. You never know what willl happen. You will be far more comfortable in the water as a diver if you a fair to good swimmer. That comfort will carry over to less of a chance to panic under perceived pressure.

If you want to learn to scuba dive, swimming lessons can't be that much harder..... Can they?

 

[aquagirl]

Perhaps you can do another discover scuba without learning how to swim. That's up to you and the instructor but if you want to be certified and really take on diving, learn how to swim first. This way you feel more comfortable and you can be a proper buddy for another diver. Besides, in order to get OW certified you will need to swim 200 yds. So use the summer wisely, swim and have fun.

 

[Walter]

"in order to get OW certified you will need to swim 200 yds."

Actually, while I think it is a mistake, there is an agency that will allow you to get certified without being able to swim. One agency does allow a 300 yard snorkel instead of the 200 yard swim. You still need to be able to float for 10 minutes.

 

[diverbrian]

Actually, Walter you have a point. Ours allows the 300 yds swim in a snorkel and fins.

Let me explain what happens. First, you do the ten minute float test and that is done in a swimsuit (no wetsuit). Typically, that will weed out most of the non-swimmers (not that I have seen any take a scuba class up here. I have only heard of this happening once up here.). Then our instructors encourage the 300 ft swim for one major reason. It is probably the only time that the students will try all four of the fin kicks that we teach. They will most likely use the flutter kick all of the time. If they lose a fin, they may want to consider a dolphin kick (for instance). You see the bribe for letting them do this is that they should use each difference kick a minimum of one lap. Sneaky, isn't it? The float test tells the instructors if you are comfortable in the water. The other is used as a training exercise. If the instructors sense a problem with someone's ability to swim, then they may make the class do the 200 yd unassisted.

Could they do this differently? Yes. Is it a major issue to me, no. Because our instructors will require you to swim before they pass you out of Scuba I and let you go to Scuba II.