Open Water Fitness Tests

[TMHeimer]

I agree that you can easily tell if someone can swim long before they do 200 yards. Same with the float, but the ability to float comfortably most of the time means what is the student's body buoyancy. Most (not all) of the time this has little to do with how comfortable they really are in water. I'm a stone--my floating (dis)ability has nothing to do with my comfortability in water. I have to try floating with very full lungs when I next get in a pool--have been advised this will work. Otherwise, drown proofing was the only way I could pass the DM float (and got the best score-5). I've never been a fan of "comfortability". If you can gut out 200 yards without doing a "proper" swim stroke (but almost die) you pass the OW test. Are you "comfortable"? Once in a while there is someone who literally can't make it past 3-4 laps. I have found that they either quit the class or are advised to fix up their swimming first.

 

[dmaziuk]

... the ability to float comfortably most of the time means what is the student's body buoyancy. Most (not all) of the time this has little to do with how comfortable they really are in water.

My argument would be that for basic OW -- not DM, rescue, or baywatch -- the goal is to float until the boat gets to you or float/drift/swim to shore in the rare event of both divers in the buddy team having complete aircell failure at the same time. I wouldn't care if they can do it because their bodies are naturally buoyant or because they know how to swim.

I'm a stone--my floating (dis)ability has nothing to do with my comfortability in water. I have to try floating with very full lungs when I next get in a pool--have been advised this will work.

If you can breathe into your lower abdomen (as in yoga or martial arts), try "modified breaststroke" pose on your back: knees bent, arms forward, back arched so your chin is up and forehead is at the water level or even under. Do a full breath into your lower abdomen and hold it for a while until you stop bobbing. If you a) don't sink and b) balance out with your belly button out of the water you should be able to float like that for few breaths at least.

 

[TheHuth]

I got the swim tests out of the way today. I'm sure I probably could have passed without doing some prep swims earlier in the week. But it helped allot. It was much tougher than it was during practice. This was a very small pool. Since you're not allowed to push off the wall, you waste tons of energy turning around. Doing that 22 times, was allot more of an effort. Then there was a bunch of people in the water, so your swimming around everyone. Then finally the water was choppy with all the swimmers.

All in all, it was probably 50% harder than it was during my practice swims. Having gone through it, I would recommend to anyone who is considering SCUBA to get out and start swimming as far in advance as you can.

 

[TMHeimer]

I apologize to all if wrong, but don't Olympic and other competitive swimmers so that "flip" thing each lap? I never really watched closely--do they touch the wall? We do our OW swim test in a tiny pool also. If you don't touch the wall or aren't a skilled swimmer and can do the flip underwater thing, how do you turn?--just make a half circle? How would 8-10 people in a class do this all together with out killing each other?

Apologize. I should've googled the videos first. Swimmers do push off the wall. So I would assume this is OK for the OW test. We allow it, and I did it for the DM 400 test as well. They push with their feet, though if you can't (or in my case forgot how to after 40 years) do that, a quick touch with the hands, then feet push off. Of course, no hanging on to get a rest.

Both with my experience with at least 12 instructors and my time on SB, I have found a fair bit of variation in how this test is run. As well as some slightly different views on it's purpose.

 

[Neilwood]

I apologize to all if wrong, but don't Olympic and other competitive swimmers so that "flip" thing each lap? I never really watched closely--do they touch the wall? We do our OW swim test in a tiny pool also. If you don't touch the wall or aren't a skilled swimmer and can do the flip underwater thing, how do you turn?--just make a half circle? How would 8-10 people in a class do this all together with out killing each other?

Apologize. I should've googled the videos first. Swimmers do push off the wall. So I would assume this is OK for the OW test. We allow it, and I did it for the DM 400 test as well. They push with their feet, though if you can't (or in my case forgot how to after 40 years) do that, a quick touch with the hands, then feet push off. Of course, no hanging on to get a rest.

Both with my experience with at least 12 instructors and my time on SB, I have found a fair bit of variation in how this test is run. As well as some slightly different views on it's purpose.

This is certainly my impression of what is allowed for the swim test. Of course it does make it a bit easier in a small pool (more kick, less strokes). Having said that, only fairly decent swimmers will probably have a good turn/kick routine so if you are struggling with the swim anyway, your kick is likely not going to be the best and probably off less help.

 

[dmaziuk]

I should've googled the videos first. Swimmers do push off the wall.

Did you notice how far the push takes them? The (freestyle) rule is no more than 15m. If OP had to do 22 turns for 200 m, that makes it a 10 yd pool, any swimmer can cover that with just the push, without the rest of the pullout.

 

[TMHeimer]

The push off doesn't take them very far--maybe a few meters? That was the case with myself as well. After the push, however, you do cover a bit of territory while getting a slight rest. I can see that in a tiny pool this would give you a fair bit more rest from constant swimming. But in a larger pool if the swimmer is has good form and is strong, all the pushes and gliding probably winds up giving you a longer time count. Of course, the OW swim isn't timed anyway. Another interesting point--although it's not timed, I believe you must keep moving--ei. no floating to rest. But suppose you keep moving slow enough for it to take you like a half hour?

 

[tursiops]

Another interesting point--although it's not timed, I believe you must keep moving--ei. no floating to rest. But suppose you keep moving slow enough for it to take you like a half hour?

That's OK, irritating but OK. Depending on when the swim is done during confined water, it can mean the student doesn't get started with the rest of the class for whatever comes after the swim. I've had to refer students for their tropical vacation cert dives without them having done the swim. I've also communicated with the location the are going to and made them aware of this in advance. At least the 10-minute tread never takes more than ten minutes!

 

[dmaziuk]

The push off doesn't take them very far--maybe a few meters? That was the case with myself as well. After the push, however, you do cover a bit of territory while getting a slight rest. I can see that in a tiny pool this would give you a fair bit more rest from constant swimming.

In a 10yd pool it should be about 2/3rds of the length. It'd leave you with about one hand pull which you need anyway because you should breathe. I don't think I'd want to do that for 200m... might pass out from vertigo. No wonder they have the "no push off" policy.

 

[TMHeimer]

Yeah, even our small pool is bigger than that. Beating a dead horse and who cares, but it is still curious to me these guys turning around each time without touching anything--and with others around them. To stray a bit and mention the 4 "watermanship" (or whatever you prefer to call it) DM swim tests-- These are timed for points. They are done in all kinds of different places--from tiny fresh water pools to calm salt open water (with more buoyancy and no turns). Yet, the times recorded for points are the same for every candidate worldwide.