padi float thing

[s7595]

hi everyone
sorry for the long post
last weekend , took 3 day padi open water pool session
had very little trouble ,once I learned tongue control ,remove reg was okay , cesa took 3 times ,I tend to let out to much air working on it ,mask clearing no problem ,swim with out mask no problem , the only thing problem "scubie doo " and float
my instrucor calls remove of bcd at surface and replace had to much air in bcd and was unable to replace , now for the realy bib problem the 10 min float , I just seem to sink like a rock have went to public pool and worked on i t,I am not strong swimmer did the 300meters with mask ,snorkel ,fins and it took quite a long time . my point why is the float so important ?
with a working bcd and snorkel or reg at surface u are safe waiting for boat
it seems this float will stop me from scuba
talked to life guard and she recomend tighting but cheeks muscle
to float it does work a little ,but no confindice in deep water
thanks again any info would be great

 

[MechDiver]

Well, if your BC gets a hole in it, then your snorkle isn't going to do you alot of good if you can't float.

Scuba is all about being in the water. If your not comfortable there, which it does not appear you are at this point, then you have the potential to kill yourself.

MD

 

[Karl_in_Calif]

The YMCAs offer swim classes. You may want to consider that. Then come back to scuba once you are better at that, if you cannot finish the pool drills now.

Scuba instructors are not normally also swimming instructors. The idea behind the swim tests is to make sure you are already a swimmer and are comfortable in the open water.

If you ever went on a tropical scuba trip on a dive boat, and you were not using a wetsuit, then, as MD said, if your B/C fails, you would really and truly need to know how to float on the surface, after you ditched all of your gear.

 

[Orion DM]

I don't exactly recall but do you just have float for 10 minutes or are you allowed to tread water? Might want to ask the instructor for the exact requirements, if there are any alternatives etc... I remember reading in my PADI divemaster manual to always be aware of other ways for students to complete requirements. Don't have the requirements handy though, sorry.

I also have trouble floating, in some cases it has to do with ones bone density etc.. that make it really difficult to not sink like a stone.
But anyway things to keep in mind:
1. Relax, Relax, RELAX,
2. Head back, neck loose, if you have your neck tense you will sink like a stone
3. I find putting my arms above my head (In the water) helps, it balances my posture so I float more evenly.

Like the others said, it's important to be able to survive in an emergency without drowning.
Good luck. If all else fails make your buddy stand on the bottom of the pool and stand on his shoulders

 

[s7595]

hi
thanks for the info
you are wright acording to life guard bone dense is the problem
I tend to sink
now just to have a friendly debate
does anyone know the stats for b/c failur ,with holes in them
after reading padi book and take exame scoreing 90%
if you go by the book , were exposeure suit , dive with buddy, use relaible boat operator , use compass ,dive into currant
my point diveing should be safe ,needing to float not to inportant

 

[hambleto]

I have no idea what the failure rate is. But knowing how to float is important in my opinion. One can never know what will happen above, in, or below the water. You could fall off the boat. You could have a faulty gear. You could have to ditch your gear. There are many many reason you would need to know how to float.

 

[Orion DM]

s7595 once bubbled...
hi
thanks for the info
you are wright acording to life guard bone dense is the problem
I tend to sink
now just to have a friendly debate
does anyone know the stats for b/c failur ,with holes in them
after reading padi book and take exame scoreing 90%
if you go by the book , were exposeure suit , dive with buddy, use relaible boat operator , use compass ,dive into currant
my point diveing should be safe ,needing to float not to inportant

I don't know the stats for bcd failure but statistics is not the point. There are many more things then those you listed that are important for being safe. Diving should be "safe" because you dive in a safe manner.

If you can't float or drown proof in an unexpected circumstance, something that can arise even following the practices you listed, as well as many you didn't, you will have to swim to stay afloat, that will expend more energy than you can imagine and you could end up drowning from exhaustion.

I don't think PADI is being particularily stringent in this, compared to what the certification requirements were 20 years ago this is a cakewalk.

Do not ever underestimate the ocean, unlucky coincidences, or overestimate the "Safeness" of diving. This is not a safe undertaking by it's nature, you are putting your life and that of your buddy at risk if you are not prepared. You cannot rely on your gear, no matter how cool it seems in that kind of circumstance. It is designed to allow you access to the underwater world, not keep you safe at the surface when you'd be a danger to yourself without it.

 

[CincyBengalsFan]

Karl_in_Calif once bubbled...
The YMCAs offer swim classes. You may want to consider that. Then come back to scuba once you are better at that, if you cannot finish the pool drills now.

Scuba instructors are not normally also swimming instructors. The idea behind the swim tests is to make sure you are already a swimmer and are comfortable in the open water.

If you ever went on a tropical scuba trip on a dive boat, and you were not using a wetsuit, then, as MD said, if your B/C fails, you would really and truly need to know how to float on the surface, after you ditched all of your gear.

Exactly put. You can also continue on with a YMCA SCUBA course after some swim lessons at the Y. The YMCA SCUBA will make sure your a stong diver and swimmer. It could save your life one day.

 

[MikeFerrara]

s7595 once bubbled...
hi
thanks for the info
you are wright acording to life guard bone dense is the problem
I tend to sink
now just to have a friendly debate
does anyone know the stats for b/c failur ,with holes in them
after reading padi book and take exame scoreing 90%
if you go by the book , were exposeure suit , dive with buddy, use relaible boat operator , use compass ,dive into currant
my point diveing should be safe ,needing to float not to inportant

Forget the PADI book for a moment. Diving is being under water dependant on life support equipment and your skill in using it. There isn't anything safe about it.

 

[CincyBengalsFan]

MikeFerrara once bubbled...


Forget the PADI book for a moment. Diving is being under water dependant on life support equipment and your skill in using it. There isn't anything safe about it.

This is true. The definition of SAFE is free of harm and injury. So the word SAFE should never be used in bowling, driving, or about anything except washing clothes.

SCUBA does in fact have very few accidents every year compared to most anything else like bowling or basketball, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. But it's true, since it's not free from harm or injury..We shouldn't say it's safe...