Pool skills required

[wetwilly]

Hi, everyone , its getting cold up here in Canada, will be going to pool soon regularly.
And was looking for some extra skills to learn over winter ,I know the basic routine skills,practice them often , What i am looking for is another set advanced a bit further
ie... i am weight integrated b.c and am now trying to don and doff, for different reasons (loose tank...) while staying neutral and horizontal,ooa emerg...etc...
Would love to hear from all with thier favorite pool skills/games./ with instructions!
With this depth of diving knowledge of this board i feel this could be invaluable tool for
us with the thinner log books (trying to fill them )to learn properly, cannot help but
improve our sport.our people, thanx w/w

 

[Diver0001]

Try learning to frog-kick forwards and backwards. Especially the backwards part will keep you occupied for a while.

R..

 

[ScubaFreak]

just wanted to point out that your avatar is very impressive

anyhoo, buoyancy games eh? Get some rings in the pool and swim thru them, frog kicks a great one to learn, hover as best u can, then frog kick in each direction, you can always find ways to challenge urself, just make sure it's in a safe environment and youaint on your own

 

[OE2X]

1.Ditto on the forwards and backwards frog kicks.

2.Helicopter turn. Find a spot on the bottom and rotate around it by just using your fins. Hands should be clasped together. Do it clockwise then do it counter clockwise. This is good for confined spaces.

3.Another good one is to hover horizontally completely motionless, no finning, nothing besides breathing. Pick a spot on the bottom of the pool and don't move from it an inch. See how long you can do it. This is good technique for all your saftey stops. See if you can hold it for the length of a stop.

4.Go to the bottom of the pool. In a horizontal position see how slowly you can get to the surface. If you can do 10' in a minute or more then you are doing great. Add number 3 to this drill. If you can stay directly above the spot on the bottom and do it in a minute or more then you doing the skill beautifully.

5. Mask drill. I know you learned to do this in your OW class. Take it a step further. In a horizontal hover say 3' off the bottom - do the mask drill. If you didn't move up or down, then you did well. Most people when they first do this skill don't stay stationary. Want to make it more interesting? Remove your mask and then do #4.

6.My favorite - roll over on your back so that your are looking at the surface and keep your buoyancy so that you don't go up or down. Once you can do this then kick around the deep end of the pool. I like using this for wall dives. I'll get a few feet below my buddy and watch him swim next to wall above me. It's a great visual.

 

[emtdan]

Hey, i have some ideas...

1) test your buoyancy: go to the deepest part of the pool, best if it's over 15 feet, but do the best. Drop a weighted line, and just try to maintain exact buoyancy for long peirods of time. Be about 5 feet above the bottom of the pool, and stay within one foot of your point on the line while just using your inflator hose. Most people can't do this well, me included.

 

[Diver0001]

I forgot one: blowing bubble rings. Everyone has to learn that at some point too....

R..

 

[wacdiver]

You could try good ol Buddy breathing (old skill not too many shops teach it anymore) This is not a typical OOA drill where you give up your octo, you are BOTH breathing from 1 reg. Take 2 breaths pass reg- 2 breaths pass reg, so on and so on

This is not a pool skill but something interesting none the less. I got it from another post on this board awhile back.

Lay out all your gear on the floor in a room in your house (later on add some of wifes gear too just to make it more difficult)
Turn off the lights (or wear a blindfold) then assemble your setup without looking, time yourself and check to see how welll you did (everything where it belongs connected properly ect)

Have fun

 

[Jester]

Here's one to try if you're into photography. Often, because of the way coral and sponges grow, a photo can't be taken in the normal, upright or horizontal position. Then, try inverting and hovering in a head down position (your reg might let in a little water), but the breath control is exactly the opposite of what you're used to. Try to keep your head 1 ft. from the bottom of the pool.