Recently, during my Rescue checkout trip, I and my trip buddy were goofing off on the diving boards, swings, and platforms while we waited for everyone else to make it to the spring. After quite a few large splashing events (bellyflops are *so* much more comfortable in a 5-mil), I suggested we swim over to the floating dock.
It was at that point that I discovered how thoroughly out of surface-swimming shape I truly was. Obviously, I don't use my arms for propulsion while scuba diving, but I was somewhat surprised how quickly they gave out on me. If I decide to go for divemaster next, I'll certainly need to be better, but even as "just" a diver, I cannot help but think I would be well-served to be better.
To that end, I'm now one week into a six-week program by the end of which I should be able to swim a mile non-stop.
So, fellow ScubaBoardians, how about sounding off? Do you even note your surface-swimming abilities (or possibly the utter lack thereof)? If you had a swim test (for divemaster or whatever), did you just do enough to pass, or have you kept up with it? Does swimming a mile non-stop fill you with fear and trepidation at the very thought of it, or is the concept somewhat intriguing?
Incidentally, does anyone know a good way to create a push-dummy so I can work on tired diver assists once I'm in better shape?
It was at that point that I discovered how thoroughly out of surface-swimming shape I truly was. Obviously, I don't use my arms for propulsion while scuba diving, but I was somewhat surprised how quickly they gave out on me. If I decide to go for divemaster next, I'll certainly need to be better, but even as "just" a diver, I cannot help but think I would be well-served to be better.
To that end, I'm now one week into a six-week program by the end of which I should be able to swim a mile non-stop.
So, fellow ScubaBoardians, how about sounding off? Do you even note your surface-swimming abilities (or possibly the utter lack thereof)? If you had a swim test (for divemaster or whatever), did you just do enough to pass, or have you kept up with it? Does swimming a mile non-stop fill you with fear and trepidation at the very thought of it, or is the concept somewhat intriguing?
Incidentally, does anyone know a good way to create a push-dummy so I can work on tired diver assists once I'm in better shape?