I am not sure I understand your point here. I don't know of any dive certification agency that does not already have swimming requirements that exceed this.
Swimming Skills Assessment
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I am not sure I understand your point here. I don't know of any dive certification agency that does not already have swimming requirements that exceed this.
fisheater
Contributor
I DM'd for the pool session for an OW class and two of the students simply couldn't swim. I'm not talking about style points. I mean that they could not propel themselves from one end of the small indoor pool to the other end. If they hadn't grabbed the side of the pool, they would have drowned (absent a rescue).
The Instructor got them out of the water and told them that they weren't going to become divers until they learned how to swim. We asked them why they wanted to learn to dive, when they couldn't even swim. They explained that they were construction workers and their boss sent them to become divers, as the boss had gotten a contract to replace a pier.
Yikes!! These guys were going to doing commercial work with an OW cert. (and in black water)!!
The instructor told them that would need commercial certs. to do underwater construction.
As far as I'm concerned, he saved their lives by keeping them out of the water, for either recreational and commercial purposes.
It really shocked me that people so unskilled and uncomfortable in the water would ever consider scuba diving.
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The Instructor got them out of the water and told them that they weren't going to become divers until they learned how to swim. We asked them why they wanted to learn to dive, when they couldn't even swim. They explained that they were construction workers and their boss sent them to become divers, as the boss had gotten a contract to replace a pier.
Yikes!! These guys were going to doing commercial work with an OW cert. (and in black water)!!
The instructor told them that would need commercial certs. to do underwater construction.
As far as I'm concerned, he saved their lives by keeping them out of the water, for either recreational and commercial purposes.
It really shocked me that people so unskilled and uncomfortable in the water would ever consider scuba diving.
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pjhansman
Contributor
Seems harsh :shocked2: What kind of equipment failure would send me to my doom?
I suppose I could get a hole in my BC.....and possibly I could lose my fins and my dSMB.....and a herd of hungry Angelfish could rip off my wetsuit....
But all at the same time?
seaducer
Contributor
Seems harsh :shocked2: What kind of equipment failure would send me to my doom?
I suppose I could get a hole in my BC.....and possibly I could lose my fins and my dSMB.....and a herd of hungry Angelfish could rip off my wetsuit....
But all at the same time?
You really cannot conceive of a realistic scenario where swimming competence won't cause an issue?
People can and do panic in the water when things don't go smoothly, and I cannot imagine a situation where a LACK of ability makes things better.
pjhansman
Contributor
I'm sure the level in swimmers we see in todays industry we likely go down. Due to certification agencies lowering the standard to become a "scuba diver". I understand the need for new divers, especially in todays economy. However I don't agree with the campaigns they run to get more people involved. Between shop to shop price wars(which effects the instructors impact on students) and agencies allowing divers to be less proficient in their swimming ability. This is a breeding ground for disaster. We should be promoting continuing education & watermanship skills to make more money and come up with a more standardized pricing. So its not about the money but the training.
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LeadCarrier, I agree. And access to a pool doesn't mean a 100 mile round trip with Canadian gas at maybe $5.50 a U.S. gallon.
Seaducer, Somewhat disagree on this one. While I think general fitness is very important and necessary to swim well, I feel skill (form) is a fair bit more important. Myself case in point: First try at the 400 with horribly rusty forgotten skills--barely made 200 without collapsing. After recalling all the proper skills--finished the 400 shortly after and soon after that got a "2" while training. Passed DM test months later with a "3". There's where the developed swim muscles enters in. Yes, I was in better overall shape when I got the "3", but I don't think by a whole lot.
fisheater, Re the construction workers: Amazing story. There must be many more like it.
Seaducer, Somewhat disagree on this one. While I think general fitness is very important and necessary to swim well, I feel skill (form) is a fair bit more important. Myself case in point: First try at the 400 with horribly rusty forgotten skills--barely made 200 without collapsing. After recalling all the proper skills--finished the 400 shortly after and soon after that got a "2" while training. Passed DM test months later with a "3". There's where the developed swim muscles enters in. Yes, I was in better overall shape when I got the "3", but I don't think by a whole lot.
fisheater, Re the construction workers: Amazing story. There must be many more like it.
Come on... We all saw the movie open water... Now that is an extreme and swimming would not have helped them much. However it brings up a good point. "Swimming to shore" it happens unfortunately. People get left because, poor management of dive boats... Not often but it does happen happen every year. Sometimes floating is not an option, if the shore is within a 1-3miles a good swimmer would make this easy with their gear intact. A couple of poor swimmers might continue to float and either fall to the fate of the movie, be picked up later 1hr-24hrs-36hrs.. Personally, im not waiting on the boat. If they were that dumb to loose me, who is to say they would be smart enough to find me in time if I just float...
More importantly, rescue... be it self rescue or that of a loved one. Being a good swimmer is a must. If you cant swim for yourself, then you cant swim for you and another...
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Yes, my point in all those boat scenarios offered up. Still waiting for that scenario where you swim without fins a long way.
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