Swimming Skills Assessment

[TMHeimer]

Falling off a boat can happen, given the right set of rare circumstances. Too much to drink, slip, rogue wave, etc. A little away from the topic, but I always wonder why anyone who couldn't actually swim even a little would even want to be on a boat, pier, jetty fishing, etc. If I couldn't swim I think I would be terrified of the ocean, even a lake. I just assume anyone interested in diving already knows how to swim. Measuring how good they are at it because it is a vital part of diving doesn't make a lot of sense.

 

[Trace Malinowski]

I guess I see it as a safety issue more than a skills issue too...

(in signature)

Lulubelle, I think the emoticon smiley in your signature wraps up the argument. Swimming doesn't have to be pretty, just strong enough to allow you to escape danger and stay ahead of a shark ... or the weakest swimmer.

 

[MRadke]

Lulubelle, I think the emoticon smiley in your signature wraps up the argument. Swimming doesn't have to be pretty, just strong enough to allow you to escape danger and stay ahead of a shark ... or the weakest swimmer.

I was instructed that was what the dive knife is for.

 

[knotical]

I just assume anyone interested in diving already knows how to swim.

Seems like a perfectly reasonable assumption, but I've twice had an Open Water student who was a non-swimmer. One took swimming lessons at the "Y" and I taught the other. Both comfortably passed the swim test and completed certification, although we had to delay the open water dives a month for one.

 

[Trace Malinowski]

I was instructed that was what the dive knife is for.

My knife is small.

 

[alchemist117]

I'm not a great swimmer either, I much prefer cycling, especially time trialing for CV fitness, but when I am in the ocean, I've always got mask, fins and snorkle on, and wearing them I can go as far as is required with ease.

 

[Thalassamania]

Till your mask strap or fin strap breaks ... then what will you do?

 

[lulubelle]

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?

pj, you left out a key piece of my quote which was the part where I said that I would not dive with someone who described themselves as a poor swimmer here at home. Come to NC and dive with me on a particularly snarky day with 4-6 foot waves and loads of current and you will understand what I mean. I like to know that I, and my buddy, are capable of powering through whatever conditions they are confronted with and despite whatever equipment failures they may have. It's my perogative to dive with people I trust in the water. People die here every year.

Lulubelle, I think the emoticon smiley in your signature wraps up the argument. Swimming doesn't have to be pretty, just strong enough to allow you to escape danger and stay ahead of a shark ... or the weakest swimmer.

Nope, it does not need to be pretty, but good luck trying to outrun a shark. Someone had Mako on the menu today at lunch. Ewww.

 

[pjhansman]

pj, you left out a key piece of my quote which was the part where I said that I would not dive with someone who described themselves as a poor swimmer here at home. Come to NC and dive with me on a particularly snarky day with 4-6 foot waves and loads of current and you will understand what I mean. I like to know that I, and my buddy, are capable of powering through whatever conditions they are confronted with and despite whatever equipment failures they may have. It's my perogative to dive with people I trust in the water. People die here every year.

Of course, being from landlocked Canada I've never actually seen big waves before.

But it's absolutely your perogative to dive with people you trust in the water...no argument there.

 

[Cave Diver]

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