Swimming vs. Snorkling in OW Course

[mjatkins]

In the last while I have seen several people make reference to the fact that PADI allows for a snorkel/fins swim in the OW course, as opposed to a strictly bathing suit type swim. It would appear that some of the more vocal folks on the subject feel that the snorkel/fins approach is not appropriate to accomplish the point of this requirement, and I would like to open the discussion up as to why some people feel this way.

Let me start. It is my understanding that this portion of the OW course is designed to test a student's stamina. It is not meant to be a test of their swimming abilities, and since divers are generally in the water with a BCD, fins and snorkel (I know a lot don't carry their snorkel, but it is considered standard gear by PADI), it seems appropriate that such a test should include the standard equipment they will have access to. In reality, how often will a diver remove his gear and head for the shore vs. keeping his/her gear in place and swim in.

As an instructor I ask my students to swim the 200m in just a bathing suit as I feel that between the two it is a better test of stamina, however I believe that the snorkel test would be just as valid if done for a longer distance than the 300 meters that are the current requirement.

So, those of you who have an opinion on this, I would like to hear from you as to what it is and why.

 

[del_mo]

I'm not an instructor, but I ask lot's of questions of my LDS owners/instructors. They have a different take on the subject. They feel the majority of the newbies that come through their door have little or no experience with a snorkel. It is their feeling that the snorkel swim (they don't even offer the non-snorkel swim) gives their students a chance to use a snorkel and/or get more accustomed to breathing through one. That belief works for me.

 

[Steve50]

I agree the swim without gear is a better stamina test, however I've only had 1 person out of several hundred that could not complete.

 

[ekewaka]

Why not just have them do both?

 

[Joe-Diver]

Curious...referring to pp. 2-3 of the Open Water Diver course in the IM, where do you get the impression it is a stamina evaluation rather than a discretionary evaluation of general swimming ability?

 

[Walter]

The reason swimming is important is not stamina. It has to do with the panic cycle and avoiding panic. The first step in avoiding panic is having confidence in one's own abilities. A non-swimmer who is diving always knows if push comes to shove, they have no control on if they live of die. That is not a big confidence booster. If a diver knows they can effectively and safely deal with problems, then problems stay small. They do not become life threatening.

All too often, little problems snowball into major problems because the diver panicked. Divers with confidence in their ability do not panic. Swimming ability is an important part of that confidence building process for divers. There are many more parts to the process, but without the ability to swim, nothing will be as effective as it would be with the ability to swim.

Stamina is a nice extra, but self confidence is much more important in developing safe divers. A diver who cannot swim is not a safe diver.

 

[ekewaka]

It is my understanding that this portion of the OW course is designed to test a student's stamina.

Don't you think 200m is a bit short for a test of stamina?

 

[knotical]

Since there is no time limit for the swim or snorkel, only that it be continuous, I don’t look at it as a stamina test. PADI says the student needs to “be reasonably comfortable and proficient in the water” so that’s what I look for (yes, it’s somewhat subjective). Either test is sufficient for me. If a student has problems, I suggest they practice or have lessons, and then further suggest that they might want to build their own confidence by demonstrating both tests to me.

As for which is better, I partly agree with mj that the snorkel test more closely approximates their configuration while diving, but the swim test more closely approximates what they’ll be wearing if they are traveling on a boat and happen to fall overboard.

We usually do the swim test simply because it’s logistically a bit easier with our schedule.

 

[gcbryan]

As Walter says it's for comfort in a water environment. What if someone falls off a boat and can't swim well?

It's also not much of a test to swim with a snorkle and fins. How does one fail that test?

I just saw your post Knotical. We were typing at the same time I suppose.

 

[String]

Anywhere in Europe its illegal to use snorkel instead of swimming. Every entry level course including PADI open water HAS to do a 200m swim.