Swimming vs. Snorkling in OW Course

[fisherdvm]

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,

SSI also allows a 300 yard swim with snorkel.

 

[mjatkins]

Some good points made. Joe -Diver, nice use of the manual. It would appear that based on that, my belief about the stamina aspect may be out of line. I fear that the "stamina" portion of the DM evaluation which includes the snorkel swim may have left a false impression with me about the underlying purpose of the swim in OW.

I suppose though that the meat of my question really lies in my feeling that some folks think the snorkel option is inferior to the non-snorkel swim. I see the responses regarding the scenario of someone falling off the boat without their gear, but I'm not sure that that is a SCUBA related issue. It would seem to me that this would be just as likely for anyone on a boat or ferry. I can't imagine everyone having to pass a water skills assessment before getting on their Caribbean cruise, or their uncle's powerboat. But for purposes of this discussion, I don't want to debate the likelihood of this scenario so I will give it up as an example. Are there any others?


Thanks

 

[Thalassamania]

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.

If you use a snorkel someone comes out and takes you to jail?

1/4 mile swim, 1/2 mile snorklel, 10 min float/tread, 50 yard victim tow.

 

[Karibelle]

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.

I'd say there are numerous other ways to increase your confidence in your ability to dive safely than swimming. If I have an incident that induces the panic cycle I doubt that I'm going to be thinking "geez, if I do get out of this, I'm not going to be able to swim to safety."

How about spending the swim time doing exercises that actually relate to diving? Like air sharing, reg recovery, mask r & r, etc.? I think that would be time better spent if our aim is in fact to improve self confidence.

kari

 

[Karibelle]

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.

Could you provide a cite for that? I'm curious about what regulation is in place in all of europe... I understand that a law would supercede a PADI requirement, but am not familiar with laws that would affect an entire continent.

thanks,
kari

 

[Tollie]

I think Walter is spot on. The swim/snorkel assessment really taps into a students level of comfort in the water. When I have access to a pool I will do a swim test and will ask students to put their face in the water for some part of the test. When I do the skills training in a confined water location, rather than a pool, I will have students do the snorkel swim. It fits well with the snorkel circuit efficiently.

I have never had a student panic during the pool swim but I have had two students panic in the CW setting with snorkel gear. Neither of them on further questioning really could swim... and both were not comfortable at all in the water... neither were completers of the course, in fact both quit.

When I do the pool swim I supervise from the deck but in the CW setting I'm right next to student.

I think both methods are useful in assessing general comfort in the water... and neither is really a true stamina test.

 

[ekewaka]

I'd say there are numerous other ways to increase your confidence in your ability to dive safely than swimming.

A 200m swim will not increase anyones confidence, but it will help to identify those who are not comfortable in the water.

 

[Karibelle]

A 200m swim will not increase anyones confidence, but it will help to identify those who are not comfortable in the water.

I disagree. I think what it might uncover is someone who can't swim. That's it.

When I was a DM, I assisted with a class (or two or three) where we did the swim in week five. I rescued a student in the pool that night during the swim. He had done very well in scuba equipment, and had no problems with the float, but he just couldn't swim that well, and ended up having an issue. The issue was uncovered, for sure, but it had nothing to do with his ability to dive.

YMMV.

kari

 

[String]

If you use a snorkel someone comes out and takes you to jail?

1/4 mile swim, 1/2 mile snorklel, 10 min float/tread, 50 yard victim tow.

Jail no but the course is breaking standards if you dont swim. A snorkel is not permitted for any certification that meets EN standards so thats PADI, SSI and all the others. Anyone running such a course is breaking their agency standards and the certificate gained as a result would be invalid.

 

[ekewaka]

I disagree. I think what it might uncover is someone who can't swim. That's it.

That was my point. It will weed out those who can't swim. It is not going to teach them anything new. Anyone who can't swim should not be in a scuba class.