teclishk asked:
Is it a must to know swimming before you do scuba diving? or you can learn both together?
I just wonder, if you do not know how to swim at all, is it possible to do scuba diving? since I think that it is a totally different technique.
Raymond
Is it a must to know swimming before you do scuba diving? or you can learn both together?
I just wonder, if you do not know how to swim at all, is it possible to do scuba diving? since I think that it is a totally different technique.
Raymond
Yes you must know how to swim prior to learning scuba. The technique is not different, you use the same technique only with a little extra help from fins etc. Most scuba classes will make you pass a swim test before you can enroll in the class, so this is another really good reason to learn it before you go.
You need to be able to swim about 400 yards (about 16 laps in most pools) and be able to tread water for about 5 minutes. At least that’s what I had to do when i got certified. And you need to know the basics of swimming before you scuba dive because you KICK with fins underwater and you have to kick most of the time to get to the surface of the water. So i would say that it is required slightly before you learn to scuba. If you don’t know how to swim at all just sign up for a technique class at your gym or something!
You only need to be able to swim a basic stroke for a certain distance, 400 to 600 yards I think.
When you start learning to scuba dive, they will teach you how to wear the equipment, breathe underwater, a special sign language so you can communicate underwater, etc.
Your first lesson should be in a pool, so you can get used to wearing the mask and flippers.
Hope this helps!
Most certification agencies have some sort of water skills evaluation as part of the scuba diving class. With PADI the water skills are:
1. Tread or float for 10 minutes
2. Either an unassisted swim or mask/fin/snorkle swim
#2 doesn’t have to be pretty, it just needs to be completed. As an instructor, I am not there to evaluate your technique, but more to see how comfortable you are in the water.
I have routinely said that I can teach anyone to scuba dive if they are comfortable in the water. I have had students that were taking swimming lessons at the same time they were taking the scuba class.
Once in the water, the technique to move while scuba diving is completely different than swimming. In most swimming strokes, the arm movement provides the forward movement and the leg movement prevents your legs from sinking. In scuba diving your legs provide the forward movement. Any use of the arms for propulsion is actually a waste of energy which in turn is a waste of air.
Also, since scuba diving occurs around water, knowing how to swim is actually very good to know for safety reasons.
Yes it is a requirement!!
I love scuba diving as well. I post all my scuba diving pictures on the following site because they are easy to download and you can see the photos, fill up the whole screen.