Divemaster swim test

[ianwheeldon]

I have decided to get in early training for the divemaster course next year. does anyone know if there is any kind of time/distance swimming test? i'm sure i heard there is one. if so, how far do you have to swim and how quick? i've been down the pool recently and realised how out of shape i am!
good job i have plenty of time to get fit.
cheers
ian.

[Fathoms Down]

There are four watermanship skills (swim tests) for the Divemaster course. Which one are you interested in finding out about? If you are reasonably fit you should be able to pass them easily.

I remember mine.... ouch!

[D.D.J]

hi there,
yerr there are timed swims. i ll try and find out more information for you

[Topcat]

OOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH yes! I'm just doing the Divemaster course and we had to swim 24 lengths with fins and mask in some stupid amount of time I think 12 mins or something to get 5 points then the longer you take the less points you get, you have to get 12 points or above to be considered fit enough to do the course the other tasks are:- problem solving - we swopped all our kit underwater after buddy breathing while swimming before and after the task - easy! 12 lengths free style in 6.5 mins, tread water for 15 mins, the last 3 with your hands completely out of the water - dead easy to get 5 points on this one - tired diver tow and I think that was it but I can't remember the 24 lengths is okay just gets a bit boring but the 12 lengths tires you out - get swimming mate and good luck.

[big kev]

Hi Ian,

Yes and they are called Stamina Exercises so completing them is more important than speed. Having said that each exercise gains you points towards a final passing score so they do have time limits - the longer you take, the lower your score. There is a 15 minute tread water with your hands out of the water for the last 2 minutes - easy enough and you should score the maximum 5 points. The "mid range" times (worth 3 points each) are set out below to give you some idea of what you should be aiming for.

400 mtr swim non stop any stroke - under 11 mins

800 mtr snorkel with fins keeping face in water - under 18 mins 30 secs

100 mtr inert diver tow (pushing or pulling both in full kit) - under 4 mins 20

Like I said they're about stamina so any CV work out will help you to prepare but be warned, the snorkel one hurts! If you can get some practice swimming with fins at the surface to build up your calf muscles then do so.

Hope this helps.

Kev.

[dlegros]

The timings and scores are:

Stamina Exercise 1: 400 Metre Swim
<6:30 min - 5
6:30 to 8:40 - 4
8:40 to 11:00 - 3
11:00 to 13:00 - 2
>13:00 min - 1
Stopped - incomplete

Stamina Exercise 2: 15 Minute Tread
Arms out of water for last 2 minutes
Performed satisfactorily 5
Stayed afloat, but hands not out of water entire 2 minutes 3
Used side/bottom for momentary support no more than twice 1
Used side/bottom for support more than twice incomplete

Stamina Exercise 3: 800 Metre Snorkel Swim
<14:00 minutes - 5
14:00 to 16:30 - 4
16:30 to 18:30 - 3
18:30 to 21:00 - 2
>21:00 min - 1
Stopped - incomplete

Stamina Exercise 4: 100 Metres Inert Diver Tow
<2:10 min - 5
2:10 to 3:15 - 4
3:15 to 4:20 - 3
4:20 to 5:30 - 2
>5:30 min - 1
Stopped - incomplete

Personally, I found the tow the hardest as we were in a 10m pool, so that was ten turns with a fully kitted diver!

Dom

[Tony F]

Originally Posted by dlegros

Personally, I found the tow the hardest as we were in a 10m pool, so that was ten turns with a fully kitted diver!

Dom

Hmmm..... can I choose yards instead of metres?

Water tread looks like a snitch but the tow does look to be a challenge, and frankly I find the kit exchange awkward too.

[Fathoms Down]

Originally Posted by Tony F

Hmmm..... can I choose yards instead of metres?

You can... but the times are different!

[NotDeadYet]

Watch what kind of fins you use for the snorkle swim. It makes a huge difference if you use smaller full foot fins than if you use normal sea fins with boots. It's probably the easiest part of the test. That and the kit swap.

I hate swimming, I hardly ever go near a pool but I still managed to do the 400m swim within the time.

[luke284]

my kit swap was quite hard, but really good fun! did it in the sea in about 2m of water with the instructors kicking sand im our faces, pulling of masks, undoing tank bands.. etc! was hard work but good fun! and we were weighted for the pool!! they tricked us into thinking we were doing it in the pool!