Can less than average ability swimmers scuba dive?

[heavenlysea]

My 24 yr old DD isn't a very good swimmer. She is OK in water with a noodle to float with. She is very short so usually any water soon is over her head. She has snorkeled with me a few times and did OK using a noodle. She'd like to learn how to scuba but isn't sure it would be possible for her. She also has a deviated septum that is unrepairable so I don't know if that matters. Any thoughts? Thanks,

[jimw]

Virtually all dive shops offer a "Discover Scuba" experience, usually beginning in a swimming pool setting and then on to a shallow dive location. Or, they may offer an Intro to Scuba in a pool or other shallow water location. Check with the local dive shops.

 

If she is comfortable in salt water without the noodle, I would say go diving. She will likely float like a cork in salt water, so try it!

 

In my non-medical opinion, the deviated septum is not an issur if she can breathe and more importantly; clear her mask blowing thru her nose.

 

Do the Intro to Scuba.

[Dabaras]

To get certified, she must be able to do a 200 yard swim with no flotation and tread water for 10 or 15 minutes, also no flotation.

 

I have helped with classes as a DiveMaster with people who weren't very good swimmers, and only about 1 in 10 actually finish the course unless they go get swimming lessons first, which is what I would recommend first.

[Laurie S.]

To get certified, she must be able to do a 200 yard swim with no flotation and tread water for 10 or 15 minutes, also no flotation.

 

I have helped with classes as a DiveMaster with people who weren't very good swimmers, and only about 1 in 10 actually finish the course unless they go get swimming lessons first, which is what I would recommend first.

 

I agree, just because it can be done, doesn't mean it should be. Get some swimming lessons so that she's comfortable and then work on getting certified.

[Capt_BJ]

To get certified, she must be able to do a 200 yard swim with no flotation and tread water for 10 or 15 minutes, also no flotation.

 

Yes .... but .....

 

from the PADI web site about requirements for the Open Water Diver course (red highlights by me)

 

If you have an appetite for excitement and adventure, odds are you can become an avid PADI diver. You’ll also want to keep in mind these requirements:

 

2. Waterskills

You demonstrate basic waterskill comfort by swimming 200 yards/metres or 300 yards/metres with mask, fins and snorkel. There is no time limit for this, and you may use any swimming strokes you want. You will also float in deep water for 10 minutes, again using any methods that you want.

 

I dunno 'bout you but 200 yards with MFS is a LOT different than sans any equipment! I do NOT denigrate the need for basic swimming skills, just want to honestly represent what PADI requires cuz with MFS this is a bunch easier.

[heavenlysea]

Thanks for the advice so far.

 

It's not that my daughter is afraid of the water it's her body type. She is only 80 pounds and has virtually no fat. She gets around in the water but I can't see her being strong enough to tread water for 15 minutes. She has some birth anomalies that affect her fingers and toes so none of these appendages have the full complement of 10.

I had been thinking of doing the intro class and I think I will call one to talk to them. I guess I was looking for opinions on whether or not it was even a possibility for her to learn.

[Dabaras]

Yes .... but .....

 

from the PADI web site about requirements for the Open Water Diver course (red highlights by me)

 

If you have an appetite for excitement and adventure, odds are you can become an avid PADI diver. You’ll also want to keep in mind these requirements:

 

2. Waterskills

You demonstrate basic waterskill comfort by swimming 200 yards/metres or 300 yards/metres with mask, fins and snorkel. There is no time limit for this, and you may use any swimming strokes you want. You will also float in deep water for 10 minutes, again using any methods that you want.

 

I dunno 'bout you but 200 yards with MFS is a LOT different than sans any equipment! I do NOT denigrate the need for basic swimming skills, just want to honestly represent what PADI requires cuz with MFS this is a bunch easier.

 

While I know PADI puts that out there as an option, I don't know any instructors who utilize it. The OP also mentioned that the snorkeling before was also done with a noodle, which wouldn't be allowed in the waterskills section.

[Capt_BJ]

The additional information provided by OP suggests that a regular SCUBA course is probably not appropriate. However there are programs for individuals with special needs and a web search can quickly provide several leads such as

 

http://www.caymanislands.ky/divecayman/dive-sites/specialty-diving/special-needs-diving.aspx

 

wrt to instructors reinterpreting the written standards of their respective agency .... well that's one of the reasons some training organizations are more respected than others. Fortunately some localities have established groups to self police and ensure adherence to standards, such as Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA), Water Sports Operations Guidelines.

[omeinv]

I think you're on the right track.

 

You should check with your local dive shops, and find someone you're comfortable with. In this case, I'd suggest phone calls, followed by personal visits, so your daughter can discuss her concerns with the instructor. Most shops will credit the cost of a "discover SCUBA" course against a full open water certification if a person decides to go forward.

 

Once trained, your daughter would have an advantage. Those with low body fat require less weight to be used (fat being more buoyant). Usually the hardest thing for new divers is proper weighting and achieving neutral buoyancy. She'll likely have an easier time once she gets past the basics of the open water course, and into the diving itself.

 

Harris

Denver, CO

[Middleager]

I'm NOT a good swimmer. I scuba dive!

 

I would NOT be able to "tread" water for 15 (maybe not even 5), without aid. Just floating, sure, but tread water, no.

 

In 2003, my wife and I went to Beaches AI resort for vacation. They included scuba diving. I did not consider diving before, because I had heavy prescriptions for my eye sight. But in 2001 I got lasik, and can see. At that resort, I tried the intro scuba, and liked it, I decided to get certified. I had been diving ever since.

 

When doing scuba at the resort, I took the 3-hr course, including training in a deep pool. The toughest part of the training was the 200 yd swim. It was 8 laps in the small pool. I went to backstroke almost right away, and really fought to finish it. But I did finish it.

 

There were 4 of us that took the 3-hr training. One of them was a girl in her honeymoon. The husband said she was a strong swimmer, that was in state championships. She was the only one that ended up not finishing the dive, drank water, and did not want to dive again.

 

There was another guy in his 50's (that's what I'm now), a good swimmer. When we went out on the boat for our first shallow open water dive, the other divers already went in water. Bob was ahead of me (I was last student diver). When he got to the edge and looked at the water, he turned around, saying "I can't do it". He was afraid to jump in. I urged him "Bob, you can do it. I'm behind you. I'm a little afraid too. If you don't do it I don't know if I will. Please do it, and you'll make me to follow right behind you" Bob did it. When it was my turn to do the giant stride, I was afraid too, but I also did it. After that, we both really enjoyed the dive.

 

Anyway, that's just some history of a not-strong-swimmer, who has been enjoying diving for years.

 

I had also dived with someone who was paralyzed from the waist down (from motorcycle accident) Instead of kicking with fins, he wore big fin gloves, and use that. When I saw him coming to dive (in a wheelchair), I volunteered to be his buddy. It was an inspiration to see him diving.

 

This past Aug. in Key Largo I dove with a bunch of "war heroes". They were in the military, were injured, and as part of the rehab, they were trained to be divers. One of them was a girl who had one of her lower leg amputated. She wore only one fin on one good leg. She was certified and dove. It was good to see her do that.

 

Scuba diving can be dangerous, and one needs to take lots of pre-cautions. But it is also something you'll really enjoy, including if needing to overcome some initial obstacles.

[heavenlysea]

Middleager-thanks so much for sharing. I will show the post to my daughter.

 

I think I will call our nearest scuba center and talk to them and see what they think. I do know they credit the intro cost to the full class price. I'll also do more research on the internet. We have plenty of time to explore our options since we don't cruise until June.

[chadbeck]

As a instructor that has certified many vets that have missing legs/arms don't think that because she is small or doesn't have all toes/fingers she can't do it. It can be done with the right instruction but most likely you will have to find one that will do the pool time/open water time one on one.

[Capt_BJ]

not intended as a negative post ... just curious

 

Chadbeck - when you have certified these folks ... you considered them fully capable to do any dive any other open water certified diver would be able to do?

 

once assist was given to gear up?

 

and into the water?

 

no escort in the water?

 

They could do an unescorted shore dive?

 

or does PADI (I'll guess you are PADI) need to develop a new certification level?

 

I recognize these folks can usually be trusted to 'self police' but just wondering about potential implications of 'over confidence'?