{"id":2266,"date":"2021-10-10T13:21:51","date_gmt":"2021-10-10T13:21:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/divingcorner.com\/?p=2266"},"modified":"2021-10-10T13:21:52","modified_gmt":"2021-10-10T13:21:52","slug":"can-non-swimmers-learn-to-dive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/divingcorner.com\/can-non-swimmers-learn-to-dive\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Non-swimmers Learn To Scuba Dive?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You may be surprised how often the question, Can non-swimmers safely learn to scuba dive is asked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will find many websites that will tell you that you do not need to be able to swim to scuba dive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They point out that the BCD is like a life preserver so it does not matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are wrong. To learn how to scuba dive and to become a certified diver you must have some basic swimming skills. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will explore what these skills are and explain why they are important. Even if you are a poor swimmer, you may still already have the skills you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can non swimmers learn to scuba dive?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A non-swimmer can not safely learn how to scuba dive. To become a certified scuba diver, you need basic water skills. The minimum requirements are not very difficult, Swim 200 meters\/yards (or 300 meters\/yards in mask, fins and snorkel) without stopping and float or tread water for 10 minutes.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Basic Water Skills for Scuba Diving<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"adult <\/picture><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first certification most scuba divers get is the autonomous diver, which PADI and SSI call Open Water Diver. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This level allows you to plan your own dives and with a dive buddy dive without a dive professional supervision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To obtain this certification you have to show that you are fit to swim. The swim test has a surface swimming portion and a treading water portion. There are two options for the surface portion which is done in water too deep to stand in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • Complete a 200-meter\/200-yard swim without swimming aids. <\/li>
  • Complete a 300-meter\/300-yard swim while using a mask, snorkel, and fins.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    These two options are not timed. The other portion of the test requires you to float or tread water for 10 minutes without any aids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As you can see from the requirements, you do not have to be a great swimmer to learn how to scuba dive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Basic swimming skills and being comfortable in the water are the key elements.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Being a great swimmer may help you learn your underwater propulsion skills faster, but they will come even if you have just basic skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Learning to scuba dive is about reducing the risk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Being comfortable in the water will lead to a better dive and a dive with less stress. Stress can lead to conditions that will shorten your dive or even to make poor decisions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I have a BCD, Why Do I Need To Swim?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"scuba <\/picture><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    A Buoyancy Control Device (BCD) is a great aid to add buoyancy while on the surface, It will also make a surface swim easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Many of those you will tell you that you do not need to be able to swim to scuba dive will cite having a BCD. However, a BCD is not a cure all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There may be times when you are in the water and not have your BCD.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    One of the skills you will learn when getting your Open Water Diver certification is donning your scuba gear while in the water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There may be times when it is not practical to put all your gear on while onboard a boat. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Instead, you will inflate the BCD, lower the scuba gear into the water, then enter the water yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You then need to swim to your gear and finish donning it. It is really a simple task, but not if you can not swim.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How about after your dive? The procedures to reenter a dive boat will vary depending on the boat and water conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It is not uncommon for the procedure to have the diver remove his equipment and pass it up to a crew member onboard the boat. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You then wait your turn to climb the ladder back into the boat. This will involve treading water or floating for a while and then swimming to the entry point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here is another one that we might not to want to think about, but does often happen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What will you do if you fall overboard from a dive boat when you are not wearing your dive gear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If the boat was moving fast at the time, you may be in the water for a number of minutes before the boat can return near you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Most likely the boat will stop a short distance away to keep from hitting you and you will need to swim to it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Non-swimmers And Discover Scuba Diving<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"discover<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    You will frequently see online comments that say you can learn to scuba dive without a swim test or even showing that you can swim. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Part of the situation that is keeping these comments alive are the introduction dives found in many locations around the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Many of the training agencies have short programs that allow those who are interested in becoming a certified diver to experience it in a controlled activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    These programs go by a number of names such as resort dive, discover scuba and try scuba. Inaccurate advertising may state you can \u201cLearn to Dive\u201d with these programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    These programs are great if you want to experience scuba diving. One of the reasons they were started was many people were interested in learning to dive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    However, they did not want to make the large investment that goes with getting certified without knowing if they would like it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Trying it often provides the enthusiasm to continue to a certification course. These programs are similar to the first lessons of a scuba certification program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You will learn most of the theory of the first classroom session, practice a few of the critical task and move into a confine or shallow water session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    These dives are limited to 40 feet (ca. 12 m) and you must dive with an instructor. The program does not allow you to dive with anyone else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There is no swim test for these programs. However, the instructor will determine if you are comfortable enough in the water for it to be a safe activity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Remember this is not learning to dive and you are not certified to dive if you complete the experience.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Non-swimmer Should Learn Basic Swimming Skills.\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    If you are a non-swimmer and want to learn how to scuba dive, learn the basic swimming skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You may be surprised how soon you will be ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you would like to make any comments on this topic or have some observations about what swimming skills you feel are needed, feel free to add them below.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    You may be surprised how often the question, Can non-swimmers safely learn to scuba dive is asked. You will find<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2268,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCan Non-swimmers Learn To Scuba Dive? - DivingCorner<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"You will find many websites that will tell you that you do not need to be able to swim to scuba dive. They are wrong. 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