OK, silly question time. I'm about to start my Divemaster course. I understand there is a module for timed swimming/stamina type swim test. Can anyone tell me what it is? Do I swim a zillion miles or something? Just curious.

cant speak for all agencies, but for PADI its: (12 points total to pass)

1: 400 yard swim with no swimming aids.
8 to 10 mins = 3 points

2: 15 minute tread
passed but hands not out of the water last 2 mins = 3 points

3: 800 yard snorkel swim (no arms)
15 to 17 mins = 3 points

4: 100 yard inert tired diver tow
3 to 4 mins = 3 points

Its not that easy of a test to pass, but it can be done but you should prepare and swim as much as you can in a local pool if you have access to one. Also if you fail one then you will need to do better on another to get the 12 points, its scored 1 to 5 and 5 being the best. 3 points is a avg score.

I wen't through that for SSI and we had to do about the same thing 300 meters at 8 min and treading water and all the like, but we were never told pts It was just pass, fail

Good question. I am beginning my Divemaster program as well. I had the same question. Best of luck.

It can also vary depending on the instructor teaching the divemaster course. The instructor who taught mine required that we did the 400 yard swim in under 8 minutes, the 800 yard snorkel swim in under 15 minutes, a 15 minute water tread with hands out of water last 5 minutes, and the tired diver tow in under 3 minutes. It was pretty hard i will say, so a bit of training wouldnt be a bad idea. Good luck!

With PADI its not up to the instructor at all. The passing points is 12 and however you manage to get them doesnt matter.. if you get a 1 in swimming and 5 in treading doesnt matter as long as you get 12 total points.

RSTONE,
Mine was done through PADI and the instructor still modified it to be stricter. He said if we didn't like it we could take a divemaster course from someone else. I respected his discretion as a very experienced instructor and feel as if I have went through one of the best DM training courses out there.

thats nice sghowe.. anyways.. the PADI instructor manual outlines the min req. if sghowe instructor made it more difficult for him.. more power to him.. the fact still remains that the rules for passing the test is 12 points. enuf said.

I am also thinking to take my divemaster course this summer. I do fitness very regularly. But I assume that I need to do some swimming training too. Do you think the training I do in land is any use?

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Originally posted by O-Z-Z-Y:
I am also thinking to take my divemaster course this summer. I do fitness very regularly. But I assume that I need to do some swimming training too. Do you think the training I do in land is any use?

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In the general sence I would have to say yes. It is always important to be fit when taking on this role. Aside from this it depends on the type of workout or exercise you do. The swimming will help no doubt for several obvious reasons that I will not go into. If your land based training is running and biking and such that helps cardio and stamina which is good to extend dive length, and thus helps you to be the last one in, and allows you to watch the others. If it is weight lifting it also helps to keep you in shape and exercise various muscles that you may use underwater but not on land much. Hope this helps