⇦ Return to Skills List
Skill Review ⇩

Underwater Swim (UW)

INTRODUCTION

Underwater Swim develops the ability to travel while fully submerged, specifically focusing on propulsion, navigation, and buoyancy control. It is characterized by submerging and propelling to a designated turn location, surfacing and turning, and then resubmerging and propelling to a designated finish location. Becoming proficient with the Underwater Swim skill develops Underwater Competency, Breath Control Competency, and Risk Competency, as well as Orientation Competency and Propulsion Competency.

Underwater skills allow the full breadth of aquatic environments to be explored, and have many safety applications, such as ducking under an oncoming wave or navigating the confines of a sinking boat. Underwater skills also play a crucial role in finding and returning to the surface after an unexpected entry, which can place an individual in virtually any position and facing any direction. Underwater Swim is an opportunity for students to become familiar with propulsion while the limbs are fully submerged, and become more comfortable with breath control and buoyancy control.

When first learning to propel underwater, individuals should use the arm and leg actions that feel the most natural while they develop the breath control and buoyancy control to remain fully submerged. Learning to cope with the additional factors presented by full immersion, such as drag resistance, the pressure from depth, and reduced visibility should also be an early focus. As individuals become more comfortable underwater, it is vitally important to discuss the risks of hyperventilation and shallow water blackout. Individuals should not be encouraged to increase how long they can hold their breath by hyperventilating or by using similar breathing techniques. As proficiency with propelling underwater increases, the focus can shift toward developing spatial awareness and the ability to navigate. Additionally, different types of arm and leg actions can be explored for use in more specialized situations. For example, the use of an alternating arm stroke to keep one hand forward and protecting the head in low visibility situations.

The Underwater Swim skill is defined as the following:

Body

  • Both arms and legs used continuously to swim underwater

  • Eyes remain open under surface

Skill sequence

  1. Submerge and swim underwater to turn location

  2. Return to surface

  3. Locate and turn toward finish location; turn may be performed while returning to surface, while on surface, and/or while re-submerging

  4. Re-submerge and swim underwater to finish location

  5. Return to surface

Breathing

  • Breathing controlled or breath held

Underwater Swim Demonstration

Test course

  • This test uses an out-and-back course.

  • Submerge and swim underwater 5 yards to the designated turn location.

  • Return to surface, turn around, and orient to the start/finish location.

  • Re-submerge and swim underwater 5 yards back to the start/finish location.

  • Return to the surface.

Scoring

The following scoring rubric lists the gradients of key requirements and deficiencies that provide an overall description of different competence levels.

A single score of 1 - 4 is assigned based on the instructor’s judgment of the student’s performance.

✔

1

Exhibits any of the following:

✖ Swims underwater without surfacing for less than 3 yards

2

Performs all of the following:

✔ Swims underwater without surfacing for at least 3 yards

Exhibits any of the following:

✖ Did not swim toward, or did not make it to, either the turn or finish location

✖ Does not complete the turn or needs physical assistance to turn

3

Performs all of the following:

✔ Swims underwater without surfacing for at least 5 yards to the turn or finish location

✔ Turns toward the finish location without physical assistance

Exhibits any of the following:

✖ Surfaces during one (not both) underwater swim

✖ Swims underwater to only one of the turn or finish locations

✖ Does not surface at the turn location

✖ Needs verbal assistance to locate the finish location

✖ Keeps eyes closed while under the surface

✖ Uses the pool bottom to turn or to surface

✖ Uses only arms or only legs to swim underwater

4

Performs all of the following:

✔ Swims underwater without surfacing for 5 yards to both the turn and finish locations

✔ Surfaces at the turn location

✔ Turns toward the finish location without physical or verbal assistance

✔ Swims and turns without using the pool bottom

✔ Uses both arms and legs to swim underwater

✔ Opens eyes underwater to visually locate turn and finish locations

Review This Skill

< Return to Skills List