Introduction

Members of Arnewood Divers are subject to a basic swimming and diving skills test every year in order to ensure that they maintain minimum levels of basic fitness and can perform an in-water diver rescue. These 2 practical pool-based tests must be completed annually (normally at separate sessions during the winter training period) and to the satisfaction of the Training Officer/Diving Officer before any member will be permitted to participate in open-water club diving activities. Once these tests are completed and the diver has submitted a new annual medical form, then the SAA club membership and insurance card will be issued. The format and content of both tests are described below.

Swimming A-Test

The ‘A’ test is a continuous stream of swimming activity completed in the order below.

1. Swim 240m (10@25m lengths) of the pool using either breast stroke or front crawl for 5 lengths and either a back stroke or sculling stroke for a further 5 lengths. (or stokes can be alternated if preferred).

2.  Float on your back for 3 minutes

3.  Tread water for 1 minute

4.  Tread water for 1 minute with forearms raised out of the water

5.  Start to swim a length breast stroke then ‘Duck dive’ and swim 10m underwater. On surfacing complete the remainder of the length on the surface. Turn without stopping and swim back 10m, ‘Duck dive’ again and complete a further 10m under water.

6.  Retrieve a weighted object from the bottom of the pool at a minimum depth of 1.3m. Repeat this 6 times pausing only to return said object to the instructor.

Complete the above within a reasonable period of time (normally some 30-45 minutes).  Any club member may supervise and assess this test, subject to the prior agreement of the Training Officer