The NAUI Requirement for Underwater Swim (and How To Do It)

underwater swimmer NAUI requires all open water scuba divers to perform a 50 feet (16.67 yards) underwater swim on one breath with no push off from the wall.¹ NAUI also requires skin diver instructor candidates toperform a 25 yard swim underwater on one breath with no dive or push off from the wall.²
As a NAUI instructor you have the leeway to enhance courses you teach. Where I teach at Scuba Steve’s Aquatic Adventures ( http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=121881663788) we also require the Divemaster candidates (who are striving for the highest NAUI leadership-level certification below Instructor) to perform a 25 yard swim underwater on one breath with no dive or push off from the wall.

So why is it important to be able to swim underwater while holding your breath? I think we all can think of several reasons. Some of them would include comfort underwater without scuba, more comfort when skin diving and while snorkeling. There is also the added benefit of preparing the diver in the event of an out of air emergency while on scuba. Granted, the diver will not hold their breath while doing an emergency swimming ascent, but the diver does become accustomed to not breathing while underwater.

The first time swimming the length of the pool underwater can be a daunting task. It is uncomfortable and you think you are going to die or drown. Here I will insert a WORD OF CAUTION.

Any breath hold training must be done with supervision. The supervisor must be aware of the inherent dangers of breath hold diving. All breath hold diving Should Not be done with hyperventilation due to the risk of shallow water blackout. Strict attention must be payed to the diver while swimming underwater.

Underwater swimming while holding your breath is easy, say for ten seconds. Almost anyone healthy can hold their breath for thirty seconds. It is when you hold your breath and begin exertion that the problem arises. It is exactly that, a rise in the level of  CO₂(carbon dioxide) in your blood stream that triggers the desire to breath. Your bodies sensors are very sensitive to change in the levels of CO₂. These sensors are called carotid bodies.

The good news is that like many things associated with your body, you can train it. Training your body to gradually accept greater levels of CO₂ takes practice.  Ideally this will be done in the water with supervision. In addition to training your body you must train your mind. As a reader here on Scuba Jedi, certainly you will understand the need to train your mind! I will not delve to deeply here but instead will say that you must calm your mind and your body. Excitement stimulates your heart to beat faster.

If your heart beats faster, then your body uses more oxygen. If your body uses more oxygen it in turn produces more carbon dioxide. When CO₂ reaches that critical value, you have a incredible urge to breath.

So four steps to help enable you to successfully swim 25 yards underwater in one breath include:

1.  Supervised practice
2.  Gradual increase in time underwater
3.  Calm mind and calm body
4.  No Hyperventilation!

Let us not forget neutral buoyancy. If you float or are wearing thermal protection you will need to offset this with a minimal amount of weight. Another consideration when swimming underwater is streamlining and remaining hydrodynamic. Stretch out and remain level while swimming and do not forget to glide!

Swimming underwater while holding your breath is exciting, especially if you can see that you are making progress in your distance. If you follow the simple steps outlined you will be touching the wall at 25 yards in no time!

Dean Pennington II

NAUI Instructor Trainer

8 November 2009

¹NAUI Standards and Policies Manual (Tampa, Florida: NAUI, 1996), page 2.27.
²NAUI Standards and Policies Manual (Tampa, Florida: NAUI, 1996), page 2.73.

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