General
Open Water Skills
You've
been simulating the right habits during
your confined water cl ives, Lt' here
are a few reminders:
1. Swirn with your BCD about tzalli
Pull so you wont LA4 08 struggle to
stay at the surface. Don't over inflate
your BCD, though because it creates
unnecessary drag,
2.
Pace yourself. Swim at a steady, comfortable
pace. Surface swimming tires you more
than swimming underwater, so don't try
to go as fast.
3.
Streamline yourself as much as possible.
Keep your arms at your sides.
4.
Use your snorkel, breathing cautiously
to avoid choking on water that may enter
the snorkel due to small waves.
5.
Keep your fins below the surface when
kicking. You may wish to swim on your
side or back if conditions allow.
6.
Check your location, direction and your
buddy every 30 seconds or so. Stay close
to your buddy, maintaining physical
contact if necessary. Use something
on shore, or an anchored boat. for orientation.
D on't wait until you reach the bottom.
Add small amounts of air as you descend
so you reach the bottom neutrally buoyant.
This minimizes kicking and stirring
up the bottom.
For
control and reference, it's a good practice
to use a line during descents, or follow
the bottom contour. If you descend along
the anchor line of a boat. hold the
line at arm's length so it won't. strike
you as the boat pitches up and down
in the waves. Let your arm swing up
and down with the line like a shock
absorber so it doesn't jerk you up and
down.
You
want to descend steadily minimal effort,
while maintaining neutral buovancv so
can stop your descent at any time. Maintain
buddy contact and oriented so you have
Your sense of direction when voive reach
thcehottom don't wait until you reach
the bottom. Add small amounts of air
as you descend so you reach the bottom
neutrally buoyant. This minimizes kicking
and stirring up the bottom.
