teading water

[rjwakeham@hotmail.com]

quick question...most topics about swimming at BUDs revolves around the CSS...i was wondering how important treading water is during SEAL training. You see, i can swim good but i have some trouble treading water. Stew Smith recomends learing the egg beater.

[sharkman6]

Let me start by saying I was never a SEAL. I do, however, hold several professional ratings related to diving. In my experience, proficiency in treading water is very helpful in avoiding death by drowning. As part of my training, I had to demonstrate that I could tread water for 15 minutes, the last four of which had to be with my hands out of the water. I varied with full arm and leg movement (eggbeater?), dead man's float (take a breath, plant your face in the water for several seconds, exhale, full breath, face plant...). Since full lungs equal increased bouyancy, you can also reduce your physical effort by not fully exhaling and controling your breathing.

I hope this is useful.

[rjwakeham@hotmail.com]

Thanks, those training exercises sound similar to what i've heard you do at BUDs...i know that you tread both with fins and without. i have talked to a SEAL mentor and he said i sound like a good canidate for the SEAL program and that he can help me with swimming-but, i don't feel comfortable joining without being able to tread good.

[AEDaniel]

Here goes a link demonstrating the eggbeater
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWV4GHp03gA

[SRMoore]

once you have gotten the eggbeater technique down some good strength training for it would be:
hands out. Hands on head. arms straight out. swim three strokes and then stop and get your hips under you to reach as far out of the water as you can.

I'm not sure how much treading we will be doing at BUD/S though since i hear that you basically always have flippers when you are in the water. In my mind if they don't do many drills with it at BUD/S than they need to start. like sharkman said, it is a vital tool for staying afloat.

[sharkman6]

Thanks, those training exercises sound similar to what i've heard you do at BUDs...i know that you tread both with fins and without. i have talked to a SEAL mentor and he said i sound like a good canidate for the SEAL program and that he can help me with swimming-but, i don't feel comfortable joining without being able to tread good.

I do not mean this as an insult, but is sounds as though much of your challenge might be in your head (I believe that is the source of most challenges in life). Make up your mind to do it, and you will do it. Stop psyching yourself out!

[SRMoore]

I completely agree. That is one part that you can't get psyched out about. I met a guy at the last PST i took that dropped out from treading with his mask full. I also know someone who is putting everything on the line for his SEAL contract and he hasnt swam before this. I've worked with him and he's gotten it down to 9:22 and we all know how to tread. all of these challenges, mental or physical, will take you at the most about 2 days to figure out and get past. Do some research and get over them but dont hesitate to join and do the damn thing.

[Divefarer88]

You will be tested on your ability to tread water in boot camp during the swim test. In BUD/s it will be neccessary to tread water efficiently for various drills because at NO TIME while you are being given instructions during pool work, will you be permitted to touch the side of the pool. So you will need to be able to tread just in order to get instructions and communicate with the instructors who are standing poolside watching you. I dont recall ever being tested SPECIFICALLY on treading but it is a VITAL skill.

[SRMoore]

how long are you generally in the pool for treading?

[beaudob]

After one of our conditioning swims the instructors had us treading water in the deep end of the CTT and threw all our gear into the water and wouldn't let us out of the water until we had ON all of our own stuff. After I think it was 30 min. and we were unsuccessful they let us get out. This was the 3rd week of Indoc I believe. When you're forced to do it you'll do it but best to get your technique down now using whatever method most comfortable to you.