Is Swimming Required For Scuba Diving?

by Kim Treece
(Derby, UK)

Hi,

I would like to know if you have to be able to swim to go scuba diving?

Hi Kim,

Thanks for the question. And the short answer is yes - you must be able to swim to go scuba diving. One of the requirements to receive your scuba certification is passing a swimming test.

For example, for PADI (one of the major dive certification agencies) one of the requirements to receive your open water certification is to pass a swim test. In this test your are required to swim 200 yards.

However, you can use any stroke you want and there is no time limit on how long it takes. You also have to be able to tread water or float for 10 minutes. Again, you can use any methods you want.

Hope this helps. For more information on what is required to be able to scuba dive, see our page on scuba diving certification.

Thanks for the question. Let us know how it goes if you decide to go scuba diving.

Dianne