Swimming

Swimming available to cadets every Thursday at HMS Drake. For Free!

BASIC SWIMMING COMPETENCE CERTIFICATE

To qualify for this certificate personnel are required to demonstrate Swimming Competence as follows:

a. Swim 50 metres without rest, using any recognised single swimming stroke.
b. Remain afloat for 2 minutes in a restricted area of water, with a maximum radius of 2 metres.
c. Exit the pool at a point where the candidate is out of depth without an aid. However, in locations where there is a considerable distance between the water and poolside, as found in some service pools, some assistance may be given at the examiner’s discretion.

All elements of the demonstration are to be performed consecutively in the order shown above, in standard swimwear.

INTERMEDIATE SWIMMING COMPETENCE CERTIFICATE

To qualify for this certificate personnel are required to demonstrate Swimming Competence as follows:

a. Swim 100 metres - 50 metres of which must be on the back and 50 metres on the front using a recognised swimming stroke.
b. Surface dive to and retrieve an object from the deepest part of the pool.
c. Swim 25 metres to a casualty (conscious weak swimmer) and effect a non-contact tow over 25 metres.
d. Remain afloat for 3 minutes in a restricted area (2 metres) adopting the H.E.L.P position

All elements of the demonstration are to be performed consecutively in a t-shirt (or similar attire) and standard swimwear.

ADVANCED SWIMMING COMPETENCE CERTIFICATE

To qualify for this certificate personnel are required to demonstrate Swimming Competence as follows:

a. Enter deep water by a straddle jump.
b. Swim continuously 300 metres using recognised swimming strokes; change of strokes to take place every 100 metres.
c. Swim 20 metres to a (conscious) casualty in 20 seconds or less and effect a contact tow over 20 metres and assist the casualty to land.
d. Retrieve an object from the deepest part of the pool and upon surfacing, tow a live casualty 5 metre to safety in deep water. Effect a team lift with assistants (2) to lift the casualty onto the poolside.
e. Swim 50 metres in 60 seconds or less.

All elements of the test are to be carried out in clothing (eg. overalls or tee-shirt and trousers) without footwear, and not more than 2 minutes rest is permitted between sections