Duck n Dive said:
OK, I'd be interested. How good a swimmer do you have to be?
:yo:
Depends on the people taking the course, some places check that you can swim a certain distance, usually a width. But it really doesn't matter as you have a BCD on (The waistcoat thing that you fill with air) and that keeps you afloat on the surface.
Diving and what you're going to do is something you either love or hate and you won't know til you try it.
What you will probably do on the day is learn how everything works (basically), then get used to breathing underwater, then have a swim about. They may get you to try a few skills. Things that you will do on the full course, for example, taking the mouthpiece out underwater and putting it back in and then clearing it of water. The hardest one (for most) and the one that usually tells you and the instructor whether you'll be ok on a course is removing your mask underwater and then putting it back on and clearing it of water. They may not ask you to do that though, so don't panic!
If anyone does go on to do the course (and if it's a PADI course) let me know, I've got a load of training material, may be able to copy it and save you some money.
Have fun folks, it really is a brilliant feeling, floating weightless underwater. I envy you that first experience.
Hope that helps?
Jon