Hi, i took the FII lvl II course and desperately want to go through the stuff we learned before the spearfishing season kicks in to full effect up here. I want to do wet statics, but can't find a venue to do them. I've called all the pools within a reasonable area and offered nearly ridiculous circumstances to them to use their facilities for a couple hours. I'm in a tight bind here and just looking for some ideas on where else i can try? Or maybe some magic words to get these places to allow my friends and I to train?
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Where to train 'wet' static
- Thread starterpatbrassil
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
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Well - I think first you'd have to go meet them. The easiest route would be to find a pool that is already booked for some time for scuba diving and share some of that time (eg you can pay for 1 lane of the pool etc).
You'd still have to explain what you'd be doing and get permission but if the pool is booked for diving for that hour anyway and closed to the public, it'll be much easier to convince.
The other part of course is to convince them that you know what you are doing, know what to do in an emergency, that you are insured for what you will be doing and that you won't be relying on their lifeguards - you'll probably have to sign something to this effect.
You can ask FII if you are insured automatically if you are a member and what the terms are (with AIDA/BFA in the UK for example, this is the case as far as I know).
You'd still have to explain what you'd be doing and get permission but if the pool is booked for diving for that hour anyway and closed to the public, it'll be much easier to convince.
The other part of course is to convince them that you know what you are doing, know what to do in an emergency, that you are insured for what you will be doing and that you won't be relying on their lifeguards - you'll probably have to sign something to this effect.
You can ask FII if you are insured automatically if you are a member and what the terms are (with AIDA/BFA in the UK for example, this is the case as far as I know).
Maybe consider getting a gym membership at one with a pool. If you are a member theyll let you do what ever you want so long as it dosent risk damage to the pool.
If you want to train for spearfishing, in my opinion you would get more benefit out of dynamic training. If you train dynamic your static performance will improve on its own and you can easily work with a training buddy at many pools during their lap swim hours.
Ok so, I am a member at the local YMCA and my college has a pool that i am a member of. Both of which have clearly defined rules along the lines of 'no breath holding activities permitted.' I am lifeguard certified, work as an EMT and have my FII lvl II course. No pool manager will consider us. The most logical of a response was something along the lines of 'no, we have training in shallow water blackout' and when prompted the refused to name an organization or program that taught about shallow water blackout.
By all means if someone has a pool near me i'd give it a try, but i think i'm looking for an outside of the box idea for this one. In the past wet statics made for a huge difference and i would like to utilize them again
By all means if someone has a pool near me i'd give it a try, but i think i'm looking for an outside of the box idea for this one. In the past wet statics made for a huge difference and i would like to utilize them again
We train statics in a kid pool, which is at most public pools here. It is much more comfortable and safer for STA training anyway than training directly in the swimming pool. Additionally, the water temperature is higher, hence you do not get cold as easily as in the big pool. Thes kid pools are empty most of the time in the evening hours, so the pool management is glad to rent it, and do not ask much money for it. Their only condition is that the safety is properly assured. In our case, we have a dedicated life guard, and additionally there is also the instructor who supervises the training and who is certified by the state.
We rent the kid pool 4 hours a week, and in comparison with the cost of the lanes we rent in the pool, it is a real bargain. The cost of the life guard is in fact higher.
When discussing with the pool managment you have to show clear documentation and plans for assuring the safety, have documented all safety procedures, have a dedicated life guard, oxygen & CPR equipment present near the pool. You have to include the description of redundant layers of safety, the description of handling of typical freediving accidents, etc. You do not forget to include regular safety drills and accident simulation (including a mocked evacuation). When you show good knowledge and preparedness, you have much higher chance to get the clearance from the manager.
In the case of our club, we have multiple rendundant levels of supervision:
1) Buddy system - we "click" each other to verify the responsivness even during easy breath-hold
2) Harder attempts are made in alternace in pairs - buddy stays on the surface and checks the one underwater regularly, pulling him out when he fails to reply the click
3) The instructor who has certification for CPR and apnea safety stays out of the water and assures the safety from outside, and takes care that everyone follows correctly the buddy system
4) The life guard sits directly near us, and has no other taks than our direct and uniterrupted supervision
5) We do regular drills of accident simulation, so that we assure we can handle a real one properly
We rent the kid pool 4 hours a week, and in comparison with the cost of the lanes we rent in the pool, it is a real bargain. The cost of the life guard is in fact higher.
When discussing with the pool managment you have to show clear documentation and plans for assuring the safety, have documented all safety procedures, have a dedicated life guard, oxygen & CPR equipment present near the pool. You have to include the description of redundant layers of safety, the description of handling of typical freediving accidents, etc. You do not forget to include regular safety drills and accident simulation (including a mocked evacuation). When you show good knowledge and preparedness, you have much higher chance to get the clearance from the manager.
In the case of our club, we have multiple rendundant levels of supervision:
1) Buddy system - we "click" each other to verify the responsivness even during easy breath-hold
2) Harder attempts are made in alternace in pairs - buddy stays on the surface and checks the one underwater regularly, pulling him out when he fails to reply the click
3) The instructor who has certification for CPR and apnea safety stays out of the water and assures the safety from outside, and takes care that everyone follows correctly the buddy system
4) The life guard sits directly near us, and has no other taks than our direct and uniterrupted supervision
5) We do regular drills of accident simulation, so that we assure we can handle a real one properly
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Seriuosly Have you looked into a gym like an LA fitness? I had a membership with them for a while and told them the only reason im getting a membership is to use the pool for freedive training and they thought it was cool and couldnt care less. I was dumb enough then to train alone and still had no issues.
There's really nothing like that in my area. YMCA is the closest resemblance and i got an 'absolutely no' from them. I'm pretty much giving up at this point. The only chance i have is that, being on the local fire department dive team, on the next certification dive my captain might be able to get us in under the table for a bit.
I'm just really fed up with pool managers, i have about every certification a pool could want (EMT, Lifegaurd, FII lvl II, PADI advanced open water, etc.) and was willing to sign any (reasonable) waiver. I wanted to use a kiddie pool for 2-3 hours tops; with all certified divers. (all FII (or PFI) at least lvl 1 as well as various other certification.I'm currently i'm writing complaint letters to people within the organizations that own the pools because apparently no amount of bargaining will amount to anything.
In all seriousness i would really like to hear some ideas for wet statics w/o access to a pool. The ocean here is still about 55F, making it a little tough to stay warm enough to do statics. Thanks for any help
I'm just really fed up with pool managers, i have about every certification a pool could want (EMT, Lifegaurd, FII lvl II, PADI advanced open water, etc.) and was willing to sign any (reasonable) waiver. I wanted to use a kiddie pool for 2-3 hours tops; with all certified divers. (all FII (or PFI) at least lvl 1 as well as various other certification.I'm currently i'm writing complaint letters to people within the organizations that own the pools because apparently no amount of bargaining will amount to anything.
In all seriousness i would really like to hear some ideas for wet statics w/o access to a pool. The ocean here is still about 55F, making it a little tough to stay warm enough to do statics. Thanks for any help
Ok patbrassil then heres two ideas... Buy a blow up little above ground pool or just do your wet statics in the living room with your face in a cooler filled with water.