Aquanaut Pin

My son could already swim well, so this was a snap.

#1, 2, 3, 4. For #1 and #2, jump into water over your head, level off and swim 100 feet, half of it using the backstroke. We went to the Lincoln High School pool for this. Open Swim is Saturday evenings from 6-8 p.m. The price is $1.50 per child, or something reasonable. They have family and group rates, too. Check with the L.A.Y.A. office or the pool office, or Mr. Wright at the high school.

#3. Do a surface dive and swim underwater for 2 strokes. This is a lifesaving search dive used when you are already in the water close to the victim. Float belly down, jackknife at waist and dive straight down, swim down two strokes and come up.

#4. Swim 50 feet on the surface using snorkel, fins, and mask. This is neat - kids who are afraid to swim far because they can't hold their breath discover they have more power than they thought. Fins give a kick real power. Gives them the confidence to try longer swims. Swim crosswise laps at the shallow end if kids aren't strong swimmers. Bring a measuring tape - I don't remember how long or wide the pool is, and neither do the lifeguards (although I think a lane is usually 5 feet across). The pool office has snorkel, fins, and mask - or did have. Ask for them; they don't leave them lying out with the other pool toys. Or get your own cheap equipment at Meijers - kids' toys or sports section, in season.

#5. Show 3 basic water rescue mechods. See the handbook.

#6. Show how to handle a rowboat. We didn't do this. However, in season you can rent rowboats at Silver Lake State Park beach in the Pinckney Recreation Area (Silver Lake Rd. north of North Territorial Rd.), Kensington Metropark, Gallup Park in Ann Arbor, and Argo Park Livery in Ann Arbor.

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