Absolutely, if swimming is your weak area then you should definitely work on it more. My private facebook group for clients is a really great resource for help too. There is a lot of great swimming advice on there. You could read the book Total Immersion or even hire a swim coach. It's just important to try and get all the distances in. I would even recommend if the swimming is what you struggle with that you spend even more time in the pool and gaining that confidence, water is a crucial part of being a PJ.

There is not really anything that can actually replace the pool but I usually recommend that people use either the row, jacobs ladder, or versa-climber machines as a substitute since they are low impact and full body workouts.

There are lots of guys who went through with contacts. The instructors don't mandate whether you do or don't wear contacts in the pool but it doesn't really work well if you don't use daily contacts anyway. I would recommend practicing swimming without contacts if possible.

The biggest advice I have for you with breathing is to not focus on breathing. Focus on your stroke in the water and making a smooth glide in the water and push off the wall, the breathing will take care of itself.

Something that really helped me get faster in the water was using a kick board and alternating with hand paddles. It helps to really strengthen your stroke/kick.

Fins if you are in the ocean for sure.

As long as you are able to swim 100m at a time then that is fine. All I ask is that you complete the distance or reps however long it takes you. It is part of building resilience. I know you can get to that point in less than a month if you are willing to spend the time in the pool.

Currently I have two programs, one for those who can pass the PAST and one for those who need to start out a little slower. If you can pass the PAST, my GET SELECTED program has underwaters and other watercon.

If you need help passing the PAST, choose this program.

If you are a little more advanced and you can pass the PAST, choose this program.

Yes, you get one kick off the wall either at the beginning or half way depending on which pool you’re at.

One thing that helped me was alternating with hand paddles and fins. It really helps you feel what movements will help you propel yourself in the water. Also a big thing people miss is working on reducing your time on the wall during turns.

The best way to practice is to do them. You can do some push-ups on the side of the pool till you get tired, then  dive in, do your under water and do the same thing try to monitor you interval and see how you do. I wouldn't do anything less than a 1 min interval. DO NOT DO THIS ALONE. Only practice these types of events with a buddy/lifeguard who is actively watching you and prepared to get you out and perform CPR.

Find someone who is good at swimming and ask them to teach you, or hire a coach. Swimming is all about technique. Total immersion is a great resource.

You can’t really replicate pool workouts, but I would use a row machine or the versa climber/Jacobs ladder. Just something that is low impact and uses upper and lower body.

It will work, as long as you can practice swimming, treading, and underwaters. I would recommend looking up the total immersion swimming course.

When you have fins on you will do the Combat recovery stroke or lead arm trail arm swim. Without fins on, you will do freestyle unless you’re dragging a buddy or swimming underwater.

For selection it will be both, for dive school it's a 12ft pool.

If you push off the bottom of the pool harder, it causes you to come out of the water more, which will help you sink faster since you will have more momentum than just a dead pause at the top.