I need good advice fast

I'll touch it, a bit: :2cents: For treading water, you can start with 30 seconds of hands out of water, 30 seconds of sculling. If you can't get hands out of water, start with hands crossed on opposite shoulders. Then gradually increase the amount of time you have hands out of water. I would try to talk to trainers, see how they got their training. But my overriding thought is that you are unaware of many career possibilities -- have you thought of being a marine biologist? -- and whereas it is excellent to pursue interests, over the next four years you will become aware of many, many other kinds of careers. (I once wanted to be a bullfighter.) Additional thoughts: the tasks call for basic things like core strength, endurance, and so on -- things that can be trained out of the pool. Good luck! VB

I am a Junior in High School and have between 2-4 years to get into the best swimming shape of my life. When I grow up I want a career of an animal trainer at Sea World San Diego. In order to do this I need to pass a swim test which requires me to tread water for 10 minutes hands out of the water. Swim an olympic size pool underwater, swim from one point of the pool to another being timed and dive 40 feet with just a bathing suit. If anyone knows of anyone who does private lessons in the Santa Barbara area please let me know. My email is Jzooboy@aol.com. Thank you for everyone who helps out. No-one else has touched this, so I'll throw in my :2cents:. It seems to me you need three coaches, one for diving (40 feet sounds like a lot!), one for under water swimming (a sychronized swimming coach would be able to teach you about this), and perhaps a water polo coach for the 10 minute tread with hands up.