Percent Underwater

A look at how TritonWear measures Percent Underwater, what is considered good vs bad, and how to improve it.

What is Percent Underwater? 

This is, as it sounds, the percentage of time spent underwater vs above water during a length. 

How is it measured? 

This is a derived metric calculated by dividing the time underwater by the total time for the lap. 

What is a good Percent Underwater? 

In isolation, a higher Percent Underwater sounds ideal; however, this depends entirely on the swimmer's strengths. Higher is better if they are fast and powerful underwater; however, if they have limited power underwater, a lower percentage will be beneficial until other skills are perfected. 

How to Improve Percent Underwater? 

Improving Percent Underwater is a culmination of improving other underwater skills and metrics. It's important to note that underwater work has to be done with safety measures in place to avoid shallow water blackouts

  1. Never swim alone, and never ignore your urge to breathe while underwater
  2. A certified lifeguard should be on duty when you are in the water
  3. Do not attempt long or repetitive underwater swims
  4. Only perform underwater activities with the proper supervision of a certified coach
  5. Never compete with other swimmers to see who can swim the furthest underwater
  6. Never hyperventilate before starting and underwater swim or kick