I CANT FLOAT AND SWIM LIKE A ROCK AS I CALL IT I CAN SWING ARMS AND KICK LEGS ENOUGH TO MOVE AND I GOT CERTIFIED LAST SUMMER. IF YOU LIKE TO BE UNDERWATER DO IT.
Not a dumb question at all...theres not a lot of "swimming" as u would think thats involved, but i would suggest that you feel comfortable enough with whatever "swimming" ability you do have, in case the need arise where you do have to swim......i.e "EMERGENCIES"
I would say the answer is no! You need to be comfortable in the water to dive. If you are not comfortable you will breath heavier and use your air faster. You won't enjoy it as much and neither will anyone you dive with. Scuba diving is a dangerous sport. Your ability to be comfortable and calm in the water is a key factor in being safe while diving, and handling emergancy situations that may arise. However scuba is amazing and anyone can learn to swim. You first learn to swim and then learn to dive. See you in the water.
You have to swim a little to get certified but you definitely don't have to swim well. I think you have to be able to tread water for 10-minutes and swim any stroke for 200 yards.
Sounds like "riders_rough" is right on on there reply... Checkout the Dive Buddy website! It's kinda like myspace but for scuba divers. There are really cool pictures & cool people to meet & best of all it's free to join and you don't have to be a diver yet! just type in divebuddy.com
Look me up if you ever get a chance to check it out with my member number 7063
Have a good BC and life insurance policy! If your gonna put enough effort in to learn how to scuba dive, spend some time becoming at least an adequate swimmer. Not a dumb question as there are some divers who honestly are "marginal" swimmers.