Stair climbing exercise apparatus

An exercise apparatus for use within a body of water comprising a frame on which are formed two parallel adjacent tracks inclined from the vertical, the two tracks having a lower end and an upper end with the lower end of the parallel tracks being intended to rest on the bottom of the body of water and the upper end of the parallel tracks extending above the bottom, two steps and guide means one step per track, said steps being reciprocally movable along adjacent paths defined by said tracks, means interconnecting said two steps, upon movement of one of said steps downwardly in response to a force exerted thereon by a user of the device, the other of said steps is moved upwardly, and each of said steps having a surface disposed generally perpendicular to the direction of movements of said steps, whereby in use of said device within a body of water, the water provides resistance to movements of said steps along said direction;

• and a seating member mounted on said frame including a seat, and means for selectively positioning said seat in operative relationship with said steps, whereby, in a first position of said seat adjacent to said steps, a user seated on said seat can engage and force said steps downwardly with his feet thereby reducing the effect of the user's weight, or in a second position of said seat displaced with respect to said steps, a user in upright stance can access said steps for performing an activity akin to stair climbing.