Am I fit for scuba diving ?

[itrvlr]

I would like to book scuba diving lessons at a resort I'll be vacationing at. But before booking them, I would like to find out if I am fit for diving. Unfortunately, I could not find any online form that would tell me that. So here is my input data, may be you could tell me if I am fit or not.

1. My goal is to dive at 3-5 meters (10-15 feet) depth, I don't need more.

2. Open water test: I cannot swim 200m at the surface, but I can swim 300m with a snorkel and fins.

3. I am a 49yo male, with slightly elevated blood pressure that is fully controlled by 5mg of Lisinopril (I suspect that I don't need it any more). I have 2.5 dioptries nearsightedness. No other known chronic conditions.

4. My cholesterol is borderline to slightly elevated, but recent blood vessel calcium scoring was very good.

5. Recent treadmill echo cardiogram was normal.

6. My overall physical fitness level is probably below average for my age, though it is hard to estimate. For example, I can hike 5 miles with altitude gain of 3000 feet in both directions (10 miles) in less than 5 hours.

So am I fit for scuba diving, or not ?

 

[DevonDiver]

Please consult this document. It is for PADI, but very similar for any agency...

PADI Medical Statement and Guidelines for Recreational Scuba Diver’s Physical Examination

You answer the statement yes/no. If any answers are 'yes', then you take the form to your physician for their examination and approval for diving.

No member of Scubaboard is likely to give you such approval remotely via an internet chat form... very few of us (non-physicians) are even qualified to do so.

 

[itrvlr]

Thanks. Does it make sense if I'll be happy with 4-5m depth, or, in this case, I don't even need scuba diving, and should stay with snorkeling ?

 

[Lorenzoid]

What DevonDiver said.

But you don't sound much different than many of us our age. And if you can hike 10 miles, you can teach yourself to swim 200m. Like anything else, it takes practice--start low and build up the distance. Starting to swim laps in a pool may even help improve your overall fitness.

 

[rongoodman]

What is it that you're worried about? Swimming ability, general fitness, risk of a cardiac event during the dive? No particular thing on your list stands out, but you must have some concerns to have brought it up.

 

[RJP]

1. My goal is to dive at 3-5 meters (10-15 feet) depth, I don't need more.

Why only that shallow?

For example, I can hike 5 miles with altitude gain of 3000 feet in both directions...

Where is that trail? M.C. Escher State Park?

 

[alan_lee]

The best thing to do is to consult a physician, especially if you have any medical concerns. A moderately elevated blood pressure shouldn't be a problem. The swim test is not only used as a guide to gauge if the diver has some form of fitness, it's also to test the student's comfort with water. Getting fitter is always a good thing, besides the obvious health reasons. You would have to be able to carry a full tank of air on your back with weights on your belt, whether it's getting up the ladder onto the boat, or entering or exiting the water from the shore. Plus you would need to be able to handle the stress of currents, and the fatigue of fighting currents may contribute to elevated stress levels and will also increase air consumption.

 

[The Chairman]

I am not a medical doctor and I don't play one on the internet. Diving certifications are good for going as deep as 60 feet. If you can make it to 10, then 60 should be no problem. FWIW, I see a lot of people not even close to being in the same shape you are in dive on a regular basis.

However, if I can make a suggesting: work on your swimming. It makes no sense to put yourself in a situation where you don't feel comfortable and swimming lots of laps will help you gain confidence. You don't have to beat Mark Spitz: slow is OK. I can promise that it will enhance your Scuba lessons when you take them.

 

[itrvlr]

Thanks guys ! Somehow, I doubt I ever will be able to swim 200m on the surface (don't know why, may be my buoyancy is not good, but I just can't). But I am very comfortable swimming with a snorkel, mask, and fins, for 300m; I thought that the open water test states that this is enough ?

A friend of mine tried to learn diving, and, according to him, the deeper you are, the more uncomfortable it feels. He managed 30ft, but diving to 60ft ended in an some kind of accident (I'll ask him what exactly happened that discouraged him from scuba diving for life. So I figured out that I'll be happy with 10-15ft, there are plenty of reefs at that depth. Does it make sense ?

 

[Token]

If you are okay with snorkeling and swimming generally, you should be fine for scuba, and I say that as a 'mature diver' who's not in the greatest shape. The toughest work with scuba diving is lugging your gear onto the boat/shore and getting into the water [and out].

I don't know why your friend found himself uncomfortable at 30 and 60 feet...one of the things tyro divers have to be especially careful of is not unknowingly going too deep, and as long as your gear and equalization is working properly, it's no challenge at all to dive to recreational limits [and beyond, if you're a doofus].