Alcohol and diving

[TMHeimer]

A couple of beers on the boat after dives are over seems OK-the instructors do it. Never anything before a dive--same rule for me with my clarinet playing--don't care what they say about a beer helping you play better jazz. Of course, if it's at a party with freinds and I'm not getting paid, that's another story.

 

[tomboyy]

Sounds to me like you have a drinking problem. Drinking and diving do not mix and if you have to ask, you definately have a problem. If you'd like to PM me i can try to get you some help.

Now.. that being said, I can tell you that I'm just kidding. Beer is, after all, liquid bread. It's good for you... in moderation. What the previous posters stated is reasonable. Just use your common sense.

 

[TSandM]

As Diver0001 pointed out, alcohol is a diuretic, and a pretty powerful one. If you drink beer on a daily basis, two things are likely. One, you are probably chronically free water depleted, and two, you are probably not in excellent physical condition.

If you stop alcohol consumption and begin to hydrate actively 24 hours before you dive, it is likely you will be able to replete all your free water losses. But the fitness and weight issues that go with regular beer consumption are harder to solve.

 

[ONESPEED]

Hello,

I am new to diving i am in the middle of getting my open water cert. its been something i have wanted to do for years and haven't. But anyway my question is i do Drink alot of beer. And i understand that You deffinatly dont drink and dive that is common sense. But if i dont drink the day before a dive and drink plenty of liquids is this enough? I dont want to hurt myself or put anyone else at danger. Thanks for any input.

Want to clean that post up when you're sober?

 

[Garrobo]

Forget the drunk diving. It's the hangover that really screws up your dive day.

 

[Gene_Hobbs]

The topic of alcohol and DCS is a good one, you might also find these interesting...

Leigh, B.C., & Dunford, R.G. Alcohol use in scuba divers treated for diving injuries: A comparison of decompression sickness and arterial gas embolism. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 2005, 29 (Suppl.), 157A. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, Santa Barbara, California, June 2005. (pdf here)http://depts.washington.edu/adai/pubs/pres/LeighRSAPoster.pdf

Trevett, AJ; Forbes, RF; Rae, CK; Sheehan, C. DOES ALCOHOL INTAKE ON THE PRECEDING NIGHT PREDISPOSE TO DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS IN RECREATIONAL DIVERS IN ORKNEY WATERS? 2003 UHMS Annual Meeting abstract. RRR ID: 1335

 

[TSandM]

Oh, Gene, we're having SO much fun batting answers around without information, and here you come with the real data. Spoilsport

 

[SparticleBrane]

Just when I was about to search Rubicon for info on alcohol and diving I see that Gene beat me to the punch...

 

[wausman]

obviously you people cannot read. I explained in the post that I was not going to be drinking the night before and all but 1 person just keeps talking about going hung over or drinking. Never mind I think I got my answer.

 

[HateCheese]

A few people replied but went off on to discuss what they wanted. Happens a bit on this board, but there are a lot of people who are knowledgeable and post responses.

But if i dont drink the day before a dive and drink plenty of liquids is this enough?

The answer to your question is YES.

You've already identified the 2 big issues - dehydration and decreased mental capabilities. If you aren't drunk, and aren't dehydrated, these are non-issues.

Personally, I limit what I drink (or dont drink) the night before diving. Then I jam up on water that night, the following morning, etc. So, kind of like how you described it, I drink and get rehydrated.