Booze, Drugs, And Diving

[kaylee_ann]

It may seem counter-intuitive, but the "lightweights" are the lucky ones. Ultimately, that's part of why I don't drink anymore.

Hm, do you mean because they can definitively tell when they’re incapable of diving? Versus someone who feels “normal”

 

[johndiver999]

For some reason I have a naturally high alcohol tolerance. Definitely not diving on it though. Aside from the physiologic factors, alcohol has a way of making you feel like you’re totally un-impaired, when that is…not the case. Even if I can function “normal”, things requiring lots of focus, reflexes and attention to detail (like driving and diving) are no-gos.

It is NOT like driving. Driving does not induce its own deleterious effects on decision making. The effects of narcosis and drugs should be assumed to be cumulative.

 

[BoundForElsewhere]

Hm, do you mean because they can definitively tell when they’re incapable of diving? Versus someone who feels “normal”

No. It is because we are cheaper dates.

 

[kaylee_ann]

It is NOT like driving. Driving does not induce its own deleterious effects on decision making. The effects of narcosis and drugs should be assumed to be cumulative.

I'm saying alcohol affects your judgment in anything. and especially for activities such as diving and driving where any mistake or missed detail could be a huge issue. I didn't mean driving induced anything, it's the alcohol, or drugs...

 

[Mike_4635]

1. Romania
2. Rwanda?

Russia

 

[SlugLife]

Hm, do you mean because they can definitively tell when they’re incapable of diving? Versus someone who feels “normal”

I was talking more about drinking itself, than diving.

It makes little sense to drink alcohol, unless it affects you in some way. A low tolerance person might get a buzz after half-a-beer, whereas a high-tolerance person (of the same weight) might have 5 beers and only really feel the urge to pee. Being high tolerance often means drinking more. Regardless of one's "tolerance" there's still a certain BAC (blood alcohol content) depending on how much one consumes.

The part I (thankfully) don't know from experience is how that interacts with diving. I've done all kinds of activities after 6 (or more) shots of vodka, but those were in relatively safe and controlled environments. However, how does having a high BAC interact with being cold, narced, loaded in scuba-equipment, and task-loaded, and then something urgent happens like my regulator starts leaking?

Perhaps something I can point to, is around the end of my drinking, I was increasingly becoming nauseous at complete random. Lots of people have thrown up in their regulators, but knowing how I typically lose control over breathing and can't really do much else when throwing up, it's not something I'd want to do underwater. I had to throw up once while swimming in a lake without any floatation nearby .... not fun, or safe.

---
I'll throw in a basic disclaimer that I'm not trying to project or lecture anyone. I started solo-diving long before any agency would recommend, but I also offset that with lots of redundancy, taking my time, and staying well within my limits.

 

[kaylee_ann]

I was talking more about drinking itself, than diving.

It makes little sense to drink alcohol, unless it affects you in some way. A low tolerance person might get a buzz after half-a-beer, whereas a high-tolerance person (of the same weight) might have 5 beers and only really feel the urge to pee. Being high tolerance often means drinking more. Regardless of one's "tolerance" there's still a certain BAC (blood alcohol content) depending on how much one consumes.

The part I (thankfully) don't know from experience is how that interacts with diving. I've done all kinds of activities after 6 (or more) shots of vodka, but those were in relatively safe and controlled environments. However, how does having a high BAC interact with being cold, narced, loaded in scuba-equipment, and task-loaded, and then something urgent happens like my regulator starts leaking?

Perhaps something I can point to, is around the end of my drinking, I was increasingly becoming nauseous at complete random. Lots of people have thrown up in their regulators, but knowing how I typically lose control over breathing and can't really do much else when throwing up, it's not something I'd want to do underwater. I had to throw up once while swimming in a lake without any floatation nearby .... not fun, or safe.

---
I'll throw in a basic disclaimer that I'm not trying to project or lecture anyone. I started solo-diving long before any agency would recommend, but I also offset that with lots of redundancy, taking my time, and staying well within my limits.

All it does is make me kinda relaxed mentally and physically tired. As for diving interactions? I have no idea, and don't want to be my own test subject.
Throwing up freaks me out above water. Underwater, I'd cry LOL.

 

[kaylee_ann]

A big reason I drink sometimes is for hanging out with friends. They bug me to get wasted with them; I'm like "okay fine" knowing it won't happen. The drinks we have aren't strong enough.
No amount of peer pressure could convince me to do something dumb while drinking though.

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

A big reason I drink sometimes is for hanging out with friends. They bug me to get wasted with them; I'm like "okay fine" knowing it won't happen. The drinks we have aren't strong enough.
No amount of peer pressure could convince me to do something dumb while drinking though.

You’re also only 21 years old. When I was that age I could drink like a fish too and not even think about it. Now at 60 my body and brain is a lot more sensitive. I used to put on a huge dive camp out party up on our coast every year. Talk about drinking beer! I was in my 40’s then and we used to really tear it up. No way I could do that now.
If I was to try and keep up that lifestyle now I’d become an old wrinkled up aching wreck. an old saucer.
I need to preserve all the braincells I still have and my liver.
So I cut back to almost nothing now.
If I had to make a choice between the two I’d drop alcohol in a second and go with diving.
I haven’t smoked weed in about 45 years, can’t stand the sh_t!

 

[kaylee_ann]

You’re also only 21 years old. When I was that age I could drink like a fish too and not even think about it. Now at 60 my body and brain is a lot more sensitive. I used to put on a huge dive camp out party up on our coast every year. Talk about drinking beer! I was in my 40’s then and we used to really tear it up. No way I could do that now.
If I was to try and keep up that lifestyle now I’d become an old wrinkled up aching wreck. an old saucer.
I need to preserve all the braincells I still have and my liver.
So I cut back to almost nothing now.
If I had to make a choice between the two I’d drop alcohol in a second and go with diving.
I haven’t smoked weed in about 45 years, can’t stand the sh_t!

Very true...can't stay young forever. Well, young at heart maybe! But the body won't follow.
I do 10-11 hour round trip drives as day trips where I'm awake for 24+ hours. Generally this is to hang out with diver friends or go diving on the Atlantic coast. Saves money on a hotel stay. I'm taking advantage while I can since many have told me that driving ability won't last...lol.