Can only dive 50ft, is it worth it?

[Dr Dog]

I would be very disappointed in you if you did not try and fulfill your dream to dive. I decided at 39 I decided to try and I am now 40 and certified with 15 dives already, I expect another 50 this summer fall.

Life is short, I don't have to tell you that, gotta live your dreams

The best thing about 50 ft dives, is that you do not have to worry about all the things that deep divers do, just keep breathing and equalizing and let the underwater world amaze you

Good luck man, keep us updated

 

[Paladin]

Fortunate is, possibly, running the risk of a collapsed lung at 50? I'd want a second opinion from a hyperbaracist.

So how does one collapse a lung when the pressure is the same inside and outside? I can see it if the OP is freediving but on SCUBA the pressures are equalized for any given depth. Of course the OP needs to consult a more knowledgeable medical professional. My remark was in response to the statement that any limitation at all would preclude inclusion in a class.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

So how does one collapse a lung when the pressure is the same inside and outside?

Collapsed lungs happen all the time at 1 ata. Pneuomothorax or hemothorax can cause it.
Trauma can cause a communication through the chest wall which allows air to enter the intrapleural space. This collapses the lung.
If blood enters and pools in the intrapleural space for whatever reason, it will cause the lung to collapse.
A spontaneous pneumothorax (with no physical damage to the outer chest wall) can also allow air entry into the intrapleural space.

Since the OP mentioned that 3 of his ribs on the left side are made of titanium, I would say that the mechanism of injury was very likely trauma.

 

[Thalassamania]

My understanding, which is likely inadequate, is that any negative pressure breathing, even just a tiny amount, makes the odds of suffering a pneumothorax much, much greater.

 

[Nick Briseno]

Yes it was trauma. I fell 86feet. Breaking pelvis in 5, 6ribs in 23, losing one, losing 20% of my left lung, tailbone in half and left shoulder in two, bleeding out 100% and flatlining. That was a year ago and i'm all healthy now so i really wanna dive. Straight from school i had to come to work for a seminar and havent been able to contact dan to find a doctor to actually talk to about my situation. Im gonna try to call tomorrow and from what i have been reading theres actually alot I can do at 50feet that I had no idea about. I'm really excited to pursue this now.

 

[Thalassamania]

There are tons of things to see and do in shallow waters ... but, in all honesty, I would not get my hopes up. Have you considered becoming a submersible pilot? I'm not kidding, there is a good career there if you work at it.

 

[Nick Briseno]

There are tons of things to see and do in shallow waters ... but, in all honesty, I would not get my hopes up. Have you considered becoming a submersible pilot? I'm not kidding, there is a good career there if you work at it.

Im not looking to make it a career, i work under my dad who is a financial planner and also owns his business and after college i'll be taking it over. This is more of a hobby im looking to take up. Plus its something I have wanted to do since I first went to the aquirium when i was a kid.

 

[Paladin]

Collapsed lungs happen all the time at 1 ata. Pneuomothorax or hemothorax can cause it.
Trauma can cause a communication through the chest wall which allows air to enter the intrapleural space. This collapses the lung.
If blood enters and pools in the intrapleural space for whatever reason, it will cause the lung to collapse.
A spontaneous pneumothorax (with no physical damage to the outer chest wall) can also allow air entry into the intrapleural space.

Since the OP mentioned that 3 of his ribs on the left side are made of titanium, I would say that the mechanism of injury was very likely trauma.

Okay, so would not the surgeons working on the OP have fixed all that and sealed up any leaks? On top of that, he has had a year to complete the healing process. Don't think I'm trying to be argumentative, I'm sincerely interested.

 

[Thalassamania]

Okay, so would not the surgeons working on the OP have fixed all that and sealed up any leaks? On top of that, he has had a year to complete the healing process. Don't think I'm trying to be argumentative, I'm sincerely interested.

Because of the increased odds of a pneumothroax (and because of the extreme problem such a incident would present underwater) any surgery that opens the chest has long been considered a disqualification from scientific or commercial diving, I assume that, for the same reasons, this holds true for recreational diving.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Okay, so would not the surgeons working on the OP have fixed all that and sealed up any leaks? On top of that, he has had a year to complete the healing process. Don't think I'm trying to be argumentative, I'm sincerely interested.

Presumably the surgeons fixed up all the leaks. However, just because the repair seems to work at 1 ata, it doesn't necessarily mean that he should be subjecting himself to the challenges of diving. FWIW, surgery creates scar tissue and adhesions which can complicate lung function or predispose the patient to spontaneous pneumothorax in the future. The integrity of the chest wall/visceral pleura/parietal pleura aside, the OP required removal of a significant portion of his lung, implying diminished function. Such a surgery to the lung parenchyma can also increase the chance of spontaneous pneumothorax. That's not exactly a good thing when an individual is diving underwater.

The OP should be evaluated by a dive-savvy pulmonologist. I honestly don't know what the specialist will say with regard to dive clearance. While I can appreciate that the OP is excited about the prospect of entering the sport, I wouldn't be overly optimistic. That being said, ultimately, the OP will have to make his own informed decision about whether diving is worth the risk. People disregard the professional advice of physicians all the time.