Considering a Dive - Physical Condition

[Patrick R. Held]

While we won't be regular divers, my wife and I are planning a trip to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and we would like to take an introductory dive. I concerned about the physical condition you need to be in to take a dive.

While I understand you wear fins that help you move better in the water, you also have a lot of heavy equipment on you.

About my health:

No Heart Issues
No Breathing Problems (other than when I run, but I do run out of breath sooner than others would)
No Asthma
No Heart Disease
No Lung Issues
No Diabetes
No Epilepsy
No Ear Problems
No Chest of Sinus Issues

I do have slightly high blood pressure but it is under control with medication

The Diving Agency said there is no way they can tell me if I will be OK to dive until I get on the boat and talk to the trainer, but I would like to improve my chances of being able to dive.

My main concern is my strength. I am about 290 pounds/135 KG and 6'2"/185cm tall. I lack upper body strength, but do have strength in the legs. The last time I was in a pool, I was unable to tread water for more than a minute and a half. I really don't want to get into the water and sink to the bottom and realize that I can't get back up to the boat.

I am willing to exercise and get into better shape for this, but would like to know if I am working towards an unrealistic goal.

That said, can someone please give me some comparable tasks that I should be able to complete as a measurement to know if I am ready to go. For example, tread water for 10 minutes, run a certain distance in a certain time, etc.

 

[Kevrumbo]

For a non-certification course, and introductory dive only -here's a reasonable example what you should physically expect to do:
If you're gonna make an effort to exercise and get in good physical fitness, at the very least -->Learn how to swim using the Total Immersion Method. . .

Everything after that and up to your Introductory Dive is motivation to learn how to be comfortable and confident in the water -both on the surface and briefly at depth.

 

[mi000ke]

I have taken many of our visitors having a wide range of physical conditioning on introductory dives and have never had a problem. The key is to find a dive operation that will provide you appropriate physical support if needed. The most physically strenuous part of diving will be at the point of entering and exiting the water, as you suggested. Once in the water you will be wearing an inflatable vest (called a buoyancy control device or BCD) and if done properly the dive guide will have inflated the vest so that you float on the surface. The dive master will deflate your vest for you when time to descend and will add back some air down below to get you to where you are neutrally buoyant at depth (like being weightless). So in the water you will feel no weight from the equipment. Getting back on the boat is when you will feel all the weight. The dive operator I use has you sit on the end of the boat before entering the water and brings your equipment to you to make it physically easier. At the end of the dive, after you ascend the ladder they have you again sit down and they remove the equipment so you don't have to walk to your seat with the equipment on your back. Or you can remove the equipment in the water and they will pass it up to someone on the boat.

Also they should be giving you some basic instruction before the dive, and having you practice a few skills, like breathing with the regulator (the mouthpiece connected to your air tank), clearing water from your mask, removing and replacing the regulator in your mouth while underwater, and clearing ("equalizing") the air pressure in your ears, like when you are in an airplane. Most will do this either in a pool or in shallow water along the shore. At that point you can decide if diving is going to work for you. I have had 2 visitors cancel after that, although both decided to give it another try and ended up having a successful dive.

Finally you should have a dive master who is literally beside you the entire dive making sure all is going well. Where we dive, introductory dives are limited to 4 people per dive master. In a couple of cases the DM literally held the hand of divers who needed a bit more help. But in all cases they have all had a great time on their dive, and a few have done repeat non-certified dives, and two ended up getting certified after the experience.

Have a great dive!

 

[oly5050user]

While we won't be regular divers, my wife and I are planning a trip to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and we would like to take an introductory dive. I concerned about the physical condition you need to be in to take a dive.

While I understand you wear fins that help you move better in the water, you also have a lot of heavy equipment on you.

About my health:

No Heart Issues
No Breathing Problems (other than when I run, but I do run out of breath sooner than others would)
No Asthma
No Heart Disease
No Lung Issues
No Diabetes
No Epilepsy
No Ear Problems
No Chest of Sinus Issues

I do have slightly high blood pressure but it is under control with medication

The Diving Agency said there is no way they can tell me if I will be OK to dive until I get on the boat and talk to the trainer, but I would like to improve my chances of being able to dive.

My main concern is my strength. I am about 290 pounds/135 KG and 6'2"/185cm tall. I lack upper body strength, but do have strength in the legs. The last time I was in a pool, I was unable to tread water for more than a minute and a half. I really don't want to get into the water and sink to the bottom and realize that I can't get back up to the boat.

I am willing to exercise and get into better shape for this, but would like to know if I am working towards an unrealistic goal.

That said, can someone please give me some comparable tasks that I should be able to complete as a measurement to know if I am ready to go. For example, tread water for 10 minutes, run a certain distance in a certain time, etc.

. Due to high blood pressure and medications you absolutely require a medical release from your medical provider. Your inability to tread water tells me that you are not a swimmer. If you were a kid at summer camp you would not be allowed in the deep end of a pool. If you are serious about doing a resort type discove scuba experience get proper swim lessons and a medical release. Many instructors realize that there may be a higher risk of dying in a discover scuba type experience if done improperly than there is for certified divers. .

 

[MichaelMc]

Patrick,

Diving is great fun, and an entire new world. The conditioning needed depends on conditions. Which may change! If the scuba gear breaks, which is rare, you are still in the water, and should be comfortable there.

You say when you run, is that 'go running' (good) or 'jog for the bus leaves you breathless' (not encouraging). Are you naturally negative in the water, or just not used to treading water/swimming? Swimming is a basis on which scuba is built.

Under *favorable* conditions the hardest thing is getting back up the ladder into the boat. Though I say that as a good and strong swimmer. That video does not show getting back in the boat, and that boat was in very still water. Depending on conditions the boat and ladder may be going up and down. At the pool in a swim suit, is climbing out at the ladder hard or not something you think of as effort?

Your trip event sounds like Discover Diving, a very closely watched introductory experience limited by typical standards to 40 feet of depth, with some standards recommending 20' for the first open water dive. Many shops have an in pool versions of Discover Diving. Often at low cost as they want to get you in and sell you dive gear and further instruction. Such a pool experience might be an excellent idea. It would give you a feel for the equipment, a start buying a mask that fits, and a sense of the minimal fitness for favorable conditions. You would want to find a mask that fits well for it, a scuba mask not a snorkeling one, but I would not buy more that mask, fins, and a simple snorkel. And maybe just the mask.

Pools are boring though. So it will be cool breathing underwater, but the really cool part is seeing lots of life down there and floating/swimming through it as a guest. You need real water for that fun part, but the pool with make that part go much more smoothly and give you a chance for any needed pre scuba fitness training.

Handling the gear in that class, and possibly climbing out of the pool with it on would give you a better minimal notion of prudent fitness.

Time in the pool swimming is likely the best preparation. As an example of standards, for their basic class Padi requires a 10 minute swim/float and a 200 yard continuous surface swim with no aids/fins/etc, in just a swim suit and googles/mask.

The description by mi000ke of the dive master inflating your vest for you is troubling. Even for a discover diving you want them to teach you how to manage your BC for yourself. It is also difficult for one person to be literally beside 4 people at once in a space that 4 of them are unfamiliar with.

Edit: as Devon, below, mentions, and I was working to add, if you have extra support it is very accessible to people of a wide range of physical abilities, and very likely gives them a freedom of movement they do not enjoy under the tyranny of gravity. A tyranny we all experience when we leave its 3D world, see above under that dive ladder or beach exit... . Half the vacation dive boats I've been on have hauled up everyones BC and tank before they climbed the ladder, and the other half did it for those that needed it. But rougher conditions can make that dangerous without extra boat gear so the divers have to leave the water fully kitted up.

 

[DevonDiver]

1. You can download a copy of the RSTC medical questionnaire and take it to your MD. This will guide your MD on the relevant hyperbaric issues.

Download: https://www.padi.com/documents/padi-courses/2.1.5%20rstc%20medstate%20v201.pdf

2. Medical advice should only be sought from your MD. Strangers on the internet aren't a suitable alternative for diagnostic assistance.

It's important to note that scuba diving instructors are in no way qualified or authorised to counsel you on medical fitness to dive. Agencies prohibit them from doing so - but some disregard that standard (because it sometimes loses them customers)

3. Diving isn't a high-demand physical activity, although novice divers do tend to over-exert themselves due to improper technique. In the water your equipment is weightless.. supported by air put into your Buoyancy Compensator jacket.

If you master buoyancy control, then there is no effort necessary. This is why scuba diving has become a very popular activity for disabled people, injured veterans, amputees etc..

4. To qualify as an Open Water diver, you have to pass several water comfort assessments. These include either an untimed swim/snorkel and a survival float.

The float is more about relaxation and technique rather than physical fitness. You can Google for information how to practice that.

Neither the swim or snorkel is physically demanding, as there is no time criteria. If the prospect of completing it is causing any anxiety, I'd recommend doing some practice swimming in advance.

What really matters is that you aren't carrying a burden of stress and worry into your scuba experience. This would ruin the fun and slow your progress of learning. Take prudent steps to improve your physical comfort and confidence in advance.

 

[Jayfarmlaw]

I dive with older people in questionable health all the time. I can't speak for Australia, but every boat I have ever been on will either have staff or other divers willing to help. Most boats are capable of letting you take your tank/bcd off in the water and hand it up. At that point the most strenuous thing will be climbing the ladder back on the boat.

I would say work on swimming, bringing comfortable in the water will reduce your stress and make for a more enjoyable experience. If you have a scuba shop close, see if you can do a discover scuba dive in their pool. Other than that, a thorough physical and clearance from your doctor and you are good to go.

I hav high blood pressure, a wrecked knee, wrecked shoulder, and a back that lets me know why ibuprofen was invented frequently. None have stopped me from diving.

Good luck,
Jay

 

[Patoux01]

[youtube video]

I take it you did not watch that video, or you really would not have linked to something as stupid as that.

Only things "needed" for diving is being comfortable underwater and a good swimmer. Not necessarily intense, but I'd say you should be able to swim for a good 5 to 10 minutes at a good pace, and have no issues simply moving around underwater, so having a decent breast stroke helps (even if the hands don't get much use).


As you mention blood pressure and medication, I'll second the others that say go see a doctor. The issue could not be dive related, but something silly like a cut while on blood thinners could lead to issues.

 

[Kevrumbo]

I take it you did not watch that video, or you really would not have linked to something as stupid as that.

Only things "needed" for diving is being comfortable underwater and a good swimmer. Not necessarily intense, but I'd say you should be able to swim for a good 5 to 10 minutes at a good pace, and have no issues simply moving around underwater, so having a decent breast stroke helps (even if the hands don't get much use).


As you mention blood pressure and medication, I'll second the others that say go see a doctor. The issue could not be dive related, but something silly like a cut while on blood thinners could lead to issues.

If OP can gauge that he is not up to exertion levels to accommodate at least the benign ideal conditions in the video, and that he has time to improve on water fitness and blood pressure control or obtain a personal Physician's Waiver, then where's the stupidity in referencing the media in question in order to make a better informed decision?

Verstehen?

 

[mi000ke]

The description by mi000ke of the dive master inflating your vest for you is troubling. Even for a discover diving you want them to teach you how to manage your BC for yourself. It is also difficult for one person to be literally beside 4 people at once in a space that 4 of them are unfamiliar with.

For those of you who have not done a discovery dive, it is supposed to be an "easy" highly escorted dive in less than 40' (and in my case in warm, calm, high visibility, low current water on Grand Cayman).

I've tagged along on all the discovery dives (about 10) my visitors have done (with a couple of different operators) and before I got certified did a few discovery dives with different dive ops (although that was a few years ago). All took a similar approach, and it really is not that troubling for me.

The key issue (problem?) is that the divers are not really taught anything other than the basics - usually in a pool or shallow ocean water and only for maybe 30-60 minutes. While the divers are instructed on how to inflate and deflate the BCD (and clear their mask, equalize their ears, and breath from and purge a regulator), it is not realistic to think that most people will learn or remember much from the minimal instruction that is provided - certainly not enough to expect they can manage their own dive - so you have to take that into account when deciding how comfortable you are with the whole concept of discovery dives. The DMs I have used for discovery dives understand this, and in fact most DMs in my experience have told the divers NOT to mess with their BCD but rather to let the DM regulate their buoyancy. The DMs pay very close attention and take the descent and dive as slowly as needed. My visitors have never encountered any problems, even the ones who needed a lot of attention.

All that said, I am very familiar with the dive ops and the DMs I use and am comfortable using them for discovery dives. I might not be so comfortable if I did not know the dive op well, so you may want to somehow vet the dive op before taking the plunge.