Dive with martin or aldoras

[deepsea21]

With regard to high blood pressure, you're doctor is correct as I've been told moderately high BP generally does not present an issue for divers as long as their condition is limited to moderately high BP. If high BP is combined with heart problems, untreated artery blockage, aneurysm, etc. that is a different story. A significant % of the population has high BP and it can be assumed the same % of divers also have high BP. Obviously dangerously high BP presents the same risks diving as it does anywhere else. One of the best ways to lower BP is through exercise (certainly more exercise than one gets drifting and finning through a weightless environment). I don't think anyone with moderately high BP not due to a secondary cause ("Essential Hypertension") has ever had a doctor tell them they shouldn't exercise - they are encouraged to. It should also be noted that everyone's BP fluctuates on a cycle. Generally it peaks in the AM or early afternoon and then gradually falls to its lowest point when sleeping. Someone with high BP in the AM and lower BP in the afternoon, evening and lowest sleeping doesn't have high BP if their average over 24 hours ends up being pretty normal. If someone knows their BP and monitors it and their Dr. knows it and says it's OK to dive, that's that.

 

[ReefHound]

Do a daily boat trip for sure but try to do an afternoon shore dive each day as well and just "play". You need bottom time. The shore dive will only be 20-25' deep so you'll probably get an hour on a tank. Try different kicks. Get in different positions. Figure out your weighting and trim by letting yourself go where you want to go. You'll have no pressure about keeping up with a group or holding anyone back.

 

[MargaritaMike]

Do a daily boat trip for sure but try to do an afternoon shore dive each day as well and just "play". You need bottom time. The shore dive will only be 20-25' deep so you'll probably get an hour on a tank. Try different kicks. Get in different positions. Figure out your weighting and trim by letting yourself go where you want to go. You'll have no pressure about keeping up with a group or holding anyone back.

I would add one caveat to this. Find yourself a good buddy to dive with before you do this. IMHO at your stage of training do not dive alone. (I think it's also the policy taught by several major agencies, unless they have changed that)

Cheers - M²

 

[ggunn]

Issue with 100 cf tanks are the are not filled to rated pressure of 3442 psi to give you 100 cf. This issue has been discussed to death that 100 cf tanks on Cozumel ard only filled to 3000 psi. Thus they are only slightly larger than an 80 cf tank.

Do you know what the dead volume difference is between an AL80 and an AL100? That percentage difference will be the same at 3000psi. I don't know the numbers but I have seen the tanks; I would be surprised to learn that the AL100 would be only slightly larger in capacity than an AL80.

 

[ggunn]

With regard to high blood pressure, you're doctor is correct as I've been told moderately high BP generally does not present an issue for divers as long as their condition is limited to moderately high BP. If high BP is combined with heart problems, untreated artery blockage, aneurysm, etc. that is a different story.

No disrespect or contradiction intended, but to the OP, never, repeat: never, take medical advice from an internet forum such as this one. Get it only from a licensed medical professional.

That said, however, I feel confident to advise (since I believe that it's good advice for anyone diving Cozumel) this: do not fight the current. Trying to swim upstream will use up your air faster, and if you have any cardiovascular challenges, it will potentially exacerbate them. You could easily go into hyperventilation, and doing that at depth isn't fun (been there, done that).

Diving in current requires some techniques that you won't need in calm water. If you get swept downstream from the group, for example, find a coral head or trench to duck behind or into; hang there and wait for the group pass you. Avoid getting perpendicular to the current flow and acting like a sail. And don't point yourself into the current and kick like mad. Not to worry, though; these are easy things to do and after a couple of dives they will become second nature to you.

 

[Kyle done]

Do a daily boat trip for sure but try to do an afternoon shore dive each day as well and just "play". You need bottom time. The shore dive will only be 20-25' deep so you'll probably get an hour on a tank. Try different kicks. Get in different positions. Figure out your weighting and trim by letting yourself go where you want to go. You'll have no pressure about keeping up with a group or holding anyone back.

Shore diving? Thought reefs were pretty deep in cozumel

 

[Kyle done]

Do you know what the dead volume difference is between an AL80 and an AL100? That percentage difference will be the same at 3000psi. I don't know the numbers but I have seen the tanks; I would be surprised to learn that the AL100 would be only slightly larger in capacity than an AL80.

I've been told many times they don't fill the hundreds to full so to get a big jump have to go from 80 to 120

 

[Kyle done]

No disrespect or contradiction intended, but to the OP, never, repeat: never, take medical advice from an internet forum such as this one. Get it only from a licensed medical professional.

That said, however, I feel confident to advise (since I believe that it's good advice for anyone diving Cozumel) this: do not fight the current. Trying to swim upstream will use up your air faster, and if you have any cardiovascular challenges, it will potentially exacerbate them. You could easily go into hyperventilation, and doing that at depth isn't fun (been there, done that).

Diving in current requires some techniques that you won't need in calm water. If you get swept downstream from the group, for example, find a coral head or trench to duck behind or into; hang there and wait for the group pass you. Avoid getting perpendicular to the current flow and acting like a sail. And don't point yourself into the current and kick like mad. Not to worry, though; these are easy things to do and after a couple of dives they will become second nature to you.

I assume a reputable dive shop won't take a rusty/new diver to a place with strong currents. I will be doing a reef dive in cancun and 6 cenote dives before hit cozumel

 

[Dave Dillehay]

Factoid:

An aluminum "100" filled to 3000 psi is actually a 92 cf tank, gaining you 12 cf over the aluminum 80. Buoyancy, in my opinion sucks and you better add 4 or more lbs.

Dave Dillehay

 

[scubadada]

Factoid:

An aluminum "100" filled to 3000 psi is actually a 92 cf tank, gaining you 12 cf over the aluminum 80. Buoyancy, in my opinion sucks and you better add 4 or more lbs.

Dave Dillehay

An AL 80 filled to 3000 psi is actually an AL 77.4. I don't disagree about the AL 100s but they should be filled to 3300psi. I'll dive with your steel 120s, they should be filled to 3442 psi