diving during pregnancy

[dawn62669]

New to this board but looking for answer to diving during pregnancy.

My husband and I are planning a trip to Disney with the intent of experiencing DiveQuest. This is a chance to dive in their 6 million gallon aquarium. The tank is 200 ft dia and 27 ft deep. I actually received a new underwater camera for xmas so that I can take pics while there. The question I must now ask is will this be safe if I am pregnant? There is a possibility that I may be 8 weeks at the time we have our trip scheduled.

I don't see a posibility of nitrogen narcossis being a factor since the tank is only 27 ft but are their other things I should be concerned about that may put the baby at risk. It is a controlled enviroment with no dive boat needed. So sea sickness shouldn't factor in at all. Safety?- It is Disney after all. DiveMaster will be onhand and present at all times.

 

[DivemasterSteve]

welcome to ScubaBoard, click on this link and you can read all you need to about it.
Pregnancy and Diving
steve

 

[WreckWriter]

Diving while pregnant is one of the all time no-nos, right up there with holding your breath on scuba. Not much is known about the subject but I've never heard anything other than "don't do it". sure, its a shallow dive and it'll probably be ok. But what if its not ok? Its not worth the risk, not even close.

Nitrogen narcosis is not the problem, the problem is pressure.

WW

 

[chickdiver]

I did some research on this subject for my peer level lecture as an Instructor Candidate (about 10 years ago). Here are the big issues with regard to diving during pregnancy:
1. Diving in general (and deeper dives especially) have been correlated to some strange birth defects.

2. Little is known about the treatment of DCS in the mother- in experiments on goats, it usually resulted in the death of mother and fetus.

3. Treatment of embolism during pregnancy usually results in death as well.

As controlled an environment as it is, it still simply isn't worth the risk. If you would like to see the research yourself, I would suggest contacting Donna Uguccione at DAN.

 

[Big-t-2538]

Post number 2 in this thread would lead me to believe that diving and pregnancy don't mix.

Frankly just having gone through the recent births of my children (15 mos ago for my daughter, and 9 days ago for my son) I can say that IMHO there is no risk worth taking. The thought of putting my children at risk for my own benefit is beyond my realm of thinking.

 

[dawn62669]

welcome to ScubaBoard, click on this link and you can read all you need to about it.
Pregnancy and Diving
steve

Thanks Steve and all!
I tried your link and ended up sending answers to that tread thinking it was part of this one. New to boards so thanks again for the info and sorry for the confusion

 

[Wendy]

You can snorkel at EPCOT while the others dive. And you can still use your camera.

 

[DivemasterSteve]

Dawn, i just read your post in the other thread, good luck and i hope you enjoy your vacation either way it turns out.

steve

 

[dawn62669]

You can snorkel at EPCOT while the others dive. And you can still use your camera.

Thanks for the suggestion Wendy
I'll look into that if needed!

It's just a feeling I have. Haven't even missed it yet!

My youngest is almost 4 and we just decided to start trying again. Was hoping it might taake a little longer then this, March or April would have been perfrct right after our vac.

I wasn't sure if there was a timeframe on when was safe and when you should stop diving. Was hoping 1st tri would be ok? Most wouldn't know they even were at the stage I will be. 6-8wks Better to be safe then sorry since there seems to be no definate answers.

 

[DocVikingo]

Yes, you did inappropriately add your message to the thread linked in DivemasterSteve's post. I have removed it.

For future reference, by going to the lower right hand corner of the text box and clicking on the "edit" bar you can alter or remove such mistakes.

Do enjoy Disney.

DocVikingo