Do you Drink & Dive?

[redseal]

There's too much at stake, even in rec diving, to take a chance on a DCS hit or impaired judgements to dive under the influence, whether it's alcohol or any other drug.

Although I've been diving for less than a year, the intoxicating affect of simply being underwater is significantly robust to negate the need to "amplify" or "alter" the experience with other chemicals. It concerns me that people choose to use other potentially mind-altering drugs prior to diving without realizing their potential affects at depth: decongestants, antihistamines, antinauseants, cough medicines, etc.

I rarely if ever drink alcohol anymore (college is a lonnnnggg time back) so it's not an issue for me personally. What concerns me is if my buddy and/or DM is under the influence....THAT could potentially affect my safety and enjoyment...

 

[JamesD]

My personal stance on it,

As soon as I start to drink I'm done diving (no matter how far through the day I actually am). I also rarely drink much, but I think that's just age/maturity and no enjoying being drunk!

 

[MSilvia]

As with most other things, using good judgement seems to be the best bet with alcohol and diving. Personally I try to stay well hydrated, expecially while diving, and if I drink afterward I try to have a pint of water for every two or three alcohol drinks. It seems to keep the hangovers away well enough. I stick to the same plan with pre-dive coffee if I'm awake for a morning dive.

 

[Amanda]

Interesting discussion. I don't drink before / after diving, I'm much too afraid of what it might lead to.

But what I'd like to share with you is the incredible stubborness of French people regarding alcohol and diving (the same applies to drinking and driving, unfortunately).

As you probably know, we French are VERY heavy drinkers. in fact, most of the french people consider that wine is just the same as water... which is not, of course...

And ALL of my instructors / DMs drink before diving, and I've always disagreed with that... :upset:

 

[wazza]

With the respect of all the Russian, what I saw is that they drink after dinner from 10 pm lets say until 4 am Vodka and they do there first dive at 7am ( of course in a safari boat ), I like the way that I never had a drink in my life or a cigarette except ones when I finished the dive master for my GF and she insisted to invite me to drink bear, that night I had only one glass and I was wasted big time and she coat me shagging a girl at the beach but I was forgiven that night cos it was her holt hehe, anyway of course I am not proud of that, and that is why I don’t believe in alcohol. Makes you stupid, and what for????:wacko:

 

[SueMermaid]

I dive, then drink. In that order. If I am going to do a night dive, I don't drink, or at least wait till afterward.
That being said, I am a big puker, so I am generally not in a drinking mood unless I am doing all shore diving. I LOVED Bonaire.

 

[Doppler]

Bubble Boy once bubbled...
What do you guys think about wacking in a litre of normal saline solution IV to rehydrate?

Not much... especially on a dive boat! :wacko: All those waves. That sharp needle. That frightened vein.

Hydration starts a day before, and continues during on long dives, and after. Plain water.



DD

 

[victoriawtx]

(pretty boring person, I know, LOL)
I would never drink before a dive, because I need all my wits about me! And after a dive, I am usually worn out and water is just about all I can handle.

 

[scubasimmons]

I try not to drink before I dive, but if I don't have any decompression worries I drink a lot after I dive. Occasionally I may have 1 beer detween dives but, only if the dive isn't deep, is a place I have dove before or/ and if I have at least 2 hours between dives. A lot of alcohol and diving really don't mix. Nothing good can come of it.

-Steve :wacko:

 

[Amanda]

Still 6 people responding "Teck Diver: are you crazy, I couldn't dive unless I drink alcohol!"

Kinda makes you worry ut: