Does Fitness Have Anything to do With Diving?

[grazie42]

Actually I think the "take home message" of that article is that the US-army (like a lot of other armed forces) HAS to lower standards, not because it want´s to, but because there aren´t enough volounteers that meet the old requirements ...

It was meant more as a comment to illustrate the general trend towards obesity in society than anything else...I doubt the army would care about being PC if it didn´t have to, to fill the ranks...

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

So I thank Grazie 42 for letting us in on the fact that the Army is bringing its standards down. This is an unfortunate effect of the necessary political correctness for politicians in positions that oversee the Armed Forces to get reelected and the fact that an officer who is not seen to be supporting the integration of the obese into the Armed Forces or women into combat units will not reach flag rank and certainly have no chance of becoming a Captain in the Navy.

Actually, it's the result of a government committment to wars on multiple fronts, resulting in not only a shortfall of available troops, but also a reduction in the number of people who might consider the military as a viable career choice. As a result ... and since we don't have a draft anymore ... the military is forced to reduce its standards (and not just those pertaining to physical fitness) in order to get enough recruits to fulfill its military obligations.

... but that's really a discussion more appropriate for another forum ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

By the way ...

Perform 42 push-ups within 2 minutes, with the chest touching the ground on each repetition.

Perform 50 sit-ups within 2 minutes.

Perform 6 pull-ups with palms facing out. (No kipping or swinging is allowed and the chin must clear the top of the bar on each repetition.)

... this is nonsense.

Exactly what do push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups have to do with either the strength or cardio conditioning required for diving?

Running, swimming, bicycling ... those I can see. Overall body strength conditioning ... sure. Flexibility exercises ... absolutely.

But push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups? Why? How is that going to benefit a diver?

... Bob (Grateful diver)

 

[Hank49]

Those three exercises work major muscle groups in the body. Chest, back and core. All of these are used in, climbing onto a boat,....carrying those ridiculously heavy 50 gallon drums called Steel 120s down the beach, hah, core strength is good to prevent back injuries.
I'm not in agreement of total SEAL level fitness for diving...but those are three basic full body exercises.

 

[JeffG]

Unless you are DISABLED or OLD, in which case I will carry your kit on my back to and from the water with JOY, nobody who cannot run two miles without stopping, carry their own kit for ten minutes to a shore dive site and then back again from the dive site without suffering a herat attack should be diving.

Heck....do away with the disabled and old as well. Why let them get a free pass?

 

[24940]

Heck....do away with the disabled and old as well. Why let them get a free pass?

JeffG: DM to the morbidly obese, disabled or senile? I thought not.

Hey, I support Matt and feel anyone should get a shot at diving. I also support junior ow divers, but special needs require special effort to insure safety.

My step daughter has special needs. Pretty much fully functional, but I wouldn't trust her to make the right call in a bad situation. She loves the water and swims like a fish. She has a great interest in diving and I have no doubt she would be fine if someone took responsibility for her.

I've considered certifying her, but the reality is she will never be at a level where she is self sufficient and she doesn't have the resources to hire a dive nanny. It kinda sucks, but that's how it goes. I'd like to be an astronaut.

There are no short yellow dive boats to accommodate special needs divers.

 

[shoredivr]

I realized that I needed to be in much better shape on a warm water dive many years ago: a shore dive to the Superior Producer, Curacao. The buddies I was with were able to do the whole dive without huffing and puffing. I was making an effort to keep up on the surface.

For myself, being in better overall shape means surface swims are more enjoyable. It means my core strength is better for lifting doubles - especially climbing a dive boat ladder. It means I'm less likely to injure myself lifting gear. I can haul my gear 200 meters down and up a pathway in knee-deep snow for a winter dive. I'm theoretically less likely to have DCS.

All these things I've noticed by doing swimming, stretching, cardiovascular 30 min workouts, weights, meditiation, yoga breathing etc. Of course I can still stand to loose 15 lbs, and my goal is to do this over this season. That magic 50 year old spare tire is stubborn, though.

I just want to be in the best shape I can be in...and since I already feel better, haul tanks up the ladder more easily and efficiently through getting fitter, I'd have to say I enjoy my diving and my life much more now....so for me, diving and fitness are intertwined.

 

[JeffG]

Here's an article that might be interesting to others

Exercise-heart study casts doubt on 'fit but fat' theory - Weight Management - C-Health

 

[Cacia]

Well, I was going to post that Jeff, but I am too misunderstood.

I have no problem with lessfit divers diving...I just want people to assess their risks accurately. I am very happy for anyone who dives...I just get richeous if divers want to deny what the their actual risks are and especially if they go on the "pony bottle lecture".

Look...fitness is a continuium. So let's stop saying "un-fit" and say less fit. I am, less fit than the people I dive with, and I must take that into account.

But still whenever I make that point, people get offended.
And, cardiovascular fitness is inversely related to the degree you are overweight, I don't think we can really dispute that. So what? Just be real about your strengths and weaknesses, that has always been my only point.

Dave, with all due respect...I know HBgirl dives HARD, it is not leisurely on many days here in Hawaii, from my perspective. I just really think your physical maintenance is more important than gear maintenance, or even something like operator choice. But, I do not care one bit what somebody weighs. I do have a concern that so many people think they are very fit and overweight, and that fitness is not important for scuba diving. It is all about perfusion, circulation, etc. If your vascular system is challenged, you are at a much higher risk...if people are aware and proceed with that understanding, that is fine with me. A person with a higher degree of body fat, does not perfuse the same way, that is why they are a higher surgical risk, etc.

Even physicians tell me that they are discouraged from giving patients a realistic assessment, society is not supportive.

An overweight diver should be doing more than diving, I do agree with that.
But...a normal weight diver should be too. I'd like to see cardiovascular condition be on the table, along with other risk factors for a given dive, without being the anti-christ.

I doubt the army would care about being PC if it didn´t have to, to fill the ranks...

On that topic, being overweight in the Marines gets you thrown out, I'm not sure what that means. I doubt too many would survive the 135 degree heat, to be honest. All that body armor? 135 degrees, humping a pack...no.

 

[leapfrog]

On that topic, being overweight in the Marines gets you thrown out, I'm not sure what that means. I doubt too many would survive the 135 degree heat, to be honest. All that body armor? 135 degrees, humping a pack...no.

I am not sure it is exactly "being overweight" but the general idea is that in the USMC you have to be up to Marine Corps standards, given your age and of course within your line of work. Unfortunately, as you can see from the data I post below, even the Marines have allowed themselves to be talked into a double standard for women vs. men, which is another way of demeaning those same women and bringing up the whole coed combat question.

Marine Corps Physical Fitness Standards



Males
Age Pull Ups Sit Ups 3-Mile Run
17-26 3 50 28 MIN
27-39 3 45 29 MIN
40-45 3 45 30 MIN
46+ 3 40 33 MIN



Females
Age Flexed Arm Hang Sit Ups 3-Mile Run
17-26 15 Secs 50 31 MIN
27-39 15 Secs 45 32 MIN
40-45 15 Secs 45 33 MIN
46+ 15 Secs 40 36 MIN

Pullups/Chinups. The participant may be assisted to the bar by a step up, by being lifted, or by jumping. The force of the jump will not be used to continue on into to the first pullup/ chinup. The bar is grasped with both palms facing either forward or to the rear, the arms are fully extended, and the feet are free of the ground. One repetition consists of raising the body with the arms until the chin is above the bar and lowering it until the arms are fully extended again. Repeat as many times as possible. Kicking motions such that the feet and/or knees do not raise above the waist level are permitted as long as the pullup remains a vertical movement. The body will be kept from swinging by an assistant holding an extended arm across the front of the knees of the Marine on the bar. Hand position may be changed during the exercise providing the individual does not dismount the bar or receive assistance from another party. Resting is permitted in the up or down position but resting with the chin supported by the bar is prohibited.

Flexed Arm Hand. The individual stands on a support or, if necessary, is assisted by others to reach the starting position. The bar may be grasped in any manner the individual desires, but both palms must face in the same direction. The elbows are flexed so that the chin is over or level with the bar. Once the individual is set in the starting position, the support or assistance is removed and she attempts to maintain elbow flexion for as long as possible. The score is the length of time in seconds that some degree of flexion at the elbow is main- tained. The chin may not rest on the bar during the exercise.

Sit-ups. Time limit is two minutes for male and female Marines. In the correct starting position, participants are on their backs with their shoulder blades touching the deck, knees flexed and both feet flat on the deck. The arms are folded across and remain against the chest or rib cage with no gap between the forearms and the chest or rib cage when raising the upper body. One repetition consists of raising the upper body from the starting position until the elbows or forearms touch the thighs and then returning to the starting position with the shoulder blades touching the deck. No bouncing or arching of the lower back is authorized, and the buttocks will remain in constant contact with the deck throughout the exercise. An assistant may hold the feet or legs below the knees in whatever manner is most comfortable for the participant. Kneeling or sitting on the feet is permitted