Does Fitness Have Anything to do With Diving?

[mrjimboalaska]

Catherine, Catherine, Catherine.............

I am OFFENDED, OFFENDED, OFFENDED..........

 

[HBDiveGirl]

YMMV, but I don't see any connection between adequate physical fitness for recreational scuba diving and physical fitness standards for the USMC.

None.

My 5 cents worth.

Much of the rest of this thread's conversation is interesting and quite relevant, expressing as it does each individual's personal experience, preferences, requirements, and goals.

I just don't get how USMC fitness standards are relevant except for a USMC diver on military duty.

~~~~
Claudette

 

[leapfrog]

YMMV, but I don't see any connection between adequate physical fitness for recreational scuba diving and physical fitness standards for the USMC.

None.

My 5 cents worth.

Much of the rest of this thread's conversation is interesting and quite relevant, expressing as it does each individual's personal experience, preferences, requirements, and goals.

I just don't get how USMC fitness standards are relevant except for a USMC diver on military duty.

~~~~
Claudette

Actually, Claudette, I could not agree with you more! Catherine mentioned being overweight, relating that to Marine standards and I just picked up on it. Of course to be a USMC Combat Diver (e.g. Recon), the standards are much much higher than General Physical Standards.

If you go back to some of my earlier posts on the thread, I mentioned the kind of standards that a recreational diver should try to attain and NWGratefulDiver, Hank49 and Jeff G made some comments.

Overall what Catherine has been saying in a number of threads and I agree is that recreational divers should take it upon themselves to stay fit and then some examples have been give of hopefully useful exercises.

I apologize for straying off the track with the USMC Standards post.

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I am in the obese range on the BMI scale, but can still dive pretty well. Fitness is not important at all in most recreational diving until something happens, then it can mean everything. I try to keep working out because I feel I will kill myself in some of the diving (and freediving) situations I put myself into some times.

As for being overweight, I find that being overweight is much less of a problem in the water than out. I have a tough time jogging at my weight, but carrying an extra 30 -40 lbs of excess body mass is not really a significant hinderance when swimming with fins and scuba gear. Having some muscular strength and CV endurance is much, much more important than being slim, streamlined and looking like a runner.

I agree with Catherine, tourist scuba divers are some of the fatest, most out of shape people of any sport participants I have seen, with the exception of bowlers in the northeast.

Diving is supposed to be reasonably non-strenuous due to the complications from decompression and other issues, so decent fitness is often NOT needed. However, I have muscled my way out of a number of diving situations, where I know that if I was less fit, I might literally have not made it.

 

[Papa_Bear]

If you dive within your limits it is relative to the type of diving your doing! I have been Diving with a 76 year old with an illyostomy who is a very good diver and what is more important he has fun! So fit divers maybe able to do more, but what is the fun quaint? It is called recreational diving for a reason!

 

[Hank49]

It's worth discussing. And Catherine has a point in that it's not PC to point out to a diver that he/she is overweight and should be aware of the risk but one can point out lack of training, or gear configuration that may not be adequate in one's opinion etc . I can see Catherine's point but on the other hand, I'm getting older...an official Grumpy Old Diver....and when my wife points that out it's like, yeah, but there's nothing I can do about it so let it go. If people want to be overweight or don't mind it, they're probably well aware of the risks and discussing it with them won't change anything. Just like getting old has its risks in diving. But I'm not going to stop and some young pup pointing it out will probably get a gruff, non polite reply.
I have a friend who weighs over 400 lbs. He's gone snorkeling while I spear fish off my boat and it's a job getting him back on board. A real workout at times. I have mentioned not using a wetsuit so he'll burn off more calories, maybe swim a bit more etc etc....but I can tell, he doesn't want to hear it. He's a smart guy and knows all that. So...live and let live...whatever.

 

[Cacia]

...thanks Hank, you get me.

Actually, Gracie brought up the Army standards and since we regs are "in the pub" where we can be off topic, I just mentioned the USMC because they actually just tightened their wt standards, in the last six months and JB just said that some of what is posted is outdated. "kipping" during pull-ups for example, etc. Also those are the bare min standards, which applies to every single Marine, and NOT job dependent, just to clear that up. What Gracie mentioned was in the context of the obesity trend in the US, which is fairly serious. We are seeing some pretty lean people in the French countryside and they eat tons of cheese and cream...go figure.

But..anyway. I find it useful to ponder things like temperature, etc in the realm of body composition...just matter of factly. I was thinking last night about Bob's post, the one questioning what squats, pull-ups, etc have to do with diving, etc, and honestly I think that series of exercises is pretty cardiovascular if the sequences are done fast enough, AND, the most important thing might actually be your improved tissue persfusion from placing demands in the muscles. Blood supply to tissues is much more efficient, in an athlete. So, I am fairly certain the more fit person off gasses more efficiently. (but not positive) Many functions are directly related to perfusion, and the only way to improve that, that I know of, is to exercise. (well, and hydration, to a point)

Seriously, my main point has always just been to do a self assessment before a dive in relation to who you are diving with. There are days, I look at JB, Kurt, Derek and think "this may not go well for me"...and I take that into account. Other days, I look at several other divers and think this may not go well for them..and I might plan an easier pick-up or more conservative *current* contingency. Then, on SB, sometimes I post the way I think, and it seems mean, I think. Where there is sometimes a problem, here on Oahu (more than anyplace I've been) is that we have a more unfit demographic showing up (I believe) and then combine that with a relatively low experience/training level (because serious divers go somewere besides Honolulu (I believe) and then we have some real train wrecks. The operators are put in the position of not wanting to repeat those, but can't really suggest to one certed diver in the group, that he/she may not be up to the dive. Of course, it is just one variable, but an important one.

We are not losing "strokes like me" or finding untrained wreck divers, dead in the Sea Tiger. We are losing unfit divers who are having heart attacks, in the water.

 

[Rogersea]

Catherine,
I have just read through this entire thread and my take away is that you believe we as members of the diving community need to raise the awareness among our diving brothers and sisters that we all need to maintain a minimum level of fitness commensurate with the type of diving we are participating in. If this is your message I could not agree with you more. Having just celebrated another birthday, and finding that despite spending significant time in the Cardio and Weight Room my spare tire continues to inflate.

Being a new board member I will add that your frankness while refreshing, could possibly be misinterpreted by some.

For the record I think the dive operator holds a lot of influence over whether an "obviously" unfit diver participates in a dive that is probably outside of their abilities. They(Dive Operators) already freely exercise this type of screening process by restricting certain dives to divers with special advanced training. But and it is a BIG BUT, I firmly believe there is a limit to how far you should go in being your brothers keeper, and once you have provided fair warning, then each individual should be able to exercise free will and make their own choices.

 

[Cacia]

could possibly be misinterpreted by some.

yea, I know.

I agree with you completely too. I know most of these people pretty well, and feel they can take it. Also, if a guy who has had a bypass (or two) dies while on a dive with me, I would not have a problem doing my best and feeling satisfied that he died doing something he wanted to do. That I am really clear on. I only see a problem if people are not aware because they would "rather not think about it" because it is more comfortable to harp on getting your reg serviced.

Everybody here has there thing they harp on, and I guess this one is mine.

 

[Theunis]

Fitness is very important to diving!! We have cardio and pressure stresses during dives and need to be fit. I do not have any problems with a non-fit buddy, but my point is that if you are non-fit or obese you may be at risk. A fit diver requires less air as well. Other extreme sports like parachuting does not have pressure issues like we have!

My point is that if you are not fit or obese you can always do something about it! Is that true or not?