Jocasseegirl:
Ladies, does gearing up really tire you out? I'm finding that by the time I hoist the tank, suit up, struggle to put on gloves, etc., I'm really feeling tired. FYI - I'm 53, in very good health, and exercise regularly. I don't have quite the strength in my hands that I used to have, and that's probably contributing to my feeling of struggling to get ready to dive. I know that scuba gear is not designed for the boat, and we all know it's awkward until you get in the water. I was taught "you dive it, you haul it." My dive buddy (who is also a lady) finds it tiring, too. I'm just wondering if that's normal. Thanks for the input!
When I re-started diving 4 years ago, it was very tiring to gear up. I was 44, and pretty active in the water, having ridden waves 2 or 3 times a week for several years. But I wasn't that strong and the gear felt Very heavy.
Then several things happened:
1) I bought a Custom 7mm wetsuit that was much easier to don than the stock suits. Sooo much easier that I was immediately happier and more eager to dive.
2) I started shore diving after 5 months. It was really hard. I started lifting weights again at the gym. 60 dives/year.
3) I started diving more, and not liking being out of breath and tired on long surface swims. I started walking/running on a treadmill... then running. Not much, 1.5 - 2 miles a few times a week. Weight-lifting for 40 minutes a few times a week, focusing on the muscles I need for diving.
....some time passed...
4) My clothes became a little baggy as 35 pounds just sort of went away. (I retailored the wetsuit.) I found that I was getting colder in the water as I'd lost some insulation. 150 dives a year.
5) Two years ago I bought a dry suit. I am dramatically less tired now that I'm warmer in the water. SoCal waters are cold. Repetitive wetsuit diving made me tired. I see it in wetsuited divers on boats all the time. I'm much more energized, even diving 6 dives a day on liveaboards. (I never said I was normal
)
6) I started diving a lot.... really a lot. 200+ a year. Now, gearing up is something I do all the time... several times a week. It's become the meditative preamble to the dive. It's smooth and mostly predictable. I pace myself so I stay calm and thorough. I focus on the dive.
But I very VERY clearly remember 4 years ago, when donning a suit on a tossing deck wore me out. I remember making two trips up the stairs from the beach to the parking lot, because it was too much to carry the rig plus the weights all at once. I remember doing shorter dives with smaller tanks because I needed to make it easier.
My drive to dive pushed me to raise my fitness level with a purpose.
And it worked. I have more fun because it is less perceived effort on the day of the dive. I put the hours in at the gym, and the investment pays. I dive dry and use the saved energy for more fun.
Of course, my wonderful dive partner, Ken, did comment, "
The way we dive would kill most normal men." But we love it. Neither of us would have it any other way.
If you love diving, it's likely that consistent purposeful training could give you the strength and endurance to make it feel easier. Until then, modifying gear can help: small tanks, custom wetsuit. And frequent repetition makes anything easier.
Oh darn! You should dive More!! (That doesn't suck!!
)
Have fun,
Claudette
