Keeping active with diving when you can't dive...

[TMHeimer]

Another vote for drysuit.

I hear yah Storker. You've gotta dive wet up there and tell me about it (with that Gulf Stream/N.Atlantic Drift!). I went for a swim in 1984 at Grense Jalobselv on the Soviet Border--pretty balmy. It's such a beautiful country. PM me.
Oh yeah, I've been to Hell & back (the P.O.) and it was raining and thundering......

 

[John C. Ratliff]

Agree on all- great stuff. Only thing I question is #5-- "fun swim routines". Though (supposedly and I tend to agree) swimming is the best exercise invented, I find it incredibly boring. That's why I hadn't swam in 39 years since the HS swim team, and found the DM 400m test difficult. I'd rather go for a long walk--at least you see things. What swim routine would convince me that it's fun? My brothers are competitive swimmers going for increased times and winning medals--I can see that.

I have a collection of 19 dive masks, a fair number of snorkels, and enjoy my pool work with several different types of Fins. I usually take 5 different mask/snorkel combos, and either one or two different sets of Fins, to the pool.

I swim a 25 yard pool, and swim my first set of 200 yards freestyle, sans Fins. I then swim another 200 yards breaststroke, with my first 50 yards very slow to allow my knees to get used to the stroke, then speeding it up on the second 50, going hard on the third 50, then slowing down for the fourth 50 breaststroke.

I then stop and put on my Fins, and change masks. I use different masks each 400 yards so I don't have to count laps (400 yards x 5 masks = 2,000 yards). With the mask/snorkel combos, I usually swim 100 yards just kicking, then 50 yards freestyle with Fins, then the last 50 slower, just kicking a flutter kick. I repeat this, using a dolphin kick for 100 yards, then fast finswimming (hands in front, interlocked arms for streamlining) dolphin kickfor 50 yards, then a slow 50 yards to finish the 400 yards. Some of these swims are underwater about 20 yards.

Then, I change mask/snorkel combos and repeat three more times for a total of 5 cycles. My wife usually also swims, and if she is done and I can go to the deep end, I do so and complete two or three dives to the bottom in the deep end 16 feet deep; it's a competitive diving pool which is 50 meters one way, 25 yards the other. We usually swim 25 yard widths of this huge pool. These dives give me a total swim yardage of 2,000-2400 yards. The underwater swims usually last about 30-45 seconds, for 25 yards or a bit more (depending upon the lane I'm in, I may have to swim laterally a bit to get to the deep water), without hyperventilation. I then swim back on the surface, recovering, and repeat a few times total 3-4 underwater swims in deep water. The underwater swims keep my ears ready for spring/summer dives in the Clackamas River.

By the way, I just turned 74, so age by itself is not an excuse for not working out. My wife and I also walk a lot, and today (Christmas day) we walked 6.3 miles in just over 2 hours. Keep in shape for diving, and the diving is more fun. I also learn a lot about my different masks, snorkels and Fins (I've been collecting these for years now), their capabilities, limitations, and which I would select for open water.

SeaRat

 

[NothingClever]

I have a collection of 19 dive masks, a fair number of snorkels, and enjoy my pool work with several different types of Fins. I usually take 5 different mask/snorkel combos, and either one or two different sets of Fins, to the pool.

I swim a 25 yard pool, and swim my first set of 200 yards freestyle, sans Fins. I then swim another 200 yards breaststroke, with my first 50 yards very slow to allow my knees to get used to the stroke, then speeding it up on the second 50, going hard on the third 50, then slowing down for the fourth 50 breaststroke.

I then stop and put on my Fins, and change masks. I use different masks each 400 yards so I don't have to count laps (400 yards x 5 masks = 2,000 yards). With the mask/snorkel combos, I usually swim 100 yards just kicking, then 50 yards freestyle with Fins, then the last 50 slower, just kicking a flutter kick. I repeat this, using a dolphin kick for 100 yards, then fast finswimming (hands in front, interlocked arms for streamlining) dolphin kickfor 50 yards, then a slow 50 yards to finish the 400 yards. Some of these swims are underwater about 20 yards.

Then, I change mask/snorkel combos and repeat three more times for a total of 5 cycles. My wife usually also swims, and if she is done and I can go to the deep end, I do so and complete two or three dives to the bottom in the deep end 16 feet deep; it's a competitive diving pool which is 50 meters one way, 25 yards the other. We usually swim 25 yard widths of this huge pool. These dives give me a total swim yardage of 2,000-2400 yards. The underwater swims usually last about 30-45 seconds, for 25 yards or a bit more (depending upon the lane I'm in, I may have to swim laterally a bit to get to the deep water), without hyperventilation. I then swim back on the surface, recovering, and repeat a few times total 3-4 underwater swims in deep water. The underwater swims keep my ears ready for spring/summer dives in the Clackamas River.

By the way, I just turned 74, so age by itself is not an excuse for not working out. My wife and I also walk a lot, and today (Christmas day) we walked 6.3 miles in just over 2 hours. Keep in shape for diving, and the diving is more fun. I also learn a lot about my different masks, snorkels and Fins (I've been collecting these for years now), their capabilities, limitations, and which I would select for open water.

SeaRat

You kick ass! Thanks for setting a great example for the rest of us.

 

[Storker]

You've gotta dive wet up there and tell me about it

Sure. Wait for the day when Old Nick tells his imps to break out the snow showels and goes skiing, and our game administration issues hunting licenses for flying pigs.

 

[dmcutter]

Road cycling translates very well to diving fitness. An indoor trainer is a good alternative to road cycling in bad weather but deadly boring. I went to the Y last night with my grandson and finned about a mile and a half in the lap pool (only 1 mask/fin/snorkel combo for me, though). I also like doing a mile underwater. It's boring but not as bad as an hour on the trainer in the garage. It's just burning calories and maintaining fitness.

 

[NothingClever]

Concept2 rower
Concept2 SkiErg
Plyometrics
Kettlebells
VKR station
Ab wheel
Cycling
Running

 

[NothingClever]

Forgot to include the TRX strap system. If you want killer core strength, for me this is where it’s at. Plus you get the ability to stretch key joints (i.e, shoulder for valve manipulation) better than one can unassisted.

 

[Rickk]

Lots of courses do not require dives.
O2 provider
First Aid, CPR etc
Equipment specialist

You can do the learning portion of many courses on line and have up to 6 months to do practical part.

Get in great physical shape, don't forget yoga and breathing exercises. Combine cardio, flexibility and strength training in your routine.

Lots of stuff you can read.

Make some of your own equipment, if you are going to dive a wing and back plate, make the web harness for example, make a noise maker to attract attention under water. Make equipment pouches, experiment with configurations of your gear.

Lots on YouTube to watch.

Learn fish and aquatic life identification.

 

[TMHeimer]

Road cycling translates very well to diving fitness. An indoor trainer is a good alternative to road cycling in bad weather but deadly boring. I went to the Y last night with my grandson and finned about a mile and a half in the lap pool (only 1 mask/fin/snorkel combo for me, though). I also like doing a mile underwater. It's boring but not as bad as an hour on the trainer in the garage. It's just burning calories and maintaining fitness.

My non-boring substitute for swimming & walking is stationary bike in front of the TV.

 

[BlueTrin]

Another vote for swimming or pool work within a local club