OK, who smokes?

[guamguy]

I dive and I smoke. Usually about a pack a day. I know, I know, I need to quit. I want to quit and have a plan to do it at a certain date. My SAC is average of a .42 on a moderate working dive. Can't complain too much about that. I don't smoke for an hour or two before a dive, or at all on a boat. I usually dive from shore, though. BTW, I sometimes dive with a guy who has been known to keep a cigarette and lighter in a waterproof bag, and lights up on the surface swim back to the beach on shore dives (This guy is not me) Good luck on quitting to all who are in the process.

 

[HateCheese]

Smoking increases the risk, of a sport with "many" risks. It's not 'A' risk, except to your health in general.

You are funny...
Smoking increases the chance of heart problems. Combine that with a sport that is physical, and it is more than 'A' risk to your health outside of diving.

It is also linked to impotence - which for most men is far scarier than cancer and heart disease.

That was out of left field. Do you come on this board to sell little blue or purple pills? Funny how 'smokers' are an acceptible group to attack. Do you feel better now?

 

[ScubaSteve]

I dove for years as a smoker; I quit a couple of years ago. I am sure you will be inudated shortly with all of the bad things smoking does to diving, along with the risks involved. You will also be bombarded with helpful advice such as "why don't you quit", along with the editorials.

If you want to quit, try Chantix, seems to work for many people

I too used to smoke and 5 years of that was as a diver. You can do both (not necessarily at the same time). I quit 14 months ago thanks to ZYBAN but quit when you are ready. It does impact your diving but at no point did it EVER lessen my enjoyment of it. I DO NOT enjoy it more as a non-smoker than as a smoker.

 

[Anti-Hero]

You are funny...
Smoking increases the chance of heart problems. Combine that with a sport that is physical, and it is more than 'A' risk to your health outside of diving.

I didn't say it was 'A' risk, you did. I was quoting you, lol.

That was out of left field. Do you come on this board to sell little blue or purple pills? Funny how 'smokers' are an acceptible group to attack. Do you feel better now?

I'm not attacking anyone, I just stated a fact based on current medical research. If that has a little sting to it, sorry. If you choose to smoke, then you choose to accept the consequences.

 

[HateCheese]

I didn't say it was 'A' risk, you did. I was quoting you, lol.

I am not following. Originally I wanted to draw the distinction between those that think diving and smoking never mix, and those that don't believe smoking affects diving - that it is somewhere in between because it is one risk in a sport with many risks. Guess I just don't get your point, so I'll leave it alone.

I'm not attacking anyone, I just stated a fact based on current medical research. If that has a little sting to it, sorry. If you choose to smoke, then you choose to accept the consequences.

No sting to me. Your statement may have been based on med research but it was just a bit off target - the original poster was asking about SMOKING and DIVING. Guess you wanted to throw in another *ING word cause um... I have absolutely no idea why. Would have been just as off subject to talk about smoking and wrinkles.

Your comments may not be an attack on smokers... OK. Then again, what would you say if I told you that scientific evidence points to Roseville, CA being a city with high levels of air pollution which affect X, Y, and Z. I think you'd say ***. What does that have to do with diving and smoking???? A loose correlation of air quality and medical research that doesn't relate to DIVING. That was my reaction to your comment anyway....

 

[Anti-Hero]

You've lost me in the sea of semantics. Enjoy your diving AND smoking.

 

[I Dive]

I know people who smoke and are divers. I have dived while a smoker. Neither of those statements means it is a good idea. I no longer smoke and hope to keep it that way. As far as actually quitting goes, obviously whatever works for a person is what they should do. But, I've gotta say, I don't understand all of these quit smoking products. Smoking is a choice. You, just like I, chose to light up at some point. Why not just choose not to light up any longer and live with a few days of discomfort? It worked for me and I know it's worked for many other people as well. Just make the decision, it can be done!

 

[boulderjohn]

Smoking is a choice. You, just like I, chose to light up at some point. Why not just choose not to light up any longer and live with a few days of discomfort? It worked for me and I know it's worked for many other people as well. Just make the decision, it can be done!

As I indicated in an earlier post, research indicates that the ability to quit smoking is an inherited biological trait. Some people can do it easily; some people have to work at it; some people will have a terrible ordeal trying to quit.

 

[FritzCat66]

I enjoy a nice pipe a little more than a dozen times a year, and a fine cigar maybe half as often. I don't inhale, and if I have a smoke, it's always outside. Not sure if that qualifies me as a smoker or not, don't really care either way. I have never wanted my enjoyment of fine tobacco to become a habit, because then it would cease to be appreciated.

However, I won't smoke anything if I know I will be diving within 24-48 hours. My main concern is that the superdry air from my tank already tends to dry out my throat, and I don't want to do anything to exaggerate that effect. I don't drink within a day before diving for the same reason (and also because alcohol dehydrates you - and divers need to be hydrated).

Now in the evening, after that last dive for the weekend... oh yeah, a nice bowl of John Hunt in my churchwarden or an Avo XO Maestoso while relaxing under a palm tree with a nice sea breeze and a glass of Talisker is about as close to heaven as you can get! :cool2:

>*< Fritz

 

[Doc Harry]

This guy smokes (literally!):

YouTube-Smoking train passenger