Safe to dive with minor cold?

[Charlie99]

I have pollen allergies and often dive with a runny nose. It's ok as long as you can clear. Only you can say whether you have enough experience with equalization to make a good judgement as to whether your fit to dive.

Call your LDS and ask to be recheduled into another class rather than a refund. Don't let the possibility of losing your class fee lead you into doing something you will regret later.


Charlie

p.s. I did once do a dive when it was really and truly a cold, rather than pollen allergies. I ended up with an eye infection from the mucous getting into my eyes. Not fun.

 

[Diver0001]

This is the reason right here.........if you can't clear it, you must go back down and clear. Instead of blowing, close your nose and try to breath air instead of blowing.

These things look so nice in print don't they....

In reality you'll try everything. Sucking, blowing, twisting, banging, sniffing, shaking, crying, praying, begging, cursing....man you name it. At one point I even tried to flood my sinuses with salt water because I was TOTALLY out of better ideas.

Sure descending took the pressure off but once you start descending and realize that you can't even get back up to the depth where you already were then even that option starts to get depressing.

What ultimately got me to the surface was a dead slow ascent and working through it. I had blood in my snot for days and had to cancel diving for the rest of the trip. I went snorkelling the day after it happened and couldn't put my head 10cm under the water.

R..

 

[ShakaZulu]

These things look so nice in print don't they....

What ultimately got me to the surface was a dead slow ascent and working through it. I had blood in my snot for days and had to cancel diving for the rest of the trip. I went snorkelling the day after it happened and couldn't put my head 10cm under the water.

R..

Baie mooi, dit klink baie sleg.............yes indeed, know what you mean.

 

[jrdivagrl]

thanks a lot! im really excited and will take all precautions! Unforetuanetly i am a) the only girl in the class b) i am 13 in a class of 20 yr olds C) this is a WHOLE other topic. lol. mabey i need to take precautions with 20 yr old guys who just learned how to dive?!?

 

[Diver0001]

....snip.... mabey i need to take precautions with 20 yr old guys who just learned how to dive?!?

Hmmmm. I don't know about you but if I were your father I'd be learning how to spear-fish!

R..

 

[Green_Manelishi]

I am just starting to get over a minor cold and i have my advanced scuba class this weekend at Dutch springs. Is it ok to dive with a minor cold, and if so are decongestants/medicine safe? Thanks!

No.

I agree with the esteemed Bob3 .. .if the LDS will not cut you some slack it's time to go shopping.

If you damage your sinuses or ears because of diving when you should not, you'll wish you'd taken the advice.

20 year old guys have no business doing anything with thirteen year old girls and I'll bet your Dad and Mom would say the same.

 

[Diver0001]

No.

I agree with the esteemed Bob3 .. .if the LDS will not cut you some slack it's time to go shopping.

.

I'm sure they can be convinced.

First rule of negotiations.....ask for what you want, not for what you think you can get.

R..

 

[Green_Manelishi]

First rule of negotiations.....ask for what you want, not for what you think you can get.
R..

Good point. It's amazing what you can get by simply asking .... nicely.

 

[saf_25]

Hmm... I think that the fact that you're a minor would even moreso make the shop want to reschedule the dives, rather than "force" you into doing a dive you are not prepared for. And, if you're too sick to dive, then you're not prepared to do it.
Now, as has been said, "too sick to dive" is the question. A good way to tell if you are successfully able to clear your ears is to swallow - if you hear that 'click' noise in EACH ear (that's important - make sure you hear it in both sides, not just one), then your ears are clearing. Make sure that you can do this repeatedly. If you can't, then you shouldn't dive, and your dive shop should be willing to make accomodations for you to do the dives at another date.
Good luck!

 

[novadiver]

I am just starting to get over a minor cold and i have my advanced scuba class this weekend at Dutch springs. Is it ok to dive with a minor cold, and if so are decongestants/medicine safe? Thanks!

the problem with decongestants is that they can wear off in the middle of a dive, this will a cause reverse block.

The REAL problem will come when you realize that the timed decongestant that you have in your system is in fact dehydrating you and placing you at risk of DCS, on top of that you are going to be narced from the other ingredients in the decongestants.

The pain the other divers have told you about is VERY real. Your very young, have you been through pain so bad that death seems like a good option? Because that's the pain their talking about.

It's wednesday, the weekend is a few days off, take care of yourself. lots of liquids and rest, but if it's not ment to be, call the dive. GOOD LUCK