I don't think its overstated at all. If you dont believe that, compare cardiac incident survival rates on land to those occurring underwater.
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And how is that in any way comparable? other than the fact that the same emergency puts you in a position where treatment is farther away... in reality, if the guy had a heart attack, he probably was due in open air.
I don't disagree people should watch their fitness, I'm doing all I can to drop my excess baggage, but to claim a direct relationship between underwater survival rates and above water is not accurate, as it is the environmental factors that make the difference.
Maybe an individual shouldn't be diving, and here's a piece of info... HEALTHY PEOPLE (or seemingly healthy) people have medical emergencies... and they will be in your stats too.. in fact, do you have a number to compare for the % of divers who were 'not fit' and those who were and survival rates underwater?
I weigh over 330# , I ran two miles this morning...am I fit? Will I have a cardiac incident underwater? I certainly am more pre-disposed to have one ANYWHERE.
---------- Post added June 25th, 2014 at 01:24 PM ----------
Out of curiosity, and not to take the topic off track, what's your weight and height? What's your average time running a mile and how often do you run? I know the types that claim fitness has nothing to do with diving.
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Oh, oh, wait, ME, pick ME!!! I want to answer..
I average 25 miles a month, the past month I have been remiss, but I ran today, and my time for a 2 mile run (my average run three times a week, with a 3 or 5 mile run on Saturday) was still 15:35 miles... I am not fast, but I get where I want to go...
I weighed 335.7 this morning (181cm or 6'0") , and I have slightly elevated ALT, normal blood chemistry for everything else including glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides...
I have about 14,000 PVCs/PACs a day, and can cause a spiking event by overexcercising... I do not take beta blockers... during ANY exercise event, I have to make sure I manage my exertion level to prevent a spike (this is an even where my HR suddenly jumps to about 180# (I'm 54) because my heart is overexcited (for ease of explanation)... above water, I wear a HR monitor to track my HR, underwater, so far no good device exists (the Finis HRM doesn't work at depth)... so, if I swim into the current, I swim in a very slow, strong motion (a lot like a whale).. and if I tire, I do what I'm trained to do.. I pause, rest, then continue... and if I were to not resolve it within 2-3 minutes, I abort the dive.... more important is that I know a dive with current isn't one I should plan on, unless it's a drift.
My doctor refers to me as the healthiest fat man he knows... he still encourages me to keep working on my weight, and feels that my current 'fitness' does not pose any more of a risk UNDER water than it does above water or at altitude.
So, 'what is that type'? then again, I'm not saying someone shouldn't be fit, but for someone like you, a casual observer with no information on the medical history or background of the diver, to start pontificating in absolutes is kind of out there.
its the use of 'essential' that is hanging everyone up, and I won't say fitness is "essential". But I will say paraphrasing what was stated above, that if you intend to dive, and don't know how your current medical status, and fitness regime will affect your ability to dive safely and surface without incident, then you are a danger to yourself and others.
There, are we all friends now?