KingViper
Contributor
Just curious how many Divers on this forum smoke? (cigs). I smoke and I'm working on quitting. Do you REALLY think it effects your underwater breathing?
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Smokers?
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It affects your ability to avoid DCS. You need to quit something, if not smoking then diving.
H2Andy
Contributor
well... i quit back in 2003.
before quitting, i was amazing on my air consumption. probably because
my lungs didn't function too well, and i was working on very limited capacity.
when i quit smoking, i was expecting to use ZERO gas. well... i was wrong.
my air consumption went way up. hoover up. panting elefant up.
it's a lot better now, but not nearly as good as it was when i smoked.
btw, you should quit smoking! it's hard to dive in an iron lung.
before quitting, i was amazing on my air consumption. probably because
my lungs didn't function too well, and i was working on very limited capacity.
when i quit smoking, i was expecting to use ZERO gas. well... i was wrong.
my air consumption went way up. hoover up. panting elefant up.
it's a lot better now, but not nearly as good as it was when i smoked.
btw, you should quit smoking! it's hard to dive in an iron lung.
OP
KingViper
Contributor
Well it will be smoking not diving lol
PaulVS
Contributor
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As a youngster I was as comfortable underwater as a fish. I first took Scuba lessons when I was 14. (never got certified.)
I was a 'natural' underwater. I was a top high school swimmer (near olympic quality on a team that won 17 straight state championships) and was constantly testing myself relative to underwater dexterity. At one point I was able to hold my breath for 3:45 under water. (dead man's float) Additionally, I have mutant lungs... they are so big that the x-ray techs have to do a top & bottom x-ray because they won't fit on one plate.
So that being said... I am a smoker... have done only 7 open water dives - and I am totally embarassed by the fact that I am ALWAYS the first one to run out air - even on 'discovery dives' with 12+ people who have never been deeper than 10' in their entire lives.
At age 46 I am finally going to be certified - and the first objective is to quit smoking.
I was a 'natural' underwater. I was a top high school swimmer (near olympic quality on a team that won 17 straight state championships) and was constantly testing myself relative to underwater dexterity. At one point I was able to hold my breath for 3:45 under water. (dead man's float) Additionally, I have mutant lungs... they are so big that the x-ray techs have to do a top & bottom x-ray because they won't fit on one plate.
So that being said... I am a smoker... have done only 7 open water dives - and I am totally embarassed by the fact that I am ALWAYS the first one to run out air - even on 'discovery dives' with 12+ people who have never been deeper than 10' in their entire lives.
At age 46 I am finally going to be certified - and the first objective is to quit smoking.
H2Andy
Contributor
people with larger lungs (usually larger men) have a serious air consuption problem.
they just go through their tanks faster.
you'll probably be well served by learning how to "scuba breathe" (slow inhale,
pause, slow exhale, slow inhale, pause...etc.), relaxing, trying not to swim too
fast under water, and saving energy any way you can. when you "pause"
do not close your airway... keep it open (i.e. don't hold your breath).
less energy = less gas used
they just go through their tanks faster.
you'll probably be well served by learning how to "scuba breathe" (slow inhale,
pause, slow exhale, slow inhale, pause...etc.), relaxing, trying not to swim too
fast under water, and saving energy any way you can. when you "pause"
do not close your airway... keep it open (i.e. don't hold your breath).
less energy = less gas used
Proper weighting, good trim and a low work rate certainly works wonders.
But don't smoke and dive. Just don't.
But don't smoke and dive. Just don't.
I am always amazed at this question
SMOKING affects you're ability to breathe no matter where you are, U/W or not. If you smoke you are damaging your lungs and their ability to do their job
ANd for those of you that think that if you quit your lungs are going to repair themselves-WRONG
The other HUGE problem with smoking is the CO that stays in your system, the extra load on your heart is equal to jogging in place.
Why anyone still smokes is beyond me, for those of you that are trying to quit-good job, keep it up and good luck, it's a tough road but well worth it
For those of you that aren't- good luck-you're going to need it.
SMOKING affects you're ability to breathe no matter where you are, U/W or not. If you smoke you are damaging your lungs and their ability to do their job
ANd for those of you that think that if you quit your lungs are going to repair themselves-WRONG
The other HUGE problem with smoking is the CO that stays in your system, the extra load on your heart is equal to jogging in place.
Why anyone still smokes is beyond me, for those of you that are trying to quit-good job, keep it up and good luck, it's a tough road but well worth it
For those of you that aren't- good luck-you're going to need it.
H2Andy
Contributor
Michael Schlink:
not to the extent of someone who never has smoked, but the lungs do
start to heal after you quit smoking. lung function starts to improve
after about one year. after 15 years, your risk of death as a non-smoker
is almost the same as someone who never smoked.
http://health.discovery.com/centers/quit_smoking/today.html
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