Smoking and Diving?

[Tigerman]

i, smoker, just like what it tastes; maybe then the reward is just satisfaction?

Theres "electric cigarettes" thats supposed to taste the same, without the stench?

 

[asiders9]

I don't think it's that big of a deal. When I was in Provo 2 years ago a divemaster on the boat was telling me he used to be able to freedive to 100ft then he stopped smoking and starting riding his bike to the shop every day and now he could only go 70ft. I doubt there's a relation between the two but I'm just saying, I think you'll be alright but it would probably be beneficial to quit.

 

[ucfdiver]

I don't think it's that big of a deal.

Question for you.....

#1- Where does nitrogen exit the body during decompression (even safety stops)?
#2- What are cigarettes known to do to this part of the body?

 

[garyfotodiver]

Diving good, smoking bad. The evidence about the deleterious effects of smoking are too overwhelming to be ignored.

Anyone who would compromise his/her lung capacity and efficiency needs to look at photographs of diseased lungs.

A SCUBA diver who doesn't understand this missed something extremely important in the concept of diving.

 

[Jrock1062]

I smoked for 25 years and liked it :no I still crave it every day after 16 months but i use diving as the reward to quit, the way i did was with the drugs chantax and wellbutron together. after 6 weeks off all the drugs and haven't had a cig yet. use diving as the catalyst to quit it will help, it did me.

 

[Skull]

I find the hardest part is lighting the burner under water then keeping it lit, they also have a tendency to fall apart when they get wet ...course sometimes I forget to take my reg out before I take a drag on the burner ....very ackward when at depth ...

 

[Bob Vincent]

Smoking inhibits the lungs ability of exchanging gas efficiently (metabolizing oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide and nitrogen), therefore smoking increases your chances of carbon dioxide retention and DCS.

and thats the rest of the story ...

 

[BKP]

When I was in Provo 2 years ago a divemaster on the boat was telling me he used to be able to freedive to 100ft then he stopped smoking and starting riding his bike to the shop every day and now he could only go 70ft.

References like this are irrelevant at best, grossly misleading at worst.

Dana Reeve died of lung cancer and never took a puff... doesn't prove anything either...

If you've previously smoked for a long period of time, as many of us have, then you're well aware of it's effects on your breathing. You know the morning hacking, you know the wheezing, you know the congestion, you know that need to cough when you take a deep breath... You know when you quit it usually goes away after a period of time. Sometimes it never goes away...

Diving successfully is about breathing... How difficult a connection is that?

 

[don Francisco]

Someone mentioned risk vs. reward earlier..
What is the actual REWARDS of smoking, since we so far has looked at the negatives...
Personally I cant see any actual rewards from smoking that cant easilly, cheaper and much more healthy be replaced by other things.

Tigerman, you missed the point of my post. Here's the original including the next sentence:
***********************
I always hear that there is absolutely no benefit to smoking (from non-smokers who can't understand what other folks might enjoy). Imagine how many people cannot fathom why anyone would want to strap on 50# of crap & jump into cold dark water.
*********************************

My point is that if we accept the notion that ones freedom of choice is limited to what he can explain or justify to the majority of his fellow men, then the very notion of personal freedom is doomed. Since I'm so often questioned as to why I, or anyone would want to engage in such a risky endeavor as diving, what with all the sharks and stuff, I'd hate to let a majority opinion determine whether diving should be allowed.

I defend the rights of smokers, not because I am one, not because I love smokers, not even on principle per se, but for the basest of reasons. I defend the rights of smokers, because I'm convinced that in the long run it's the only way I can preserve my own rights.

To other posters, I apoligise for using this thread as a soapbox. dF

 

[seaducer]

I'm an ex-smoker, so I know what you're talking about.

1 - Smoking kills. There's no way around it, no ambiguous data, it just does.
2 - Smoking inhibits your gas exchange, adding to the possibility of a DCS incidence
3 - Smoking is nasty and expensive. I can get a fill for the price of a pack.
4 - Did I mention smoking kills?

If all else fails, listen to Gene, he's very smart and a good guy to boot.

Quoted for emphasis.

Forget diving, quit for life...