So what is too overweight to dive?

[Oriskany Divemaster]

For me it's like pornography....you know it when you see it.

I once had a guy on the boat who had to use two weight belts worn as bandoliers across his chest because it was the smallest part of his torso. We got down the anchor line to 40 feet and he was already at 1000psi--the cue to begin our ascent.

I had another guy who was just as big, but was quick on his feet and seemed to sip air.

A few months ago I had a skinnie-minnie woman who shot around the boat like she was speed soaked in caffeine. She got all the way to 80 feet before she was at a 1000, then managed to run out of air during her safety stop. She just never stopped moving.

I gave up prejudging based on weight alone. There's that something extra that's hard to put your finger on. With the big guy who sipped the air, he looked like he'd spent a lot of time outside. The bandolier guy appeared as if he spent most of his days on the couch. And the woman, she struck me as someone who recently gave up smoking cigarettes, but not crack.

 

[almitywife]

well i dont NW. im more interested in my own dive group/buddy i suppose.

maybe more people should mind their own business and just go diving

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

And the woman, she struck me as someone who recently gave up smoking cigarettes, but not crack.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Kim]

Would you consider the guy you're using for an avatar to be fit? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes...sumo wrestlers are super fit. The amount of training they do every day is awesome....as well as the amount of high protein food they consume. What's interesting about them though is that with a few exceptions when they finish their professional career (normally still in their 20s) they lose all that weight within a few months and end up looking completely different.

Just for the record....I'm not trying to stop anyone diving...this is personal. I am trying to work out for myself what some people have already posted - when is it too much for ME that I'd keep myself out of the water both for my own sake....and the sake of anyone with me. A couple of people have posted very honestly about that and I appreciate that. At the end of the day everyone makes their own personal decision and that's fine. As I said right at the beginning though....decisions involve responsibility....so it's good to have some idea what responsible is, rather than rushing out and buying a several sizes larger wetsuit without thinking about it.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

well i dont NW. im more interested in my own dive group/buddy i suppose.

maybe more people should mind their own business and just go diving

It was more an observation of human nature than diving ... no matter what you do, there will always be people who'll get gratification from criticizing people who aren't like them.

With respect to this topic, people who spend a lot of energy in their lives watching their weight and working out in gyms are almost always critical and condescending when it comes to those who don't ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Cacia]

With respect to this topic, people who spend a lot of energy in their lives watching their weight and working out in gyms are almost always critical and condescending when it comes to those who don't ...

That's true...

 

[almitywife]

..... I am trying to work out for myself what some people have already posted - when is it too much for ME that I'd keep myself out of the water .....

take it from me... when the suit is stretched to the limit and dont fit anymore is a real good indicator :shakehead

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

take it from me... when the suit is stretched to the limit and dont fit anymore is a real good indicator :shakehead

It's an especially good indicator when the suit is trilaminate (which doesn't stretch) and costs over $2,000 ...

... Bob (Grateful DIver)

 

[Gary D.]

I'm 6' 260lb, and I started considering myself fat when I developed the "larger than normal" love handles. I don't think I could stand being 310lbs.

See, right off the bat you think 6’ at 310# is fat.

It’s a friend of mine that the FBI Academy turned down saying he was obese, which he was by the old height vs weight charts.

But he had less than 6% body fat and is into health foods. No jack needed when it came time to change a tire. His arms were bigger than my legs.

He was on our dive team for a lot of years and packed everything in one hand.

Gary D.

 

[danielt]

great call grateful diver......
i am new diver...approx 5-6kg o/w.
pre-season soccer starts next week should be getting rid of that fat. heart attacks, smoking, booze abuse......its everywhere!
what about running out of air?