Bill D
Registered
As an instructor I am always surprised to see a lot of potential divers wanting to try the sport yet having been couch potatoes for the past decade. True, a new student can pass the swim tests easily and even get certified, but those are usually done under controlled and manageable conditions. Add currents, depth, darkness, low viz, unfamiliarity with the site or buddy, cold water temps, peer pressure to dive, infrequest diving, being lost and a host of other situations; and fitness (both mental and physical), become serious safety issues. Just look at the statistics DAN has amassed over the years or note the changes in the medical statements now being used by diving organizations. It applies to newbies, experienced divers and instructors. All it takes is one incident and you can be a historical event! Fitness needs to be a safety factor, not a safety liability.
