What a disappointment

[MonkSeal]

Right, why the difference?

Why is it only recommended to be fit and ok do guzzle caffeine prior to a deco dive while having a few smokes is a cardinal sin?

Because difference exists. If you had tried to read TSandM's posts in this thread you would've noticed differences between mentioned activities and smoking.

 

[MonkSeal]

There is one. Smokers have higher CO2 retention (their bodies are used to have higher CO2) which is helpful in case of a real OOA. They can hold on without taking a breath a bit longer than others.

I'll take this as a joke and add one big grin

 

[PfcAJ]

Just curious, where do you(GUE) draw the line ie do you take overweight people, people who drink(alot), people with DM or a family hx of DM, people who have HTN, people with hypercholesteremia, people with a hx of Angle Closure Glaucoma(would hate for them to have an 'attack' @ 150' & go blind on the team), people with a hx of mental instability, I'm guessing you get the picture.....Where is the list of no-no's, would be interesting to review......Just curious.....

Ok. Whoa. Check out some of the latest stuff from DAN regarding diabetes. Also, many of the illnesses you pointed out are taken care of in your typical open water health questionaire, or your doctor will advise you on what to do. Some things are common sense, but GUE instituted the no smoking rule as an ADDITIONAL standard.

We can sit here all day long and play the "what if this person has x" game. Most of GUEs courses are over the span of a week. Alcohol abuse, drug addiction, and others will probably show themselves over a weeks time.

 

[Phil K.]

Much of the explanation for the ban on smoking in this thread understandably focuses on the negative physiological affect on the smoker. This is based on the theory that a smoker will evaluate the risk/reward of smoking and make the logical decision to stop. Obviously, unless the smoker lives under a rock or prefers a pit of denial, s/he is well aware that there is no logical basis for the maintenance of this habit. It endagers them and the others who have to breath their second hand smoke. But, put all that aside, I don't think GUE is being paternalistic in the sense that it treats smoking as an absolute contraindication as one more motivator to stop an obviously self-destructive habit. Fundamental to DIR, as taught by GUE, the team is the most important safety aspect of any dive. Beginning with DIR-F, GUE stresses uniformity in equipment, training and standard gasses, but the team is what we rely upon first and foremost for our safety. Apart from the likelihood of developing airway disease, which increases the risk of pulmonary barotrauma from air trapping, the greatest immediate hazard from smoking is excess blood carbon monoxide and decrease in arterial oxygen content. A decrease in blood oxygen content will significantly differentiate the smoking diver decompression schedule vis a vis his nonsmoking team mates making deco planning difficult to say the least. All of this added risk is due to a personal habit that on its face is self-destructive. In relying on my team mates, I want to know I'm diving with people who possess the risk/management skills not to smoke. It is the very emphasis on "safety" that drives GUE's treatment of smoking as an absolute contracindication and distinguishes it from the other agencies who weigh their economic interests as important enough to let it slide.

 

[TSandM]

both helium and cenotes are recreational drugs,

Not enough experience with helium to comment, but the Mexican caves are far, far worse than crack cocaine. One dose, and all you can THINK about is how to get another one . . .

 

[mania]

I'll take this as a joke and add one big grin

As a matter of fact it's not


Mania
PS. Haven't seen you here for a while. How's life?

 

[jeckyll]

If they are going to say no to smokers, they should include the whole gambit. Obesity, alcohol and caffeine too.

So I guess you have 2 options
1) Contact them and suggest it
2) Start your own agency.

No one needs to be a GUE diver to dive. So if you don't like it, don't go that route

 

[do it easy]

Not enough experience with helium to comment, but the Mexican caves are far, far worse than crack cocaine. One dose, and all you can THINK about is how to get another one . . .

I'll admit to huffing trimix preblend out of the tanks in my trunk- it's about the purest helium that you can get that will still sustain consciousness.

 

[H2Andy]

I'll take this as a joke and add one big grin

no, it's true

smokers have the lowest SACs around

then, when you quit, your SAC shoots up, and then it comes back down a little, but never to the same level as when you were a smoker

happened to me and to several other smokers i know

still, not a reason to smoke. smoking is just horrible for you.

 

[MonkSeal]

PS. Haven't seen you here for a while. How's life?

Too many plans, so little free time Tech-2 probably in October, Cave-1 next year, in the meantime diving as much as possible.