diver fitness

[MSDdan]

Hi

As a general guideline what would you say is a good level of fitness. eg: how fit should a individual be to dive.

i am currently battleing to improve my fitness to what it was a few years ago, and would like to come up with some sort of goal(s).

thanks
Dan
:) :) :)

[Michael Purcell]

Work on cardio at least 3 times a week.
Try to keep a "healthy weight" and don't drink heavily and chain smoke.

Enough "weight-training" to feel confident in your kit on the surface.

Of course a number of the people I dive with are chain-smoking, morbidly obese alcoholics but that's why I work on my self-rescue skills and only do "light" dives with them.

[Badders (Dave)]

Of course a number of the people I dive with are chain-smoking, morbidly obese alcoholics but that's why I work on my self-rescue skills and only do "light" dives with them.

:D Does this mean I can loose some weight, smoke and drink less and still be part of the club?:D

Badders

[Michael Purcell]

:D Does this mean I can loose some weight, smoke and drink less and still be part of the club?:D

Badders

Actually I think the process is you start in pretty good shape and it rapidly deteriorates until you match the lifers :D (Haven't really seen it go the other way, except under doctor's supervision)

:cool:

[David Walker]

Don't really need to be very fit to dive - thats not to say its not better being fit, but unfit people manage perfectly fine too (although obviously there are extremes to everything). The only thing to consider really is rescues - if someone is so unfit that they can't tow their buddy to the shore if they had an accident then there may be a problem. Also need enough strength to haul yourself out of the water at the end of a dive, and be able to swim against at least a moderate current.

David

[judithbodkin]

Don't really need to be very fit to dive - thats not to say its not better being fit, but unfit people manage perfectly fine too (although obviously there are extremes to everything). The only thing to consider really is rescues - if someone is so unfit that they can't tow their buddy to the shore if they had an accident then there may be a problem. Also need enough strength to haul yourself out of the water at the end of a dive, and be able to swim against at least a moderate current.

David

The other thing that comes to mind if they are dived up. Regular pool training of they skills i.e. Rescue Skills there shouldn't be any problem. Recently I ran a "Lifesaver Course" it's another good way in getting them to practice. It's just a thought!!!!:
cool:

[Badders (Dave)]

Actually I think the process is you start in pretty good shape and it rapidly deteriorates until you match the lifers :D (Haven't really seen it go the other way, except under doctor's supervision)

:cool:

Sounds like I've got a head start on blending in:)

Dan
I think that a persons fitness needs to be at least average for most of the dive trips that I've been on so far. The actual dive doesn't really require any fitness in fact as the experience is very relaxing and you are weightless It perhaps wouldn't be a problem for quite an unfit person.

The physical demanding bit is getting to and from the water

I've only been playing at diving since February this year so I haven't seen and done loads but enough to test my fitness a bit.

This is what I have found:

1. wearing the kit out side of the water; I bet a full set of SCUBA weighs in at close to 50 or 60 LB, also you will probably wear a dry suit in the U.K making you sweat ALOT. That combination puts a massive strain on the heart and if you suffer from back problems you'll perhaps end up in bed for a week:(

2. Getting to the waters edge; some dives require a fair old walk, whilst wearing all that heavy sweaty stuff. Could make you puff and pant and your legs wobble a bit.

3. Getting out of the water; When you have been just swimming for say an hour in a swimming pool, have you noticed how much heavier you feel when climbing out of the steps or better still when climbing out via the side? Imagine how this feels whilst climbing up boat steps which are much longer than pool steps, whilst wearing that 50 odd LB I mentioned earlier:eek:

4.The art of climbing back into a R.I.B; albeit you take the heavy stuff off first but the act of climbing out of the water onto a sausage with a 3 foot diameter requires a modicum of upper body strength even with your mates helping.

I have seen some lifts and things to help take the grunt out of everything, I recon that if organized properly a person with limited fitness could do certain dives.

Cheers

Badders

[Dave (Simmo)]

The fitter the better - i dive with two guys who runs 5+ miles on a regular basis both of their air consumption is in low double/high single figures so they're getting longer dives than me
admitedly they are both very experienced but the fitness must be helping

Dave

[PeteM]

1. wearing the kit out side of the water; I bet a full set of SCUBA weighs in at close to 50 or 60 LB

I wish!

Typical dive kit (as warn this morning)

2 * 12L @ 13Kg
1 * 7 @ 8Kg
3 * regs @ 1Kg
Pillar valves and manifolds say another 4Kg
Backplate 2.5Kg
Weight belt 6Kg
Plus torches, line cutters, etc

Lets call it 50Kg

Funnily enough I don't tend to walk too far in it

[padi paddy]

I think there are really two issues here:

As a diver we should strive to be as fit/healthy as possible.

However if you are an instructor you SHOULD be fairly fit, people may depend on it.

Regards R
:D

[judithbodkin]

I think there are really two issues here:

As a diver we should strive to be as fit/healthy as possible.

However if you are an instructor you SHOULD be fairly fit, people may depend on it.

Regards R
:D

I totally agree with you on both issues here. Another reason for keeping the skills up to date. Another reason why we like to run the "Lifesaver Course" again we feel it's important.

Same last October when I had my "Advanced Lifesaver Assessment" as a Club I ended up practising the whole thing about 4 times before the event. It was a very good way to get other members in doing this. Even with the fine tuning!!!! It doesn't do them any harm. This was including OD, SP,DL and other AD.

Being on the South East Region Coaching this is another way that Keep my own skills up to date. Plus every so often being on the side of table being the Student. The last 2 courses that I had been the student. Some of the students thought that it was very good to see one the Instructors being one them. It comes across even we have to refresh our skills every so often.

:D :D :D

[Badders (Dave)]

Lets call it 50Kg

Pete
your just greedy:)

I don't think my kit comes to 30Kg 'YET':rolleyes:

Cheers

Badders

[PeteM]

Pete
your just greedy:)

Not greedy, paranoid maybe :D