How Fit Do I Need to Be to Scuba Dive?
Scuba diving caters for different age groups and tastes, but before you grab your kit and start heading for the water, make sure that you are well informed of the health and fitness requirements that scuba diving, especially in open water. In most cases, diving authorities require necessary medical statements to determine whether one is fit enough to dive. PADI professionals (Dive Master and up) have to have an annual HSE Diving Medical. Although one does not really have to be Olympic athlete fit to dive, a proper personal assessment is always the safe and practical step before venturing into scuba diving especially if you are a holiday only diver and/or you are going to be diving where there is current.
Important Health Considerations for Scuba Divers
If you do not regularly ride a bicycle and I asked you next week to ride the bicycle for three times a day for about an hour on each session for six consecutive days, you would be tired and have a few aches and pains I am sure. Yet we do this when holiday diving. No diving for a long spell then without any fitness preparation we gorge dive getting in the water two and three times a day for one week. Boy do we sleep well!! Diving is all about buoyancy and buoyancy is all about breath control. Good cardio vascular conditioning generally ends up with good buoyancy and good air consumption even in some current.
Prior to your next holiday, prepare in advance, maybe one or two months before, with some regular light cardio vascular work outs. Be it swimming, getting the bicycle out, work out in the gym, using a rowing machine, do something. Remember your kit on land is heavy it can very tiring heaving the equipment on before you jump in. Fining requires a lot of muscular work and uses front and back leg muscles. Working out prior to your holiday will improve your cardio vascular, therefore improve your air consumption, improve your buoyancy, help reduce cramp and make your diving all the more fun.
Not all good divers are vice-free, however, keeping reasonably fit will improve your diving, air consumption and reduce diving stress and making you even more comfortable in the water. Dive safe.
Scuba Diving Fitness
How Fit Do I Need to Be to Scuba Dive?
Scuba diving caters for different age groups and tastes, but before you grab your kit and start heading for the water, make sure that you are well informed of the health and fitness requirements that scuba diving, especially in open water. In most cases, diving authorities require necessary medical statements to determine whether one is fit enough to dive. PADI professionals (Dive Master and up) have to have an annual HSE Diving Medical. Although one does not really have to be Olympic athlete fit to dive, a proper personal assessment is always the safe and practical step before venturing into scuba diving especially if you are a holiday only diver and/or you are going to be diving where there is current.
Important Health Considerations for Scuba Divers
If you do not regularly ride a bicycle and I asked you next week to ride the bicycle for three times a day for about an hour on each session for six consecutive days, you would be tired and have a few aches and pains I am sure. Yet we do this when holiday diving. No diving for a long spell then without any fitness preparation we gorge dive getting in the water two and three times a day for one week. Boy do we sleep well!! Diving is all about buoyancy and buoyancy is all about breath control. Good cardio vascular conditioning generally ends up with good buoyancy and good air consumption even in some current.
Prior to your next holiday, prepare in advance, maybe one or two months before, with some regular light cardio vascular work outs. Be it swimming, getting the bicycle out, work out in the gym, using a rowing machine, do something. Remember your kit on land is heavy it can very tiring heaving the equipment on before you jump in. Fining requires a lot of muscular work and uses front and back leg muscles. Working out prior to your holiday will improve your cardio vascular, therefore improve your air consumption, improve your buoyancy, help reduce cramp and make your diving all the more fun.
Not all good divers are vice-free, however, keeping reasonably fit will improve your diving, air consumption and reduce diving stress and making you even more comfortable in the water. Dive safe.