fp Turks and Caicos

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Recreational scuba diving is an enjoyable and demanding sport that is both a physical and mental activity.

Diving requires you to be in good health. There are times when strenuous activities come into play, and you should have the fitness and conditioning to handle these activities.

These could include unanticipated physical demands as well as an emergency. Being in good health gives you piece of mind that you can meet any situation which could affect your safety.

To scuba dive safely, you should be in good condition. Your respiratory and circulatory system must be in good health. All body air space must be normal and healthy.

A person with coronary disease, a current cold or congestion, epilepsy, a severe medical problem or who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs should not dive. If you have asthma, heart disease other chronic medical conditions or you are taking medications on a regular basis, you should consult your doctor.

Some scuba diving agencies like the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI), Scuba School International (SSI) and Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC) have standardized medical questionnaires that must be completed by the student before training. A positive response to a question does not necessarily disqualify you from diving.

However, it means that there is a preexisting condition or contraindication that may affect your safety while diving. Prior to engaging in dive activities, you are required to obtain a signed medical clearance from a doctor. The RSTC (incorporated in the United States in 1986), has a Medical Statement in which divers are informed of some potential risks involved in scuba diving.

Tips to scuba diving safety

You should never use alcohol, drugs or tobacco before diving because they can impair your judgment at depth, where pressure can increase their effects.

Alcohol before or right after a dive can also increase your risk of decompression sickness. If you drink the night before a dive, you may become dehydrated, which again predisposes you to decompression sickness.

Decompression sickness (DCS) is nitrogen bubbles blocking blood circulation in the body after a dive.

Discuss possible effects with your doctor if you are taking a prescription drug prior to a dive.

You may want to reschedule the dive if you are in doubt because medications can provoke undersea reactions.

Avoid smoking.

Smoking is detrimental to your health. If you do smoke, you should abstain a few hours before and after diving.

Smoking decreases the efficiency of your circulatory and respiratory system significantly. Air trapping within your lungs can occur, and this can increase your risk of lung over expansion injury.

If you don’t feel well, you should not dive.

Diving with a cold can cause sinus and ear squeeze or reverse blocks due to equalization difficulties. If you dive when you have a chest cold, air trapping can occur, with a risk of lung overexpansion injury.

Next issue: Divers workout or physical fitness

Gustavo Simons-Martinez (in photo) is a PADI course director, emergency first response instructor trainer, British Red Cross First Aid trainer and DAN instructor.