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Scuba Divers...

purbeast0

purbeast0

No Lifer
So I'm an asthmatic and it can be dangerous to go scuba diving if you have asthma unless you are cleared by your doctor or a specialist. I'm going to Cancun in January and am hoping to be able to try scuba for the first time, possibly there or Cozumel. Snorkeling is my favorite thing to do on my trips, I could do it all day.

Well I just setup a dive physical with someone recommended from the Divers Alert Network.

My appointment is next Tuesday, wish me luck!

/blog

EDIT:

SUCCESS!

did a beginner dive in Cancun off the coast of Isla Mujeres where we went down about 30 feet and it was amazing! I had absolutely no problems at all other than being a little nervous at first, but once down there and all felt comfortable it was simply amazing!

i think my brother and i are now going to try and do the classes and get certified to get more informed about everything and just overall get more knowledge!

here are a few pics they took of me. unfortunately my camera got a lenses error the day prior to our dive, but i fixed it, and within 5 minutes of going down it got a lense error again

http://i55.tinypic.com/fp5a55.jpg

http://i51.tinypic.com/23lzhmo.jpg
 
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Good luck. If you're not planning on diving deeper than 30ft, I wouldn't worry much about getting bent in an emergency ascent. (though it's clearly still good to observe proper ascent procedure otherwise)
 
im asthmatic also, been diving for 5 years with no problems. went to pcp prior to starting certification course, all he said was to do usual medications & take rescue inhaler before a dive to be cautious (which I usually don't). but, my asthma is really well controlled with advair, not brought on by physical activity (allergies instead), and I am not prone to attacks whatsoever, so I think I am low risk overall.

Ultimately its going to be YOUR decision whether you feel safe enough or not. Start slow and see how your body reacts, but I wouldnt expect any problems. By diving within recreational limits you SHOULD be safe ascending without decompression or safety stops in the case of an emergency. This really is only for peace of mind though, if your asthma ever forces you to abort a dive it probably means you should stop.

There has been speculation that asthmatics have a higher risk of getting bent, but I think an article in DAN's magazine said either the results were inconclusive or needed more research.

You are gonna love going under, completely different world than snorkeling.
 
I've had lots of students with asthma, no big deal. One of the concerns is due to the air being very dry and it causing your lungs to become irritated. The other is in case you feel symptoms and need to ascend, but at 1ft/sec that's not such a big deal if you are relatively shallow.

Exercised induced asthma can be a problem too, but if you just relax and have a good time it shouldn't worry you. Try not to rush your diving by swimming all over the damn place, some of my best dives were simply sitting on the bottom and just watching. After a few minutes the inhabitants take you as a new part of the scenery and go back to their normal activities, something you will not see if you cruise on through.

Have fun, diving is a great experience.
 
HardcoreRobot said:
im asthmatic also, been diving for 5 years with no problems. went to pcp prior to starting certification course, all he said was to do usual medications & take rescue inhaler before a dive to be cautious (which I usually don't). but, my asthma is really well controlled with advair, not brought on by physical activity (allergies instead), and I am not prone to attacks whatsoever, so I think I am low risk overall.

Ultimately its going to be YOUR decision whether you feel safe enough or not. Start slow and see how your body reacts, but I wouldnt expect any problems. By diving within recreational limits you SHOULD be safe ascending without decompression or safety stops in the case of an emergency. This really is only for peace of mind though, if your asthma ever forces you to abort a dive it probably means you should stop.

There has been speculation that asthmatics have a higher risk of getting bent, but I think an article in DAN's magazine said either the results were inconclusive or needed more research.

You are gonna love going under, completely different world than snorkeling.
Click to expand...

thanks for the input.

my asthma has been pretty well controlled ever since i got put on advair probably 3-4 years ago.

prior to that i was using my inhaler about 3 times a day. now, i use advair maybe once a day, before I go workout. sometimes I'll go days without using it.

i lift weights 4 days a week pretty hardcore and play football on the weekends, so I'm pretty active. i haven't needed my actual inhaler since i've been put on advair, not even exercise induced, whereas before i was on advair i would usually need it after an activity or midway through it.

i'm fairly confident that all will go okay for me at the physical, but i just want to be as certain as possible. i know some people are triggered by the cold air from a scuba tank, which is one of the tests you do during a dive physical.

actually before my last vacation, i went to my asthma/allergy doctor and went over this with him, and he signed me off and gave me clearance. he knows my history as well since ive been going to him for a long time. however just doing some more research, i figured i better get a dive physical before i actually make the decision, just to be safe.
 
You're going to love it! Just follow the advice that others ahve given you: stay shallow (30 feet or less) and go slow. It's a completely different and fascinating world down there.

Dave
 
purbeast0 said:
thanks for the input.

my asthma has been pretty well controlled ever since i got put on advair probably 3-4 years ago.

prior to that i was using my inhaler about 3 times a day. now, i use advair maybe once a day, before I go workout. sometimes I'll go days without using it.

i lift weights 4 days a week pretty hardcore and play football on the weekends, so I'm pretty active. i haven't needed my actual inhaler since i've been put on advair, not even exercise induced, whereas before i was on advair i would usually need it after an activity or midway through it.

i'm fairly confident that all will go okay for me at the physical, but i just want to be as certain as possible. i know some people are triggered by the cold air from a scuba tank, which is one of the tests you do during a dive physical.

actually before my last vacation, i went to my asthma/allergy doctor and went over this with him, and he signed me off and gave me clearance. he knows my history as well since ive been going to him for a long time. however just doing some more research, i figured i better get a dive physical before i actually make the decision, just to be safe.
Click to expand...
its a risky activity for sure, but DAN (and some diving teachers) definitely overemphasize the risks. well I guess you cant overemphasize, but once you do it you wont feel endangered. just wait till you see some of the old ass whales trying to cram themselves into their wetsuits... it definitely helps to be fit, but its certainly not a prerequisite - especially if you dive within your ability (skill & exertion)
 
Since you're sticking with recreational diving I don't see how asthma would be a big deal. Even if you have an attack you can go straight to the surface as long as you ascend at a controlled rate. Decompression diving would be a whole different issue, but it's not like you're talking about doing that.
 
ichy said:
Since you're sticking with recreational diving I don't see how asthma would be a big deal. Even if you have an attack you can go straight to the surface as long as you ascend at a controlled rate. Decompression diving would be a whole different issue, but it's not like you're talking about doing that.
Click to expand...

An emergency ascent from 100 feet and you're likely to have serious trouble.
 
spidey07 said:
An emergency ascent from 100 feet and you're likely to have serious trouble.
Click to expand...

Depends on what you mean by "emergency." Any recreational diver should be able to ascend directly to the surface, but yeah, obviously shooting up like a rocket is a bad idea.
 
well I go in tomorrow for the actual scuba physical.

in order to go to it, I had to get 6 "tests" done and bring my results in. I had to do the following...

2 Blood Tests (CBC and some other basic one, cant remember the name)
EKG
Chest X-Ray
Pulmonary Function Test
Methacoline Challenge Test.

I finished up the Methacoline Challenge Test yesterday, which was pretty interesting. It is actually the test they use to diagnose people with asthma. The funny thing is, w/my controlled asthma, I wouldn't even be considered an asthmatic right now heh. It was odd though because the test basically forces asthma symptoms on you, and then you have to do the PFT test. There are 5 stages of dosages you take, each one getting stronger. By the end of the test my chest was pretty tight, however I was still able to exert more air out of my lungs than a person they would diagnose with asthma would be able to exert.

So tomorrow I take all my results to the scuba dive physical and I'm hoping he gives me the go head. I leave for cancun this Saturday so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
 
My first thoughts, if your down and start to have an attack - dont panic. Its probably easier to breath while scuba diving, then it is to breath above water.

NAUI certified since July 1993, but I have not been diving in years.
 
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Texashiker said:
My first thoughts, if your down and start to have an attack - dont panic. Its probably easier to breath while scuba diving, then it is to breath above water.

NAUI certified since July 1993, but I have not been diving in years.
Click to expand...

That depends a bit on the regulator, but quite often, yeah. As far as exercise induced (which isn't your case) - it can be less vigorous than even walking. You adjust your buoyancy to be neutral, so you're pretty much just suspended in the water column. It takes more effort to remain upright while sitting on a couch watching television. Unless you're like the 16 year old kids I took my diving classes with. I'd go through about 1/3 of a tank of air, and their tanks would be just about empty. Sucks to be behind people like that too, when diving near the bottom - they're swimming so hard that they stir up all sorts of muck on the bottom.
 
Just don't let the resort course there sour you on it. Cancun has some clear water, just watch out for the current. Better diving over at Cozumel if you get the chance.
 
spidey07 said:
Just don't let the resort course there sour you on it. Cancun has some clear water, just watch out for the current. Better diving over at Cozumel if you get the chance.
Click to expand...

yea we're going to try and do a day trip to cozumel if the doc says i'm good to go.
 
purbeast0 said:
yea we're going to try and do a day trip to cozumel if the doc says i'm good to go.
Click to expand...

Have fun learning how to clear your mask. That always freaks people out.😀

Remember, it's OK to puke in your regulator. Cough and sneeze as well. And you're using rental gear.D:
 
SUCCESS!

did a beginner dive in Cancun off the coast of Isla Mujeres where we went down about 30 feet and it was amazing! I had absolutely no problems at all other than being a little nervous at first, but once down there and all felt comfortable it was simply amazing!

i think my brother and i are now going to try and do the classes and get certified to get more informed about everything and just overall get more knowledge!

here are a few pics they took of me. unfortunately my camera got a lenses error the day prior to our dive, but i fixed it, and within 5 minutes of going down it got a lense error again

http://i55.tinypic.com/fp5a55.jpg

http://i51.tinypic.com/23lzhmo.jpg
 
It is all over now! Just dig a hole and keep throwing your money into it. I have been for a few years now, better late than never!

If you are really interested start looking around scubaboard.com, you can ask lots of questions and they should have a sub-board for where you live.
 
I was lucky enough to get to do 2 dives off the wall on St. Croix over Christmas. First one I bottomed out at 108' and the second one I stopped descending around 65'. I would have done a lot more but I came down with a cold after my day of dives. I had trouble with my ears on my second dive(due to congestion from the cold) and stressed them pretty bad so I really didn't want risk hurting them any further.

Now that you've gotten a taste of diving it's all over. Glad you had a good time, it only gets better as you absolutely never know what you might run into while diving!
 
Spg said:
It is all over now! Just dig a hole and keep throwing your money into it. I have been for a few years now, better late than never!

If you are really interested start looking around scubaboard.com, you can ask lots of questions and they should have a sub-board for where you live.
Click to expand...

If you really get into it sure your wallet is going to take a hit. I have 100+ dives and still no computer, no BC, etc. Just mask, fins, snorkel, wetsuit and a knife. Oh, Camera - that's where the money hit comes in. 1000 bucks to dip your toe and it only goes up from there. OP needs to focus on being comfortable with diving first.

It's like golf, it seems expensive at first because you're dropping money everywhere...and then you learn to play smart.
 
looks like a nice place to dive.

my first checkout dive was at la jolla shores. 8 foot visibility, ~40 F water (and falling).

was fun tho.
 
Fayd said:
looks like a nice place to dive.

my first checkout dive was at la jolla shores. 8 foot visibility, ~40 F water (and falling).

was fun tho.
Click to expand...

i snorkeled at la jolla in july and the water was freaking ridiculously cold. and yea the visibility was terrible. it was actually a waste of snorkeling, might as well just done the kayak part and not even attempt to snorkel.
 
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