Easily overexerted

[ocarolina]

The title says it all...I seem to become overexerted very easily. When I say easily, it's always when I'm kicking against the current, but the people I'm diving with are fine.
Overview of myself: I'm 36, 60kg, average fitness, have approx 170 dives.
Used to suffer from chest infections in U.K. Winter as a child, nothing for 20ish years.
Currently using mares volo races FF, just purchased Avanti Q Power (yet to try).

 

[Scuba J7]

Only when swimming against the current? If so what kind of fins are you using?

Maybe try a stiffer fin if your legs can handle it, I haven't used what you listed but a few reviews said they weren't as stiff as expected.

Only other advise I can offer(besides see a doc) is build up endurance with regular exercise.

 

[ocarolina]

I did mention in the post: mares volo race FF. but las week I did a dive with a guy who was using hire fins and he was fine. As mentioned I orchased some new ones, yet to use them.

 

[flyboy08]

Get a stress test performed.

 

[diver0008]

What kind of kick to you use?

When you say overexerted, does that mean that you begin to breathe too heavily, or your legs get tired?

Are you perhaps diving in current that is beyond your physical ability?

 

[gfaith]

Are you saying Mares Avanti Quattro Plus are the fins you bought? They are pretty stiff good for currents IMHO. About the only stiffer would be Dive Rite XTs.. I have yet to dive the XTs but people say they are very stiff, strong in current.

 

[fmerkel]

Do you do any kind of aerobic exercise (run, bike, swim, etc.)? If you do, how does that go and how do you compare to people of your age and size?

If you don't exercise....then you best get on some kind of a program.

If you have reason to believe you are not just out of shape and this may be a limitation imposed by some respiratory (asthma?), or cardiac issue (many possibilities) an appropriate workup by a physician is in order.

FWIW, I tried out Volos once. Didn't like them at all. I'm small, not strong on an absolute basis, so don't like stiff paddles, but I hold my own quite well for getting around and endurance.
When it comes to fins there is a world of opinions available to you. In general splits like Atomic, Apollo, Tusa are easier and more efficient, but will not fix serious personal deficiencies.

 

[Bubblesong]

It might be helpful to ask someone to observe your swimming style. I am planning to join the YMCA, and get coaching, this Spring to work on swimming efficiency. Another suspect can be how streamlined your gear is, usually an advanced diver can offer insights on this.
Even though you are young, it would be a great idea to get a stress test for your heart and make sure your overall health is as strong as can be.

 

[Herb-alaska]

If you do not have exercise tolerance on land as well as in the water then you need to verify that this is not a medical issue . Talk to your Dr about a Pulmonary Function test and a Exercise Stress test to check the cardio vascular system. If you are fine on dry land and the problem is only in the water than look at it from a dive perspective

 

[Kharon]

Some time ago I got winded and my legs got shaky going up a single flight of stairs - walking, not running. Got sent to every specialist and had every possible test. All said I was in excellent shape. I even scored 140% of expected on a metcart stress test. WTF. I can't walk up a single flight of stairs. DON"T tell me I'm in great health.

As a last resort got sent to a neurologist. When I got back from the appointment, my wife (in the med field, so knows everything) told me the guy was an ancient quack and would have cancelled the appointment had she known.

Long story long, went back for post testing consult to the neuro and he said "In the 40 plus years I've been practicing I've only seen this once, and that was as an intern". He sent me to an endrocronologist.

Turns out I had a large mass on my thymus. Got it cut out and have been fine since. The moral is - don't give up till you find the cause. Any specialist sees only a very small segment. I was fine playing soccer but couldn't walk up stairs - and it wasn't because of my cleats.

It might be something as simple as fins or swimming style, but if you have normal stamina in other activities you might want to get checked out