freediving for a smoker

Hi all,

I am considering doing a freedive course next month. At the moment I am a smoker, I smoke on average a pack a day.. I want to quit (like every smoker lol) and think this course will be extra motivation..

I am just wondering; how bad affects smoking your freedive capacities? I read you will do 20m dives during the course.. will this be possible for a smoker or is the negative effect so big you will most likely never make it to that depth? (ofcourse there are exceptions but in general)

If I would quit now and start the course next month; will that directly have a positive effect or does it take longer to recover?

thx all

This will probably be better answered in the medical forum section.
I'll ask a mod to move it for you.

I've had a smoker as a student in one of the basic freediving classes (limited to 20 meters) I teach. He didn't turn in the best performance but did respectabally, 15 m IIRC.

The individual variation we typically see in these basic classes is so wide that we have people who can barely pass the class (escort & rescue their buddy from 10 m), to ear/mask limited at 15 m, to easily making it to 20 m and asking for more. Hence it's impossible to attribute their performance, or lack of it, to smoking. I'm sure there's a study out there that has made a connection though, it just might take some digging.

If you can summon the willpower, I'd reccomend at least stopping smoking two days before the class, to allow the CO to flush out of your bloodstream. Be aware that nicotine gum and chewing tobacco will elevate your heart rate, which will cut into your apnea times.

Best of luck with quitting, perhaps the class will give you more incentive!


All the best, James

thx for the reply fdog. I am thinking about quiting a week before my holiday. First week is always a bit tough, second week the course will be very motivational and i am going with a non smoker..

And why would you start again if you are off them for two weeks