NavyDoll
Contributor
Here's a question that I've been pondering since late last week...
Is it possible to be TOO cardiovascularly fit for diving??
I'm an avid scuba diver (imagine that?!)... and I run, cycle and swim to keep in shape and stay healthy! I have naturally low blood pressure (resting ~ 100/65 sometimes lower) and a low resting heart rate (50-55bpm).
When I dive... my SAC rate is usually between 0.40 CFM & 0.50 CFM. I'm very relaxed in the water at depth and breath at the same rate throughout my dives.
Last Friday, on a deep dive (137ft)... I experienced a bout of dizziness and shortness of breath. The major thought I had was... "oh ****... I'm going to pass out... I need to go shallower". We began a slow ascent and the symptoms started to disapate above 110-115ft..
After the dive we discussed the possibility of my being narc'd... but the symptoms didn't really seem to indicate narcosis. Then I looked into CO2 Retention... and it seemed to better describe what I'd experienced.
We have since concluded that although I breath deep enough... I don't breath often enough (NO.. I'm not SKIP BREATHING)!! I may have reached a point where I'm too cardiovascularly fit... to dive and breath the way that I normally do!!
So.. my question... has anyone else experienced something similar?? Does anyone else have a high level of cardiovascular fitness that has affected them while diving?? Looking forward to any insight!!
NavyDoll
:scuba:
Is it possible to be TOO cardiovascularly fit for diving??
I'm an avid scuba diver (imagine that?!)... and I run, cycle and swim to keep in shape and stay healthy! I have naturally low blood pressure (resting ~ 100/65 sometimes lower) and a low resting heart rate (50-55bpm).
When I dive... my SAC rate is usually between 0.40 CFM & 0.50 CFM. I'm very relaxed in the water at depth and breath at the same rate throughout my dives.
Last Friday, on a deep dive (137ft)... I experienced a bout of dizziness and shortness of breath. The major thought I had was... "oh ****... I'm going to pass out... I need to go shallower". We began a slow ascent and the symptoms started to disapate above 110-115ft..
After the dive we discussed the possibility of my being narc'd... but the symptoms didn't really seem to indicate narcosis. Then I looked into CO2 Retention... and it seemed to better describe what I'd experienced.
We have since concluded that although I breath deep enough... I don't breath often enough (NO.. I'm not SKIP BREATHING)!! I may have reached a point where I'm too cardiovascularly fit... to dive and breath the way that I normally do!!
So.. my question... has anyone else experienced something similar?? Does anyone else have a high level of cardiovascular fitness that has affected them while diving?? Looking forward to any insight!!
NavyDoll
:scuba: