Frequent exercising and diving. .. DCS risk?

[Nikole]

Any thoughts on the subject?
How much is too much?
If you exercise frequently...during a diving vacation, is it still possible to still be able to exercise without having any diving-related problems or do you just play it safe and take the week off? How do you time your workouts and around dives? This question is more for athletes, or anyone that just exercises frequently (weights, races, etx etc....)

 

[Lorenzoid]

Here's an article that may be of interest: What is Decompression, Diving, Exercise and Timing — Medical Dive Article — DAN | Divers Alert Network

 

[TMHeimer]

Good article basically saying they're not sure about exercise--much like not being sure of a lot about the risks of DCS. Most of my dives are 30' or less, so I don't change my regular exercise routine. If you're doing a week of 100' dives from a boat you're probably getting more (though different) exercise than in a normal week, so why risk it?

 

[Nikole]

Here's an article that may be of interest: What is Decompression, Diving, Exercise and Timing — Medical Dive Article — DAN | Divers Alert Network

Thanks I will check it out!

 

[RyanT]

If you're doing a week of 100' dives from a boat you're probably getting more (though different) exercise than in a normal week, so why risk it?

+1

 

[dumpsterDiver]

I am not that diligent with working out, but if you did a moderate work out in the morning before diving and you make sure you are hydrated and rested, I doubt there is a big problem. I frequently will go for a bike ride in the evening, even if I did several scuba dives that day.

 

[BoltSnap]

30'/10 meters you will tend to stay longer u/w and thus you will accumulate more nitrogen in your slower tissue, wouldn't that be a problem?

 

[TMHeimer]

30'/10 meters you will tend to stay longer u/w and thus you will accumulate more nitrogen in your slower tissue, wouldn't that be a problem?

Don't know, but doubt it. Considering the NDL for 30' (PADI RDP) is 3 Hrs. 25 mins. and my total (2 dive with SI) time is maybe 90 minutes at the outside before my Air gets low (or less if cold time of year) or I get bored, I won't worry about the slow tissues. Plus it's usually 30' max maybe 20' avg., where you basically could stay down forever and ascend directly.

 

[SeaHorse81]

If you're doing a week of 100' dives from a boat you're probably getting more (though different) exercise than in a normal week, so why risk it?

That's been my experience. The dives themselves aren't usually that much exercise (unless there's some current), although they're certainly more exercise than sitting in front of a computer, which is probably what I'd be doing otherwise.

When I do a liveaboard, I go up and down flights of steps so many times every day all through the trip, in addition to hauling my sorry self up the ladder at the end of each dive, that I end up burning off all those extra calories that I get from the great meals and snacks that are served. I eat enough to gain a significant amount of weight during those weeks, yet I don't. That tells me I'm doing a lot more work than I think I am, so I don't worry about getting enough exercise. It's already happening as a result of what I'm doing.

 

[Crowley]

Regular exercise and diving are not mutually exclusive. Avoid heavy exercise directly before and after diving as this does have an increased risk of DCS due to an - increase in heart rate / blood pressure / metabolism / probably other things - as does working excessively during fa dive. But you do have to really put in some effort. The one particular area of concern I have is having to do a difficult surface swim back to the pick up point - I've heard several cases of people getting bent after an arduous surface swim, but by "arduous" I mean fighting a losing battle with the current knowing your boat can't see you.

But generally speaking, exercise is good for diving.

Cheers

C.