I have Asthma and I want to Scuba dive!

[Herk_Man]

You sound very much like my son. He is an exceptional athlete (made state in 200m dash as a freshman at a 6A Oklahoma school) played varsity football and varsity baseball at 6A level as a sophomore. Runs a 4.4 40. And he has asthma. He takes some prescription meds each morning seasonally to control it. Hasn't used an inhaler for years.

He loves scuba diving and doctor had no qualms about clearing him to do so.

I think that a quick visit to your doctor will get you on your way.

Have fun!

 

[poe67]

I too have asthma and it has been under control since the release of advair. I've been diving since 1993 with the asthma and so far it has not been an issue. My doctor sees me once a year to go over my perscriptions, check my lung function, and just a generalized physical. Our dive club is heading to Barbados from 3/20 - 3/28.... perhaps will run it to you out there.

 

[purbeast]

I too have asthma and it has been under control since the release of advair. I've been diving since 1993 with the asthma and so far it has not been an issue. My doctor sees me once a year to go over my perscriptions, check my lung function, and just a generalized physical. Our dive club is heading to Barbados from 3/20 - 3/28.... perhaps will run it to you out there.

Hah wow I'm going March 20th to March 27th!

If you see a noobie out there diving it may just be me heh.

I'm going to phone DAN in a little bit and see if they can point me to the right direction.

Otherwise I'm going to give my other doctor a call back (haven't heard anything yet) and just ask the secretary what is going on. I am a procrostinator by heart so I have put this off pretty close to my vacation, and now I have to try and get it done heh.

 

[--tom--]

So this post is for the post-asthmatic decision (i.e. if the doctor says no, then it is a moot point); are you thinking of just taking a tour underwater, or are you planning on getting certified?

If you are planning on getting certified, there are some logistics you may want to know ahead of time & the board is great on helping.

 

[purbeast]

well what I plan on doing is seeing if I can get cleared first and then doing one of those beginner dive things when I go to barbados. so i guess you can say for now i an just basically taking an underwater tour.

if i do that, and i enjoy it (which I am pretty sure I will) and I feel okay, then I want to get into it more seriously, which I think would then mean getting certified and what not.

I called DAN and they gave me a dive doctor they had on their list however it is like 40 miles from me. So I searched the instructor list on the DAN website and have contacted some of the local instructors via email to see if they have any doctors they recommend that are more local. hopefully by tomorrow i will have an appointment made somewhere.

 

[robint]

well what I plan on doing is seeing if I can get cleared first and then doing one of those beginner dive things when I go to barbados. so i guess you can say for now i an just basically taking an underwater tour.

if i do that, and i enjoy it (which I am pretty sure I will) and I feel okay, then I want to get into it more seriously, which I think would then mean getting certified and what not.

I called DAN and they gave me a dive doctor they had on their list however it is like 40 miles from me. So I searched the instructor list on the DAN website and have contacted some of the local instructors via email to see if they have any doctors they recommend that are more local. hopefully by tomorrow i will have an appointment made somewhere.

Good for you, get the right clearances and assessments from a doctor who knows scuba. You may very well be able to do the certification. Just be very aware of the risks, because of your medical condition and medications, and the risks of those diving with you. Your assigned dive buddy will be responsible for you underwater, and you for him.

robin

 

[--tom--]

& please take the dated and signed doctor's release with you when you go.

Oh, and have fun.

 

[BarrelRoll]

I wouldn't worry too much, just pick up an extra pack of cigarettes on the way to do your pool work!

 

[purbeast]

lol i have never smoked a full cigarette in my life.

 

[sdiver68]

Once you have Dr/DAN specialist approval, you may not want to disclose on the form. The form is a legal vehicle only. Even with the signature, you run the risk of being turned away. There is a whole thread debate on here about whether to disclose or not (search health form consequences), you make the call. Asthma can be a very touchy health issue in regards to Diving as until relatively recently the pat answer was always no.