OK... I need to make my presence known here... I apologize in advance to those of you who have already heard my story... but, Chiara, you are WAAAAAAAY out of line.
I am a large diver -- about the size of Kmorris. And, for the record, as some of you have heard, I am a dive master candidate ... and I blew the stamina and speed tests away! I scored 18 points out of a possible 20 (12 required to 'pass') I got a perfect score on the 800 yard mask, snorkle and fin swim.
So don't tell me that big people can't be fit to dive!
There are two basic issues related to size and diving that are increased risk factors -- one is aerobic fitness -- the Cooper Institute in Texas has done awesome research to show that a persons size is not a predictor of their level of fitness. So, if a large diver exercises and has good cardio vascular and pulmonary health -- they are likley to be 'in shape' to dive.
The second issue related to size is decompression sickness... greater levels of body fat are linked to greater risks of dcs. However, drinking alcohol, smoking, dehydration, fatugue and age are also risk factors for dcs -- So, should thin people stop diving when they get to a certain age? A fat person, can reduce their risk of dcs by not drinking alcohol, by staying well hydrated, by getting plenty of rest, etc.
Chiara, you stated that you couldn't 'help' someone as big as me in an emergency -- well, I think you are missing the point of rescue skills -- To use your rescue skills effectively on anyone, you need to consider bouyancy and leverage --- brute strength isn't enough -- and if it was -- that would be a good reason why many women could be prevented from advanced diving. If I am rescuing a person, one of the first things I need to do is to establish bouyancy -- well, let me tell you that's a hell of a lot easier with someone with some body fat... Of course, I wouldn't expect you to be able to single handedly lift me out of the water and onto a boat's deck... but could you do that with even the smallest adult?
By the way, I have been diving for 2 years. I have 115 dives logged. It has become common place for me to show up for a boat dive and have the crew raise their eyebrows at me. However, before the end of the first dive, they are all commenting positively on my dive skills and are often asking me to help other divers. I spent last Christmas on a live-aboard -- sometime during the week, every single staff person came up to me and asked me how long I had been diving because they wanted to compliment me on my dive skills. There were people who had never dived with anyone other than their spose and they asked to buddy with me. One family was tired and asked if I would buddy with their teenage son.
Don't even think of telling this 40 year old fat broad that I'm too big to dive!
and KMorris, I'd love to chat with you privately about your diving adventures.
