Fitness level & scuba diving?

acmj2007

How fit do you need to be to go scuba diving?
I do go swimming quite a lot, but I am overweight(working on it:o)
I suppose I am scared I will be refused a place on a course as my BMI is 29?
thanks in advance

elcowboyspace

I wouldn't worry too much about fitness level. Diving is a leisure sport and is by no means reserved for "athletes". If your a confident swimmer then you'll have no problems.

seadeuce

29 is fine to go diving. You are officially classed as overweight, not obese!

If you have always had heavy bones then the 29 is of less significance.


You are the same as the rest of us, about 70% saltwater in your body. Don't make the mistake of over-compensating with the weightbelt, be slightly heavy in the water, not an anchor!!

You'll do fine.

Seadeuce

Quackdoctor

Generally fit is fine. The important thing is to be fit enough to handle an emergency but if you're just starting out then you'll be fine. Listen carefully!

murrayp4

You don't need to be uber-fit but being in shape and having a little extra strength/stamina can make diving less strenuous and more enjoyable

acmj2007

thanks everyone:)

999/112

Quackdoctor wrote: »

Generally fit is fine. The important thing is to be fit enough to handle an emergency but if you're just starting out then you'll be fine. Listen carefully!

Go for it! Diving is/should be a relaxed sport. Following a reef slowly and gently it's amazing what you would miss out on if you were going a little faster. When you get to master buoyancy [time] you can have some longish endurance dives by relaxing yourself!
But, as pointed out by "Quackdoctor", if the brown stuff hits the fan, your fitness may be a factor on how well you handle it!

Most C.F.T. clubs will have a winter training programme [pool] for trainee divers commencing as the Autum/Winter kicks in, complimented with lectuers. After a few nights mastering the basic techniques, you will build your "water fitness" as you progress.
Safe & Happy Diving.;)

Timmins

There is a general guideline which PADI use to measure your fitness.. As far as I remember its 10 lengths of a swimming pool (or else 20, i'm not 100% sure), and then you have to tread water for 5minutes or around there. There are no time restrains or any of that kind of thing, but if you're nowhere near being able to manage that kind of exercise i wouldn't really think you'd be able to fin quickly to your buddy in an emergency situation or something like that!

Ratsathome

I did my OW in December and we had to tread water for 10 min without touching the sides or bottom.After the last boat dive of thr course the skipper droped us of about 200 m from shore and we had to swim back without the gear.You could use your fins and mask if you wanted.

jimbling

Wow, I did the Open Water and the Advanced course a few years ago and don't remember doing any real fitness tests at all. Yes, we had to tread water and swim with gear etc, but all with fins on... not exactly hard.

I have friends who have gone diving that can't even swim, so don't think you'll have a problem.

Timmins

Yup, i know divers who can't swim too. But I personally wouldn't want to buddy with someone like that in an emergency or whatever..

999/112

jimbling wrote: »

Wow, I did the Open Water and the Advanced course a few years ago and don't remember doing any real fitness tests at all. Yes, we had to tread water and swim with gear etc, but all with fins on... not exactly hard.

I have friends who have gone diving that can't even swim, so don't think you'll have a problem.

+1:)

fmcc

Timmins wrote: »

Yup, i know divers who can't swim too. But I personally wouldn't want to buddy with someone like that in an emergency or whatever..

+1

That said as a trainnee fitness is not a big issue. Maybe if you like it a lot a reasonable degree of fitness would make you a safer/better diver,enhance your enjoyment of the sport and help avoid problems down the road if doing more demanding dives later on.

whats up doc

The requirements for the cft Comhairle Fo Thuinn (irish underwater council) is to swim 200mtrs, holding breadth for 30 seconds underwater is another part of it, as i remember. You can practice the underwater bit in the shallow end when you're at the pool. You'll be amazed at how quickly you get well past the 30. There is a medical also. The rest, if you like the water and have been swimming, you won't have a problem. There are a lot of divers with an extra bit of weight on, i wouldn't worry about it, as long as you are fit. It helps to keep the cold out when you finallly venture into the sea. You'll love it. I would recommend it to anyone that has a yearning. Good luck.