Newbie cold question

[ekajati]

Sorry to ask something which has probably been answered umpteen zillion times, but how strict should the cold=no dive thing be? I am very prone to snuffles in winter - rarely full blown gunky things but a bit sneezy & virusy. Is this a problem for joining a club and going in the pool? Do I have to feel 100%? Is it dangerous otherwise? Thanks!!!

[Adrian Kelland]

ekajati

I work on the basis on how my ears are clearing if I have a slight cold. If a couple of clear attempts don't do the job on dry land, then I skip the dive. Also I try to arrange to go in first, so if I do have to abort the dive on the descent, then my buddy has a chance of diving with someone else.

It should not be a problem joining a club or even if going in the pool. Whether in the pool or sea, just listen to what your body is telling you. If you start to get pain in the ears, ascend a bit, clear, descent again. If you can't clear - abort the dive. If you do end up rupuring the eardrum, you will not be diving for weeks or months.

Adrian

[Narked@50]

Originally Posted by Adrian Kelland

ekajati

I work on the basis on how my ears are clearing if I have a slight cold. If a couple of clear attempts don't do the job on dry land, then I skip the dive. Also I try to arrange to go in first, so if I do have to abort the dive on the descent, then my buddy has a chance of diving with someone else.

It should not be a problem joining a club or even if going in the pool. Whether in the pool or sea, just listen to what your body is telling you. If you start to get pain in the ears, ascend a bit, clear, descent again. If you can't clear - abort the dive. If you do end up rupuring the eardrum, you will not be diving for weeks or months.

Adrian

I'm with Adrian

James

[Andrew H]

It's certainly not unusual to dive with a cold, and Adrian has covered it well. If you are going to use decongestants, and some of us do on occasion, be aware of the risks involved in that.

Andrew

[ekajati]

Thanks guys! I feel much more confident about it now. It's kind of a catch 22 thing for me as I feel sure that the joys of diving - even in a pool - will give my immune system a boost.. ;-)

[Kate R]

Originally Posted by ekajati

Thanks guys! I feel much more confident about it now. It's kind of a catch 22 thing for me as I feel sure that the joys of diving - even in a pool - will give my immune system a boost.. ;-)

i'm sure the joys of diving in stoney in winter won't do much for your immune system . seriously though, i dived with a slight cold last week (after checking i had no problems clearing my ears), but after doing those dives my cold got so much worse that i was completely unable to dive this week. i didn't miss anything special, but i probably would have been better off holding off the diving last week and recovering more quickly.

in general i would agree with the above - if you can clear your ears without difficulty, then you'll be ok to dive. just be aware that a reverse ear situation would be very nasty, and that diving with a cold won't do much for your general well-being.

kate

[Sutty]

I'd agree with everyone else, but would also say that if you're getting sinus pain with a cold then don't dive even if the ears seem OK