Exercise and Diving?

[thehappychappy]

Exercise and Diving

I know we shouldn't exercise before or after diving, but how long before or after?

I am a keen runner and like to run 5-10km a few times per week, normally not a problem but in a couple of months I am going somewhere to dive everyday for a prolonged period.

Now the vast majority in fact probably all or nearly all of this diving will be shallow (Less than 20 Metres) and the same goes for no deco, the vast majority or all will be no deco diving although its likely I will be doing 2 dives a day 6 days a week.

When is it safe to run? Is it when my "computer shows no fly = zero" or Do I just not run an hour before a dive and an hour after(I just made that up as an example)? How do I work this out? Where is the best place to read about this?

[Ian B]

Good question, and I don't know the answer.

Personally I've always figured that if I'm tissue code A than I'm ok for strenuous exercise.

Before I reach code A I prefer to chill out.

[Okeanos]

You can run before as long as you stay hydrated afterwards. Running afterwards can cause problems. I would usually wait 12 hours after a dive to be sure, but if it was a shallow, non deco dive then 6 hours or less depending on the dive would be fine for me.

There is talk of how light exercise can help with off-gassing, Running is not light exercise though and should be taken more seriously.

[triplefin]

These two articles are quite interesting

Entrez PubMed

Entrez PubMed


but you may find all your answers on the link below or you can ask and get them answered by a professional

Scuba Clinic - Index

[Steve S]

Hi Happychappy,

Some info on here, just scroll down to the exercise bit Scottish Diving Medicine - Decompression Illness

I had a bend that was put down to heavy pre-dive exertion and dehydration.

HTH

Safe diving,
Steve

[Rod]

Originally Posted by Okeanos

You can run before as long as you stay hydrated afterwards. Running afterwards can cause problems. I would usually wait 12 hours after a dive to be sure, but if it was a shallow, non deco dive then 6 hours or less depending on the dive would be fine for me.

When I was working in the Red Sea we would always give it 4 hours before we went to the gym for anything more than a steam room and jacuzzi.

[bob wippin]

From my experience, having dived for 2 weeks on holiday in Jan, doing 30-35m dives, with some limited deco on the odd dive. Then going into the gym about 1.5 to 2hr latter to do some weight lifting, I was fine, although I am aware that this was not probably the best idea in the world....

But I think if you want to be real safe about it give yourself 6 hours, so then you are off the reppettitive dive table, but then this maybe a bit cautious, its all a risk, but it's up to you....

Steve you say that your bend was put down to pre dive exertion and dehydration. Can anyone explain why predive exertion causes bends other than it may lead to some dehydration. I always thought exercise related bends could only happen afterwards where microbubs are in muscle tissue, then by exerting the muscle you are forcing bubbles into the bloodstream where they may join other bubbles, making bigger bubbles that become BAD?

[Steve S]

Originally Posted by bob wippin

From my experience, having dived for 2 weeks on holiday in Jan, doing 30-35m dives, with some limited deco on the odd dive. Then going into the gym about 1.5 to 2hr latter to do some weight lifting, I was fine, although I am aware that this was not probably the best idea in the world....

But I think if you want to be real safe about it give yourself 6 hours, so then you are off the reppettitive dive table, but then this maybe a bit cautious, its all a risk, but it's up to you....

Steve you say that your bend was put down to pre dive exertion and dehydration. Can anyone explain why predive exertion causes bends other than it may lead to some dehydration. I always thought exercise related bends could only happen afterwards where microbubs are in muscle tissue, then by exerting the muscle you are forcing bubbles into the bloodstream where they may join other bubbles, making bigger bubbles that become BAD?

Hi Bob,

click the link on my earlier post it explains it there.

Safe diving,
Steve

[Janos]

Originally Posted by bob wippin

Steve you say that your bend was put down to pre dive exertion and dehydration. Can anyone explain why predive exertion causes bends other than it may lead to some dehydration. I always thought exercise related bends could only happen afterwards where microbubs are in muscle tissue, then by exerting the muscle you are forcing bubbles into the bloodstream where they may join other bubbles, making bigger bubbles that become BAD?

No. Exercise causes micro bubbles which act as seeds for bigger bubbles. Everyone has some micro bubbles in them all the time, even if they are not divers. This isn't a problem for non-divers

Exercise is thought to cause more micro bubbles, via localised increases in pressure, which can cause problems later on in the dive.

Exercise is generally bad if it's before, after, or during a dive.

Janos

[Kanga]

Originally Posted by Janos

Exercise is generally bad

Janos

Hurrah! I absolutely concur.