Dive Long and Prosper: Physically Fit to Dive

Diving can be a physically demanding sport. Heavy tanks, lead weights, smothering wetsuits or drysuits in hot weather or plunging into the bone chilling depths of the unknown all add to the physical and mental stress that can make or break your dive. Diving is supposed to be fun, but it does require a certain number of lifestyle decisions to dive effectively and to do it well into your older years.

Physical fitness is the state of well being to perform certain sport or activities. As I mentioned above, dive gear is heavy. Not only is a general level of fitness helpful for hauling equipment around without gasping for breath, but it also helps prevent injuries. One of the most common injuries you’ll hear about at the dive site or on the boat has little to do with diving and more to do with lifting. It is far too easy to strain your back lifting or moving tanks and weights around. While you don’t need to be an Olympic athlete to get the job done, some general physical ability and good lifting techniques go a long way.

But what about the dive itself? We know that many physical factors affect how efficiently we decompress while ascending from a dive. Body fat content, age, and hydration are some of the most notable examples, but other factors play in as well. Exertion, respiratory and heart rate, core body temperature, and nutrition can all impact your diving. Not only does physical fitness make a difference during the ascent for decompression, but that physical fitness might make the difference in a strong current or getting back up on the boat in rough weather and sea conditions. It’s not often a diver has to work hard underwater, but sometimes conditions or the dives call for it.

I you want to continue diving into your senior years, doing the work while you’re younger will pay off. Building good habits early will carry on while you age and continue to provide those health benefits that will keep you diving longer. Regular exercise during your youth helps build bone density and muscle mass, both of which are crucial for maintaining mobility and bone health as you age. Exercise also aids in cardiovascular health and prevents diseases that might otherwise prevent you from diving safely.

Staying physically fit will not only improve your diving and keep you diving, but you’ll also likely find that your overall happiness and health will benefit as well. Remember: the most important piece of equipment we dive with is ourselves. We need to take care of it just like any other piece of dive gear. There are tons of programs that are available that can set you on a dive-healthy path to fitness.

So go take a walk, go for a run, take a swim, or ride your bike. Dive long and prosper.