So what is the connection Well check out
http://www.teamchu-nder.comfor a great way to get fit and meet some seriously mad bikers
Dec
23rd
2008
Opening hours are
Mon: 10am - 7:00pm
Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri:
10am to 6:30pm
Sat: 10am to 2:30pm
Sunday - Closed
Mon: 10am - 7:00pm
Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri:
10am to 6:30pm
Sat: 10am to 2:30pm
Sunday - Closed
Covering:
Berkshire
Hampshire
Chilterns
Middlesex
Surrey and
surrounding
areas.
Berkshire
Hampshire
Chilterns
Middlesex
Surrey and
surrounding
areas.
Tel 01344 454245 
Fax 01344 454246
37 Binfield Road, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG42 2AW
Fax 01344 45424637 Binfield Road, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG42 2AW
Providing PADI dive courses, a full range of scuba equipment, UK dive trips and Holiday travel as well as friendly advice.
Hi,
Firstly I think if people have any doubts about their ability to undertake fitness training, they should discuss their health with a health professional.
So these views are my own and do not reflect medical opinion or those of PADI or Dive Crew.
Two things here – fitness to dive and fitness for diving. Fitness to dive is a precise term and relates to a certificate of ‘fitness to dive’ issued by an AMED – basically a doctor authorised by the HSE to conduct medical examinations in respect of divers and their fitness to dive. When you start diving or when you undertake a course or dive with most dive centres (PADI) you are required to fill out a medical uestionnaire. An affirmative answer to any of these questions may require you to obtain a certificate from an AMED that you are fit to dive. For instance when I was diving with Ocean College in Sharm, where individuals who were 40 and over and who also smoked had to have a certificate of fitness to dive.
For Dive Masters and Instructors a yearly medical with an AMED is a requirement to continue your professional status.
Recreational diving is accessible to almost anyone however there are some conditions and illnesses that preclude an individual from diving. So you can dive at well into your 80s if you wish provided you are ‘physically’ fit enough to safely dive. On holiday this Summer I dived with an American army veteran who had lost both legs, one arm and had multiple other major injuries. He just did things differntly than the rest of the us. He was an awesome diver. At 58 I have just undergone surgery to resurface my right hip, but I will be back in the water at the earliest opportunity.
In terms of general fitness and fitness regimes there are some basic requirements with PADI OW Courses which require to undertake a timed swim and float. Now that should mean if you pass the course that you will be able to dive to a maximum of 18 metres (don’t rush it) in tranquil conditions. If you want to dive in strong currents or in difficult areas then you need a higher level of fitness.
Technical Divers require a higher level of fitness but articles in the December Edition of Sport Diver (PADI) and the London Diver Magazine (autumn edition) by Mark Powell and Paul Toomer respectively show that even here unless you are going to extreme limits you need only moderate levels of fitness.
I started diving at 56, and although I am very fit for my age, because I have undertaken challenging sports all my life and believe that good levels fo fitness are important for diving, many other people of my age or older can undertake the sport with average (for their age) fitness levels.
If you work out what diving requires then you need, if you wish to increase your general fitness to undertake some activity thaat will stimuate the heart. Brisk walking for say an hour a day, jogging, exercise cycles are a good way to develop this improvement in fitness. Swimming is an excellent sport and so closely related to diving. These types of exercise are so important to diving and help your lung capacity and hopefully the rate at which you consume air when diving (but fitness is not the sole determinant of this).
You may wish to develop the muscles from you Gluts ( butt muscles) down to you ankles as this is where the poor comes from to drive you through the water.
But before dong anything, if you have any doubts ask a health professional.
Be realistic about what you want to achieve and what conditioons you wish to dive in.
Moderation in respect of alcohol, a big no to smoking or recreational drugs and healthy eating can help you. Most gyms and personal trainers will give you a personal improvement plan that takes into account your age, weight and fitness levels.
Many divers report feeling tired atthe end of dives, this is more to do with the retained introgen in the body and can be reduced by slowing ascent rates to no more thna 10 metres per minute (most dive computers are set to this standard) and always undertaking a 3 mnite safety stop and ascending very slowly from your 5 metre stop to the surface – I am for 5 minutes from my 5 metre stop to the surface.
REMEMBER scuba diving with PADI is accessible to lamost anyone. Instructors and Dive Masters know that sometimes adjustments and allowances have to be made for older people starting their diving experience. Don’t be scared to ask, JUST DO IT. Collin and the team will be able to tailor the programme to your needs.
Richard Cullen
Check out the DAN (Diver Alert Network) for an article on fitness for the dive season:
http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/faq.aspx?faqid=163
Richard