can smokers scuba?

Skeptic_07

Skeptic_07

New member
i wanna scuba dive on my honeymoon but i've been a smoker for a pretty long time. I was told that i wouldn't be able to do it by some frineds of mine who tried to go. I'm 27 and i started smoking when i was like 13-14. i just quit last month, for a few reasons, one is my wife quit, they just raised the price of smokes here by alot and last so i can scuba when i go on my honeymoon, whenever that is going to be :rolleyes: I've always been an athletic guy. i played lacrosse, hockey, and ran track in hichschool too keep in shape. even when i was smoking 2 packs of newports a day (after college like 4 years ago) i still had more gas than anyone else on my hockey team at the end of the game and i usually ended up playing almost the whole final period because everyone else, even the non-smokers were sucking wind. the last few years i was limiting myself to 2-3 smokes a day. i think i'll be able to do it. are there any experienced divers here who can shed some light on this subject?
 
I'm not sure who told you you couldn't? The instructer who certified me is a smoker and she's in her 40's.

When I was in Hawai'i one of the dive masters said smokers actually do better on their air time since they are accustomed to taking deep breathes, and exhaling slowly.

:)
 
It was some close friends of mine who went to the bahammas on thier honeymoos, said the instructors wouldn't let them scuba dive because they're heavy smokers.
 
who ever told you smokers cannot scuba must be smoking something else i have a good friend who scubas and he smokes like a chimney
 
You should be fine IMO. You 'may' have less bottom time, but either way, its definitely not a reason to stop enjoying the underwater world using scuba!
 
Yes its just the person or you will have a hard time breathing in a depth of 15 ft or more due to your lungs capacity is less now and will tired easily but other than that you should be OK.
 
From what I've seen smokers use way less air. This is because the aveoli (sp.) in the lungs are damaged and don't have as big a demand for oxygen. Or at least that is what I'm told. Me not being a smoker I can't give you first hand experience.
 
I've never dont it before and when we go on vaca we'll be going with instructors and a group etc.. rental equipment.. (anyone else think its kinda gross to put your mouth on the same thing that hundreds of ppl put thier mouth on? whatever.... ) anyways! I realize now i'm definitely in good enough shape to go but, has anyone ever even heard of one of these groups for taking tourists out turning away people because they smoked?

sorry for askign a redundant question but i'm trying to be like a sneaky detective now... hehehe .. i think my friend has a surprise for us he isnt telling me...
 
Smokers do have a higher risk than the general population of having undiagnosed emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Although I am not sure that there is documented scientific evidence demonstrating the following, this does place them at least potentially at a higher risk of developing decompression injury(i.e. barotrauma such as pneumothorax- collapsed lung, pneumomediastinum- and arterial gas embolism). As you know, gas occupies a smaller volume when placed under pressure (i.e. when diving). When surfacing, gas expands and if it is trapped for one reason or other (i.e. emphysematous lung or mucus plugging in an airway) it still continues to expand and in so doinng can cause injury to the lung (sometimes severe).

You may want to talk about your risks with a qualified physician and/or check out DAN (www.diversalertnetwork.org)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12786863#post12786863 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Skeptic_07
rental equipment.. (anyone else think its kinda gross to put your mouth on the same thing that hundreds of ppl put thier mouth on? whatever.... )
Click to expand...

That's why I always bring my own gear when traveling ;)

On the smoking bit, I've never noticed a dive operation asking if anyone smokes, but being a non smoker I wouldn't be as likely to have taken notice if they did.
 
My Dads is a bigtime smoker. He went through Padi training with me when i was 11. He could get it lit but couldnt keep it lit for very long underwater.
 
I highly doubt you will be asked if you are a smoker. As long as you have your c-card and money I am sure they will let you dive. People who are very very overweight or in pretty bad shape are at a higher risk than someone who smokes.

I don't know if you have a chronic cough that some smokers get sometimes. If you do just be sure not to cough your reg out and you should be fine.
 
2 packs a day is a lot, even if it wasn't for the whole 13-14 yrs you had smoked. I would get pulmonary function tests and if they are abnormal, talk to a dive medic/doctor before attempting to dive. And congrats on quitting!

Having had quit, you don't need to worry about carbon monoxide retention from smoking prior to the dive, but there is a concern for COPD and the increased risks of embolism/barotrauma, etc....

More then likely you'll be good to go, but with something like this its better to be safe.
 
Yes there is at least one agency that says they will NOT certify you if you smoke. Yes a smoker is at great risk under water, all else being equal they have worse gas exchange in the lungs and probably cant metabolize O2 as quickly. I do not believe all else being equal that smokers have a better gas consumption rate, but many smokers say that when they first quit smoking, their gas consumption DOES go up (temporarily). That said, you might be fine. Im guessing if you just go on your honeymoon, you are a warm water wussy diver (no disrespect), and going to keep things very recreational. The only time I ever see smokers on a dive boat here is when we go to a super shallow, fun, tourist type of dive. I don't think I've ever seen a smoker on a trip to a more serious dive site. Now that I think of it, I don't think I've ever seen a smoker in a drysuit and doubles...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12810301#post12810301 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by David P
Yes there is at least one agency that says they will NOT certify you if you smoke. Yes a smoker is at great risk under water, all else being equal they have worse gas exchange in the lungs and probably cant metabolize O2 as quickly. I do not believe all else being equal that smokers have a better gas consumption rate, but many smokers say that when they first quit smoking, their gas consumption DOES go up (temporarily). That said, you might be fine. Im guessing if you just go on your honeymoon, you are a warm water wussy diver (no disrespect), and going to keep things very recreational. The only time I ever see smokers on a dive boat here is when we go to a super shallow, fun, tourist type of dive. I don't think I've ever seen a smoker on a trip to a more serious dive site. Now that I think of it, I don't think I've ever seen a smoker in a drysuit and doubles...
Click to expand...

*waves hi* smoker with a dry suit. Not a doubles kind of girl, however. Oh, and my favorite dive was the 113' Sea Tiger in Hawai'i :) Shallow dives aren't nearly as fun! BTW--no one on the boat would've known I'm a smoker since I don't bring cigarettes with me.
 
I have never been asked if I am a smoker (I am not). If you have proof of certification, all you need is $$$$$. There may be slightly greater risk to a smoker but there are other risk factors much more relevant.

By the way, NJGirlinPhx, are you a wreck girl? Have you done Truk?
 
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