Scuba Diving Photography
Author: admin
Are you asthmatic and a scuba diver?
I would like to know about your experiences in this area. I’m determining whether or not to go forward with the spirometer test and whatnot to see if I can dive. It’s unlikely, but I’m interested in underwater photography.
Based on what I read it’s on a case by case basis whether or not as asthmatic can dive. My doctor, however, is of the belief that few asthmatics get to dive.
Any info you can give would be great.
Thanks
When you breathe compressed air underwater, there is already some increase in breathing resistance due to the equipment and the increased density of hyperbaric air. Asthma is generally a contraindication for scuba diving because of the risks of an attack underwater, which will exacerbate this resistance, leading to feelings of air starvation, possible panicked ascents (with expanding air trapped in the lungs, risking an overpressure injury), suffocation and/or drowning.
The major questions here are, what triggers (or used to trigger) your attacks, and do you still need regular medication to control your asthma? Common triggers of attacks are exercise, cold air, or dry air. A scuba diver is exposed to all of these factors on every dive, so an asthmatic for whom these are a problem should not dive. Medications may have weird side effects in conjunction with increased pressure–your doctor can best advise you on this score.
However, as you say, there are always exceptions, and these should be assessed by a doctor with experience in hyperbaric medicine, not a general practitioner. If you no longer have active asthma (i.e. you no longer need medication to control it, or take e.g. weekly doses rather than daily), the doctor may be willing to certify you to enter scuba training, usually subject to exercise assessment and spirometry results.
For liability reasons, a professional scuba instructor will not accept even a former asthmatic as a student without a qualified doctor’s say-so. Even if you are lucky enough to be given the medical go-ahead, you should still be prepared to bail from the course if you suffer any kind of asthmatic-type breathing difficulty during the pool training.
Although diving is a wonderful and relaxing pastime, it takes place in a totally alien environment, where accidents can turn very serious, very quickly. No recreational pursuit is worth risking your life.
I wish you all the best.
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