Scuba diving and jumping out of planes

Hey all,

Just wondering, as an asthmatic will I be allowed to go scuba diving and (dont know the proper name) where you jump out of a plane with a parachute?

These are things that I would love to do one day but would I be able to?

Thanks all

Rhys

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No idea about the parachuting but you are unlikely to be allowed to go scuba diving (except in a swimming pool).

I went on 2 free scuba diving taster sessions in a local pool - beforehand we had to fill in medical disclaimer forms, asthma WAS contra-indicated but i asked the instructors and said that my asthma is generally well-controlled and i'm VERY comfortable in a pool (I swim 4 times a week). They said because i'm only on inhalers (no pred tablets) and because it's in a pool then i was ok to do the taster sessions.

I was told if i wanted to do open-water diving i'd have to be assessed by a specialist dive doctor. I've since read up that if your asthma is at all triggered by cold or exercise then you're a definite no - which puts me out as mine is often triggered by exercise, especially outdoors in the cold

I di really enjoy the sessions in the pool though

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Hi thanks for the reply.

That sounds like im out of the question too then as i believe i have exersise induced! grrrrrrrrr

Thanks for the reply anyway!

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Exercise and cold air induced asthma tend to be a bit of a killer for this type of thing. I also read up on scuba diving as I'd love to go. I might have had a chance once, in my 'quiet period', but now they'd just look at me like I was mad - no way I'd get past them!

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grrrr. I suppose not telling the truth might work but then your shooting yourself in the foot if something happens.

NO ONE DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!! NEVER LIE ABOUT YOUR CONDITION!!!!!!!!

Scuba diving is one thing that I have always wanted to do and now im old enough I cant do it because of asthma. GOD DAMMIT!!!!

The only positive I have had out of asthma is this website!

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Yeah, kicking myself for not going at uni when I could have! Still, I'd have missed it even more, but grrrr.

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Rhys,

Have just been looking at doing a local charity parachute jump but don't think I will be allowed on medical grounds of asthma/sinuses and something else that I don't recall right now.

Also, wanted to go scuda diving several years ago with milder asthma and that was a no-no too, have a look on the British subaqua club website for more info tinyurl.com/6utk94x

No fun I know but there is good reason for it.

Edit to add, Philomela, snap, I was the same at uni, no money for parachute society but so wish I had found it now. Also, snorkelling may still be ok, was great in the Maldives

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Hi thanks for the reply! well it looks like if i only have allergy asthma I should be ok. (Not sure yet)

For those also interested, this is what it says:

Asthma may predispose to air-trapping leading to pulmonary barotrauma and air

embolism, which may be fatal. An acute asthma attack can also cause severe

dyspnoea which may be hazardous or fatal during diving.

These theoretical risks should be explained fully to the asthmatic diver. There is little if

any evidence that the mild controlled asthmatic who follows the guidelines below is at

more risk.

Asthmatics may dive if they have allergic asthma but not if they have cold, exercise or

emotion induced asthma.

All asthmatics should be managed in accordance with British Thoracic Society

Guidelines.

Only well-controlled asthmatics may dive.

Ashtmatics should not dive if he/she has needed a therapeutic bronchodilator in the

last 48 hours or has had any other chest symptoms.

Control

The asthmatic should not need more than occasional bronchodilators, i.e. daily usage

would be a disqualifying factor, but inhaled steroids/cromoglycate/nedocromil are

permissible.

During the diving season he/she should take bd peak flows. A deviation of 10% from

best values should exclude diving until within 10% of best values for at least 48 hours

before diving.

The medical examiner should perform an exercise test such as the 18 in (43 cm) step

test for three minutes, or running outside (not a bicycle ergometer) to increase the

heart rate to 80% (210-age). A decrease in PEFR of 15% at three minutes post

exercise should be taken as evidence of exercise induced bronchoconstriction and

hence disbars. The patient should be off all bronchodilators for 24 hours before the

test.

A b2 agonist may be taken pre-diving as a preventative but not to relieve

bronchospasm at the time.

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Hey!!

Not allowed todo scuba diving unless on minimum meds and asthma is well controlled. The same for sky diving. I desperatly wantes to do a sky dive jump for my 21st bday and got refuses as with uncontrolled asthma...my sats would drastically drop with the alititude also the shock of the air on the lungs on jumping causes bronch spasm...they are very strict with it as for insurance purposes...i have been scuba diving in a pool when i was 17 and the instructor was very reluctant to let me. .. The persuation was for me to keep inhalers by pool and get out the minute i felt strange. Scuba diving is a little easier to do with asthma. If you want to experince the whole floating feeling like falling out of a plane, you are allowed to do the simulation indoor activity with asthma...hmm i think this message is a little scatty i hope it makes sense and i apologise if it is.

X

x

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Thats fine. I was expecting this. Very gutted but thats life. I may try scuba in a pool but yeah sky diving will be a no because once you have jumped thats it i suppose and an inhaler probally wouldnt work from the wind.

Thanks anyway!

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Hi Rhys,

I was absolutely fine doing snorkeling in Mauritius and because the corals are in quite shallow water you really get to see the fish, its amazing.

I did try skiing a few years ago but that turned out to be a huge no-no as high altitude amnd very cold air seriously kileed my lungs and I almost passed out. I had lots of hot chocolate in the apres ski shack though!! Angie x

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Well personally 3 years ago i went skiing with the school and was fine but was not asthmatic at this time and last year when started getting symptoms i went to spain and tried snorkling. it was beautiful but i struggled and could not stay down for long and i was breathing quite heavily. im not sure if thats from lack of experience or asthma. If so then i have no hope scuba diving

[yaf_user681_30355]

I managed snorkelling in Australia when my asthma was uncontrolled. Used ventolin first as I do with all exercise and I just had to stay in my depth and take regular rests. I loved it too!!

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Scuba Diving - I think it may depend where you want to do it. You may be allowed in a swimming pool for instance, but if in open water, different countries have different rules, for instance Australia and New Zealand say NO with any history of asthma at all. However, as gutting as it sounds, I'd just like to say from my experience, I went to the Great Barrier Reef with my sister, she scuba dived and I snorkelled - we had brilliant guides who were fully aware of my medical history and supported me fully and actually I saw just as much and had a fantastic time snorkelling as my sister had skuba diving - I don't feel I missed out at all.

Parachuting - I had the opportunity to do this recently, I didn't because I wimped out (and blamed it on being too expensive!!!) but they didn't say anything about asthma as a barrier - this was a tandam dive in New Zealand.