#21259 - 05/13/06 09:32 AM
How much scuba diving ?
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SammyJones
Member
Registered: 05/06/06
Posts: 369
Loc: Montreal, Canada
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I feel I'm monopolizing the Forum, my apologies... but the feedback here is amazing..
I'm planning on buying 10-dive packages from PADI (which is present in both Moorea and Bora Bora - and I think Rangiroa). I was told I can't use the package with TopDive but that I will have to acquire their packages.
Questions:
I like scuba diving and I'd like to do a bit of it. Are two dives a day (for let's say 3 days out of 5 days of my stay on an island) enough? is it too much? What is your experience? I kind of feel 45 min underwater may not be enough in one given day....
What's a two-tank dive? (Is it longer? or is it two dives?) or ... ?? excuse the ignorance!!
Also: Huahine does not have PADI or TopDive centres (pls correct me if I'm wrong) so I would have to buy the packages of the diving centres present there (I found two centres so far on the website).. but they're not sharing packages with either PADI or TOpDive.. (right?)
Any suggestions from scuba diving lovers?
Thank you.
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#21260 - 05/13/06 11:39 AM
Re: How much scuba diving ?
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sst
Member
Registered: 12/07/05
Posts: 483
Loc: Texas
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Two dives a day are plenty. a two tank dive is when you go out on a boat, do a dive, take a surface interval, and then strap on another tank and do another dive without going back to the resort. Some people were doing 3 dives a day, but looked awful ragged out at teh end of the trip..
We only did one dive per day due to a foot injury I sustained years ago requiring 9 hyperbaric treatments. It was a blood clot.. anyways, I woud think a two tank dive per day every day would do ya - if not then sign up for the afternoon dive as well.. Incredible diving so 2 may not be enough for ya.. I just didnt want to tempt MY fate again, ya know? As far as being too much just do a 2 tank the first day and if its too much just do the afternoon dive from then on..
Teh resorts we stayed at (Kia Ora - Rangiroa and Pearl in BB) offered dive packages. Unless the PADI deal is much cheaper I'd stick to buying the packages down there at the resorts so you won't feel obligated or restricted or anything..
We went to Rangiroa specifically for teh diving, but were VERY disappointed.. BB diving was MUCH better - at least while we were there.. Also, if you find a blue Scuba Pro slpit fin in Rangiro please keep it and send it to me - it fell off getting nto the motorized raft and nobody noticed.. It floated, but the boat captain didn't want to circle around 15 feet to go get it - so now I hafta buy a new set of $170 fins.. thank God Gilles at Pearl let me use his personal set of split fins the entire trip.. Great guy - great organization...
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#21261 - 05/13/06 11:47 AM
Re: How much scuba diving ?
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SammyJones
Member
Registered: 05/06/06
Posts: 369
Loc: Montreal, Canada
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Thank you SST,
Can you please elaborate on the foot injury and the 9 hyperbaric treatments? & the blood clot?
I will follow advice and try a two-tank one day and see if that will suffice.
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#21262 - 05/13/06 04:42 PM
Re: How much scuba diving ?
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sst
Member
Registered: 12/07/05
Posts: 483
Loc: Texas
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Sammy - yeah give the two tanker a try in the morning, then if you want more you can always hook up for the afternoon dive 1-2 hours later.. if not, just kick back and enjoy the above ground stuff - there's plenty of that as well..
7 years ago or so we came home from diving in Mexico - our fligt was almost 20 hours after our last dive, no issues at all after the dive or before, during or after the flight. The next morning I woke up with two toes on my left foot dead numb. Everyone was screaming at the doctor who held the key to the hyparbaric chamber to treat me (including the hyperbaric chamber operator who was a friend) but he flat out refused and said I didn't need it - that I probably "dropped a tank on my toes" and forgot. Several calls to DAN (Diver's Alert Network) were wastes of time - they acted like they had no clue as to what I should do. For 9 days I watched my toes turn from purple to black and get worse and worse - I called the Dr EVERY day and he flat out refused to treat me. on the 9th day the chamber operator called me - he found a guy who built chambers 60 miles away. I called him and he, of course, said "drop what you're doing and get here NOW"
After one treatment my toes color was fine and they felt good - til that night when the went purple and nub again.. So 8 more treatments which got the circulation right, but the damage was done - now I have permanent nerve damage. My foot both hurts and goes numb all the time and I figure if I have any more incidents my divig days are over - so I take it easy, take an aspirin a day, drink 2 quarts of gatorade a day, and take a 5 minute safety stop.
Back then a look at my dive log showed no dives out of time limits and a look at my computer showed no problems decompression-wise, or surfacing-wise. A complete mystery as to what happened over 2 full days after our last dive. A year later I read an article about people going to tropical places comin ghome dehydrated and throwing clots either on theplane or after tha clot was the most likely cause because back then I caed less about staying hydrated etc..
So - STAY HYDRATED EVERYDAY! Take an aspirin (children's if you have to) every day, 2 quarts of powdered Gatorade mix every day and don't skimp on the safety stop - especially in Rangiroa. They said "No" when I told then 5 minutes, but I did it any way which is probably why they didn't help me get my fin.. On the flight home stay hydrated and get up and walk around every now and then plus take an aspirin.. Good luck and if you have more questions just holler..
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#21263 - 05/13/06 08:58 PM
Re: How much scuba diving ?
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STM
Expert Advisor
Registered: 10/15/01
Posts: 1616
Loc: Oregon, USA
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Recent experience from Top Dive Moorea . . . and probably pretty much the same all over.
All dives are boat dives. Dives scheduled for 8am 10am and 2pm. Bottom time is typically 45-60 mins at depths from about 50-75 feet. Elapsed time for each dive is about 1.5 hours. If you do a two-tank dive, its really just two dives back to back. You do the 8am dive, then go back to the shop and back out again on the 10am dive. The 10am dive is usually a little less interesting than the first dive of the day - shallower, maybe in a slight current - but still nice.
They will do deeper dives, and night dives, on request, and with a minimum number of appropriately experienced divers.
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#21264 - 05/13/06 10:22 PM
Re: How much scuba diving ?
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SammyJones
Member
Registered: 05/06/06
Posts: 369
Loc: Montreal, Canada
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Wow SSt.. I"ll look out for that thanks for the ino.. were you doing long or deep dives or just regular ones? Like the ones I would do? Safety stop.. isn't that though when you dive deeper than 16 m? you stop and then go up?
I already have my feet every now and then tha go slightly tingly/nummish.. doc says it's nothing.. everything is fine... (maybe micro-circulatory prob?) anyway.. so I have to watch out for purple body ends? Other "symptoms" I should be aware of?
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#21265 - 05/13/06 10:33 PM
Re: How much scuba diving ?
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SammyJones
Member
Registered: 05/06/06
Posts: 369
Loc: Montreal, Canada
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This is what I found on the net. You even waited 20 hrs before your flight... did you dive deeper than 16 m where decompression stops are required?
*****************************
What are the most common problems of scuba diving?
The most common medical problems are simple middle ear "squeezes." Squeezes cause pain in your ears. The pain is caused by the difference in pressure between the air spaces of your ears and mask and higher water pressure as you go deeper into the water. Squeezes that affect the inner ear or sinuses are less common.
Cuts, scrapes and other injuries to the arms and legs can be caused by contact with fish and other marine animals, certain species of coral and hazards such as exposed sharp metal on wrecks or fishing line.
What dangerous medical conditions are possible when I am diving?
Inner ear barotrauma. This condition may happen if you have trouble clearing during a dive. The result is severe dizziness and hearing loss.
Pulmonary barotrauma. This condition is the result of improper breathing during the ascent to the surface or, occasionally, from diving with a respiratory tract infection. Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath and hoarseness.
Arterial gas embolism (AGE). This is a type of pulmonary barotrauma in which bubbles enter the circulation and travel to the brain. Symptoms such as numbness or tingling of the skin, weakness, paralysis or loss of consciousness may occur. This is a serious diving injury.
Decompression sickness ("the bends"). This condition occurs during ascent and on the surface of the water. Inert nitrogen gas that is dissolved in body tissues and blood comes out of solution and forms bubbles in the blood. The bubbles can injure various body tissues and block blood vessels. The most common signs of severe decompression sickness are dysfunction of the spinal cord, brain and lungs.
Remember: If you should develop any of the symptoms on this list during or after a dive, seek medical care immediately.
How common are medical problems in scuba diving?
Fortunately, serious medical problems are not common in recreational scuba divers. While there are millions of dives each year in the Unites States, only about 90 deaths are reported each year worldwide. In addition, fewer than 1,000 divers worldwide require recompression therapy to treat severe dive-related health problems.
How can I lower my risk of medical problems?
Most severe dive-related injuries and deaths happen in beginning divers. To be safe, always dive within the limits of your experience and level of training. Good rules to follow for safe diving include:
Never try a dive you're not comfortable with. During descent, you should gently equalize your ears and mask. At depth, never dive outside the parameters of the dive tables or your dive computer.
Never hold your breath while ascending. You should always ascend slowly while breathing normally.
Become familiar with the underwater area and its dangers. Learn which fish, coral and other hazards to avoid so injuries do not occur. Be aware of local tides and currents.
Never panic under water. If you become confused or afraid during a dive, stop, try to relax and think the problem through. You can also get help from your dive buddy or dive master.
Never dive without a buddy.
Always plan your dive; then always dive your plan.
Always stay within the no-decompression limits.
Be sure that your diving equipment can handle the dive you have planned and that the equipment is working well.
Don't drink alcohol before diving.
Never dive while taking medicine unless your doctor has said it's safe.
Diving can be dangerous if you have certain medical problems. Ask your doctor how diving may affect your health.
Cave diving is dangerous and should only be attempted by divers with proper training and equipment.
If you don't feel good or if you are in pain after diving, go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
Don't fly for 12 hours after a no-decompression dive, even in a pressurized airplane. If your dive required decompression stops, don't fly for at least 24 hours.
What should I do in a diving emergency?
If you or one of your dive buddies has an accident while diving, call the Divers Alert Network (DAN) emergency telephone line (919-684-8111). DAN is located at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. Doctors, emergency medical technicians and nurses are available 24 hours a day to answer your questions. If needed, they will direct you to the nearest hyperbaric chamber or other appropriate medical facility. If you would like to discuss a potential diving-related health problem, contact the non-emergency Divers Alert Network telephone line (800-446-2671).
What is a hyperbaric chamber?
A hyperbaric chamber is a facility where you are placed under increased pressure. It's similar to being underwater. This can often help injury from arterial gas embolism or decompression sickness by shrinking bubbles and allowing them to pass through your blood vessels.
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#21266 - 05/14/06 08:15 AM
Re: How much scuba diving ?
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sst
Member
Registered: 12/07/05
Posts: 483
Loc: Texas
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Sammy - no, we didn't do any dives deeper than 80 feet on that trip and our bottom times were well within limits for a no decompression dive. Everything SHOULD have been fine which is why I suspect the blood clot - especially 2 days after the dive. Also "bends" more easily form in fatty tissue areas such as the abdomen etc and in worse case in joints such as the knee or elbow - this was in an extremity - my foot and my toes at that.
Normally you'll do a 3 minute "safety stop" on ALL dives - or at least you SHOULD do one on all dives regardless of depth or time down below. This is where you hover at 15 feet deep for 3-5 minutes and allow the built up nitrogen in your system to off-gas.. Always do a safety stop... always always always on every dive..
Thanks for the info - like I said I've researched it to death but the Doctor ran no tests and did nothing at all - its my best guess on the info I've found from my own investigation that my case was a blood clot. Since then I've stayed ridculously hydrated and taken an aspirin every day before during and after my trips, limited my diving, and taken 5 minutes safety stops without any problems for 7 years or so.
Now, the weird thing.. the day we left BB, we'd been almst 24 hours out of the water from our last dive. Sat down on the lower deck of our overwater bungalow and let my feet hang in the water.. and my left foot and SAME two toes started going DEAD numb.. So I jumped up, swigged another aspirin (already took one that day) with another full glass of gatorade, and walked it out for about 5 minutes and it went away.. Blood clot forming that I managed to break up? Possibly.. thats the only conclusion that makes sense unless I had just cut the circulation off in the same artery or vein. If it were bends or embolism it wouldn't have gone away that easily.. weird.. and scary.. I don't wanna quit diving!
If you already have tingling ad numbness i your feet when diving you NEED to do the aspirin a day and stay WAY hydrated. The tingling is from poor circulation. My wife used to get that in her thumbs on dives, then realized her dive skin was causing the issue because she stuck her thumb through the thumb hole.. One thing I also did in my case was to buy a larger set of diving boots - if your boots or fins are too tight it will cut off circulation possibly causing your issues. Get boots and/or that are NOT tight.. if yours are, that may be your problem.. Stay hydrated! When you get dehydrated your blood THICKENS making it much mire difficult to get to those littel capilaries causing tingling, numbness, and possibly the bends.. So please, do the aspirin and drink TONS of water/gatorade before every dive and after. I do two wuarts of gatorae a day in addition to what I drink at meals etc. I also drink 2-3 glasses before every dive plus 2-3 cups of water at the dive shop before every dive.. I can't stress hydration enough - even if you arn't diving.. and do the aspirin - it thins the blood alowing better circulation.. plus check your boot and fins - are they form fitted, snug, tight, VERY tight? If they're tight at all get new boots/fins.. its not worth ruining a trip over or spending the rest of your dive career being hurt or fearful of your next dive like I am.. any dive could be my last. At one point I was gonna get my Dive Master cert and work on an islad somewhere - that dream went out the window 7 years ago or so with my injury that may or may not have been preventable. it SHOULD have been treated tho, and not treating it made the issue worse.. not my fault... also, yes I TRIED to sue to Doctor, but every lawyer in this town is a weenie and its now past the time deadline.. as far as I know anyway..
Good luck Sammy and ask away if you still have more questions. Diving is awesome and totally incredible down there. You will LOVE it. Just respect it.. cause it CAN and WILL hurt you if you don't..
Take care,
Steve
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#21267 - 05/14/06 08:36 AM
Re: How much scuba diving ?
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SammyJones
Member
Registered: 05/06/06
Posts: 369
Loc: Montreal, Canada
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Hello Steve,
you're a well of information! Thank you.
It's good to know what to look for to ensure to be ok.
I'm in the process of quitting smoking, so that should help ciculation a great deal. (I did it in the past then picked it up again, how smart is that!  ) Also diet & exercise to lose a bit of overweight.. if "bends" (not sure what they are) form in fatty tissue.. well.. I have quite a bit of room for that!!
Will definitely insist on the 3-5 min stops (will be doing a refresher course here in Montreal & will ask a million questions) I'm only Open Water certificated (is that a word?) and haven't dove since 12 yrs.
I will also ask my doctor for information and what further info he might have.
One question though: You tell me that when you stay hydrated the blood thickens, then you say to take aspirin every day to thin the blood... wouldn't one counter the other?
Yes I understand what you mean when you say you'd like to take the Dive Master and live on a island and just do that... I share the same dream but I know I'm not the best persont for that.
Here in Canada healthcare is free and, sometimes, you have to push a doctor to get a certain exam done... but it's good to know what feelings to look for, so that you can find immediate help or seek a doctor's attention. I imagine in FP doctors would be used to scuba divers & problems that may arise?
Yes.. I will definitely take scuba diving "easy" and - something I did not know until I researched it - I will not dive on any given last day on an island, to let the appropriate amount of time pass.
Maybe I should learn to snorkel to alternate.. 
Thanks again.
D.
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#21268 - 05/14/06 08:38 AM
Re: How much scuba diving ?
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SammyJones
Member
Registered: 05/06/06
Posts: 369
Loc: Montreal, Canada
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certified!! that's the word!
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