comet555

I've been toying with the idea of learning to dive for a while, so I'm hoping to get some information on how to get started.

I know I would need a medical first. So does anyone know if there is a list of doctors that can do it? I'm in the Bayside area in Brisbane. This is the part I'm worried about the most. We went to Cairns and went to the Great Barrier Reef. While we were on the tour I had hoped to do an introductory dive but they wouldn't let me because I had asthma (exercise induced only). But they said because I take medication for it the doctor they spoke to on the phone said I couldn't. I'm hoping they were just being cautious. It really is a minor thing to me. I've always played sports and never had any major problems so I'm hoping I can learn to dive at some point.

So, if I do manage to pass the medical...... where are some good places to do the course? I'm thinking of the PADI open water course. I would need to be able to do it on weekends if possible because I've always got the kids at home.

Any ideas or advice?

comet555

I will add that I have done my reading so I know that the asthma thing is a big hurdle. If I don't pass the medical then obviously it is not safe for me to dive and I'll be ok with that.

natalieml

Hi Comet, Can't give you any advice on locations etc but I would say DEFINITELY DO IT!!! I have learnt through PADI all the way and think that the course is excellent as long as you get a good teacher. I did my basic training on holiday in Portugal as a graduation present from my parents and since then have been diving in some pretty amazing places! My partner initially learnt in Africa cause I bullied him into it, he has since switched over to PADI to make things easier for us to learn together and loves it even more than I do!

We have just discovered that he too has Asthma but it has never affected his diving, he actually has it to the stage where he is on medication and has 2 'puffers'. I would imagine they are just being over cautious and once you have your full medical you should be fine. As long as you are aware of the problems and take your 'puffa' with you on the boat then all should be good, just talk about it with your doctor and explain that you do loads of sport and it never stops you from doing anything.

I absolutely LOVE diving and am currently upto rescue diver level on the PADI course, I would love to take it further but from this stage onwards you need to put a lot more time into it but hopefully I might get the opportunity to when we move to OZ (there's no way i'm diving in a cold dingy quarry in the UK!!!).

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do as it's such a peaceful experience even when the sharks turn up!! - It's so strange to think that I have gone diving with so many sharks that I can't even count them and there was nothing stopping them from getting near me other than their fear of the bubbles coming out of your reg.

You'll have a blast but make sure to get your meds done and don't lie on them as the last thing you want to do is put yourself and the other divers at risk if something goes wrong.

Good luck and let me know how you get on!

comet555

I definitely wouldn't lie on the medical. I understand why it's necessary and I wouldn't risk my life just because I want to go diving. Not to mention the problems it could cause for the people I would be diving with.

I think I would be fine, but I'll find out after the medical.

I've often thought about taking the course but it was the trip to the reef that got me really wanting to go ahead and do it. I loved the snorkelling and I'd go back anytime if I had the chance. I'd love to be able to go diving though next time.

Do you know how much it costs to get your own equipment? I'm really far from the stage, but I've always wondered how much it would be.

natalieml

It depends what you're after - the whole kit would be pretty damb pricey but a lot of places you take your own suits and regs and mask (and a few other bits) and then they will just hire you the tank and weight and belt. The best idea is to build your kit up slowly starting with the basics but at the end of the day, if you can afford it then go for it and get it all at the same time. I don't have any kit yet but some of the stuff you get leant especially the suits can be pretty dodge so it's something I will think about getting once we're out in OZ.

We liked the reef but not nearly as much as some of the places we have dived as it's been completely trashed. One good thing about the PADI course is that they teach you about respecting the environment, you see loads of divers standing on the reef and picking things up from the sea bed and this is really the way that it is killed.

If you've got a holiday coming up then I would say go to Sipidan in Malaysia as not only is it cheaper to dive there but it's also AMAZING!!!!!

x

comet555

Thanks for the advice. I hope to get to do it someday!

natalieml

No problems - Keep me up to date on your progress. I know that you can go on taster courses for a couple of hours in a swimming pool as well which are normally free around the tourist holiday periods - might be worth checking with a few resorts around you as that way you can see if you will like it first and won't waste any money. I had the opportunity to do this as a kid at an adventure holiday I went on and from then I always wanted to do it but I know a few people who thought they would love it and actually felt really claustrophobic because of the masks (it's the opposite for me).

If you check out the PADI website they will give you a list of all of the registered PADI instructors in your area so then you could contact them and get prices, that way you know that the course is going to be decent as it will have been assessed and they have to follow specific guidelines.

Hope the medical goes ok!!

x

tomy2tums

Your best to get a medical from a diving doctor, just to be sure.

If you get to dive, open up the credit card and just wait for the addiction to kick in.

Although I would strongly recommend that you dont stop at the Open Water course, move on to the Advanced Open Water, and then the Rescue Diver course.

If your planning it to be your major hobby, you will want your own kit.

Mask, flippers and snorkel, wetsuit, BCD, and tanks and weights (integrated weights into your BCD are better). Torch, SMB and camera too!

Oh, and a knife, just in case you want to discuss with a shark about the merits of it pulling a hole in your wetsuit!

spottydog

I would go into your local dive shop and ask them for a list of doctors to do the medical.

As others have suggested I would go to a specialist diving doctor if possible. Asthma and diving regulations vary dependent on country but unfortunately I think that the majority of doctors worldwide are likely to say you are unable to dive if your asthma is exercise induced as diving can be quite hard exercise and the problem with asthmas reactions are they actually reduce your ability to breathe out so you could have lung expansion issues (very serious for divers).

A quick search on the web shows the following:

"The British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) suggests that those with mild, controlled asthma may dive provided that:
• you do not have asthma that is triggered by cold, exercise, stress or motion
• your asthma is well controlled
• you have not needed to use a reliever inhaler or had any asthma symptoms in the previous 48 hours
• your peak flow must be within 10% of your best value for at least 48 hours before diving."

And the American asthma and allergy institutes conclusion was "Additional data are needed to define accurately risks of diving in subjects with different forms of asthma, however, the available data suggest asthmatic patients with normal airway function at rest, and with little airway reactivity in response to exercise or cold air inhalation, have a risk of pulmonary barotrauma similar to that of normal subjects."

esperanza

Provided your medical is ok you may well be fine to dive - I know people with asthma who dive without problems, but obviously every case is different.
The Padi Open Water course is an excellent place to start, you can go on to do further courses if you wish but you don't have to.
It's a good idea to buy kit like mask/snorkel/fins early, as they are relatively cheap and you can always use them for plain snorkelling if the diving doesn't work out. Similarly it is nice to have your own wetsuit, which will fit you properly and you know that no-one else has peed in it! Also you can use the wetsuit for other activites.
After that, it's a bit of a gamble - very expensive to buy your own kit and never use it, even more expensive to pay rental for a few years and then shell out anyway. To give you an idea, I paid $2800 for my entire kit a few months ago, this was everything except a tank. A lot of people don't bother to get their own tanks, as you have to get them filled every time anyway, plus get them serviced every year. If you dive very regularly it would be worth having your own. Best to wait and see!

There's a diving thread up in the barbie with lots of info on and advice on sites etc from people who dive a lot.
It's a great sport to get in to and very social - hope it works out for you!

comet555

I'm definitely going to go see a specialist for the medical. I don't want to dive if it's going to be a problem.

I did lots of reading on the whole asthma and diving thing so I know what I'm in for. Fortunately for me I've never had any major attacks, and I know I could excercise without an inhaler and I'd be all right. My case is really pretty minor. I don't believe I've ever really been tested properly anyway.

When I was younger the doctors more or less just handed me an inhaler and said I had asthma without doing any tests. When I was a bit older I did two separate tests, one with light exercise and one without. Both were normal. I only ever seem to have problems if I don't listen to my limits and push extra hard. I've never been tested though while doing strenuous exercise.

I always put down exercise induced asthma on forms though just to be safe. I do use and inhaler and it does help a bit. The only time I use an inhaler is when I go play ice hockey, which is once a week. The rest of the time I could go for years and never use it. I don't even carry it around, it just stays in teh hockey bag.

So... after saying all that I'm hopeful that I'll get a chance to dive. But if it's not safe than that'll be the end of it.

cresta57

PADI are very reluctant to train anyone who uses an inhaler whether that is for asthma or alergies. Very few dive doctors really understand asthma and as a result it's difficult to find one who would be prepared to certify you as fit to dive . With your asthma being exercise induced I'd be extremely wary as diving can be very strenuous, not the actual dive itself but the swim back in full kit or the carrying of the kit to the waters edge etc.
Take a look at the form available here
Whatever you do you must consult a professional in hyperbaric medicine, a google search may find one in your area.

comet555

I already have the snorkel gear. After we went to the Great Barrier Reef we bought stuff to play around with in the pool and so we'd have for the future.

I'm quite comfortable snorkelling around and diving down to get stuff. I was really comfortable my first time on the reef too.

hereshoping

you'd probably want to upgrade your snorkle gear, the masks bought for 'playing around' tend to leak below about 5 meters which is really miserable, and the fins are generally shorter.

My husband did his open water in Cairnes a couple of years back, can't remember the name of the company though I'm afraid.

comet555

You're probably right. I didn't buy the cheaest stuff but I'm sure I could have got a lot better. No problem anyway as my husband and I share that set to play around with.

If I get into diving then I'll definitely go and get some better go, we need another set anyway.

How much would the really good snorkel gear cost?