Re: Scuba Diving & Scoliosis

[Guest guest]

Hi, Edie!

Yes, I am very interested in diving. I've almost always felt more at

home in the water than on land, certainly more graceful! Ballet never

could give me the grace that swimming could! And now with the pain and

land-limitations, I'm even more comfortable and flexible in the water.

So, how I've understand the inferior " snuba " is that it's the same

mouthpiece and tank, but the tank is on a raft, and you don't go below

15-20 feet (max). You still need a weightbelt too. The reason I didn't

do it last time we were in HI was that I was concerned about the

weight belt with my back, and then the breathing with my slight

asthma. I was also new to snorkeling at that time too.

But now, I snorkel a lot, and I don't think I'd have a problem

breathing at such a depth.

My main concerns for Scuba are getting in and out of the water with

the tanks! The rest of the items I think won't throw me off so much.

And then whether I'm at risk with scoliosis, instrumentation or the

slight asthma at the lower depths.

I'm glad to hear you haven't had any problems! It's nice to know that

other scoliosis and flatback people are diving. How did you talk with

your doctor about the medical questionnaire - before and after surgery?

Deb M.

> > > >

> > > > Annette,

> > > >

> > > > At close to 6 month post op and a fellow scuba diver, I cannot

tell

> > > you how psyched I was

> > > > to hear that your doctor thought you could start diving again

at the

> > > one year mark. Mine

> > > > suggested the same.

> > > >

> > > > Yes, we should not get geared up on the boat and do giant strides,

> > > but I found that before

> > > > surgery, the best way for me was to gear up at the very edge

of the

> > > boat and do a backroll

> > > > into the water, which I'll still continue when I can start diving

> > > again (I have been practicing

> > > > backward sommersaults underwater at the pool for the last

couple of

> > > months). Then of

> > > > course, there is always the option to gear up in the water. I hope

> > > you are able to go diving

> > > > soon, would love to hear how it went for you. I can't wait,

> > > especially because now that I

> > > > actually have lordosis and my horizontal dive posture is fixed, my

> > > buoyancy should be

> > > > sooooo much better!

> > > >

> > > > I hope to have as great a recovery as yours, I feel I am on

the way

> > > to just that, so thanks

> > > > for the encouragement.

> > > >

> > > > Scuba on,

> > > >

> > > > Edie

[Guest guest]

Hiya Deb,

Sounds like you are a great candidate for becoming a certified diver!

The reason why I recommended a good resort course instead of snuba is that you

will

actually use all of the diving equipment with no tie to the surface, but you

only go down to

30 feet. Some of the best dives I've enjoyed have been the shallower one, so I

can't

recommend this approach enough.

As for weight belts, well, I use pocket weights now, and don't need more than

8lbs, so 4lbs

each side is not a lot of extra drag. You may want to check into renting a BC

with an

integrated weight belt instead. It will be so much more comfortable on your

back, trust

me.

As for getting in and out of the water, you must tell your dive master about

your back

issues. They should be able to help you gear up in the water, so you wouldn't be

lifting any

weight at all. They do it all the time, so don't be afraid to let them know this

up front. I

always take my equipment off in the water and hand it up, so that isn't a

problem either.

In re: doctor's notes: Never got one, never felt I needed one. It's probably a

good idea, but

I was trained by pre 9/11 NYC firemen (yes, they were at the site on the day,

and luckily

made it through), so safety and health was of primary concern and focus in my

course, and

they knew about my back, too. It was a harder course than most people have to go

through, but well worth it.

So, you are a competent swimmer with a big desire to dive? Then NOTHING should

stand

in your way! But I do recommend trying that resort course (I think PADI has a

class called

" Discovering Scuba " or something like that.) It takes a day or two with practice

in a pool

generally, then they actually bring you on shallow dives.....let me know how it

all goes, I'll

be rooting for you. I can promise you that you will find diving to be an extreme

privilege,

and I hope to be able to do it til I'm 100.

Take good care, and if you have any questions, please email me at my

address....I

am going back to work this week, so I will not be checking the board as often.

Enjoy, I'd love to hear all about your experience!

Edie

> > > > >

> > > > > Annette,

> > > > >

> > > > > At close to 6 month post op and a fellow scuba diver, I cannot

> tell

> > > > you how psyched I was

> > > > > to hear that your doctor thought you could start diving again

> at the

> > > > one year mark. Mine

> > > > > suggested the same.

> > > > >

> > > > > Yes, we should not get geared up on the boat and do giant strides,

> > > > but I found that before

> > > > > surgery, the best way for me was to gear up at the very edge

> of the

> > > > boat and do a backroll

> > > > > into the water, which I'll still continue when I can start diving

> > > > again (I have been practicing

> > > > > backward sommersaults underwater at the pool for the last

> couple of

> > > > months). Then of

> > > > > course, there is always the option to gear up in the water. I hope

> > > > you are able to go diving

> > > > > soon, would love to hear how it went for you. I can't wait,

> > > > especially because now that I

> > > > > actually have lordosis and my horizontal dive posture is fixed, my

> > > > buoyancy should be

> > > > > sooooo much better!

> > > > >

> > > > > I hope to have as great a recovery as yours, I feel I am on

> the way

> > > > to just that, so thanks

> > > > > for the encouragement.

> > > > >

> > > > > Scuba on,

> > > > >

> > > > > Edie

>