Extending Dive Time with
Physical Fitness
By Gretchen M. Ashton, CFT, SFT, SFN, NBFE
T
ick tock tick tock. Have you ever heard someone say, ‘there goes 15 minutes of my life I will never get back?’ While there are many different philosophies and applications of time, most divers don’t want to waste it.
Divers spend time pouring over dive logs, recording
time in and time out of the water, bottom time and
surface intervals, and adding up the flow of minutes as
a measure of experience. Underwater photographers
devote hours of their time dedicated to freeze-framing
that perfect fluid moment. Even professionals who
have spent years of their life exploring the oceans of
the world still can’t get enough. Racing the clock or
watching the clock, divers simply want more dive
time.
Participating in daily exercise is an investment of time
divers can make for themselves that comes with big
payoffs. Physical fitness improves the health of divers,
which can extend dive time and add years to the diver’s lifespan. A diver certified at 20 years of age has
the potential for more than 50 years of scuba diving.
During this diving lifespan many biological changes will occur. Beginning in
early adulthood all body systems begin to lose capacity; muscle strength decreases, cardiovascular capacity diminishes, and body composition changes.
Clearly, illness should not be confused with aging however, changes in the
body due to aging are of great concern when combined with illness, injury or
a sedentary lifestyle.
There are many theories of aging, but only physical activity is wholly agreed
to reverse the effects of aging. As with diving and any activity, there are risks