According to a recent study, French researchers have concluded that undertaking 45 minutes of aerobic exercise 24 to 2 hours before diving reduces the risk of decompression sickness. Unfortunately, the researchers were not able to determine exactly why aerobic activity reduced the likelihood of DCS. Although they generated several hypotheses, they felt it was most likely that rather than altering the nitrogen elimination rate, exercise may affect the population of gaseous nuclei from which bubbles form.
From personal experience, the most exercise I get while diving is walking to and from the buffet table. Does marathon gorging count as an aerobic activity?
Finally, of course, neither Erik nor I are doctors, so please consult your physician before applying this newsworthy tid-bit to your dive routine.
[via Scuba Travel]
1. Good point, Bill. So what do you do if you're on a several-day-long dive trip? You can't exercise every afternoon after a morning's dive and then plan on another morning dive...
Posted at 3:58PM on Aug 9th 2005 by Willy Volk