ARE
YOU
FIT
TO
DIVE

Divers care about the shape they're in, as Dave Gwyer discovered when Diver launched its Fitness Challenge at Stoney Cove. And from what he saw, it's just as well they do care!
TEN GIVEAWAY SIGNS OF AN UNFIT DIVER
After three minutes of moderate exercise, Jerome Pochon is flushed and breathless. His cheeks are red and his heart is beating fast - he has just finished in the "very poor category" in the Diver Fitness Challenge.
However, Jerome is not old or overweight. He's a lean 24-year-old student, but he smokes - and that can make all the difference.
In contrast, 46-year-old David Bull, a PADI instructor from Northants, sails through the tests and barely breaks into a sweat. His secret? Regular cross-country runs and fitness training sessions three times a week.
But it would be too easy to draw instant conclusions from that. One thing the Fitness Challenge indicated to us was that you don't have to run marathons or spend your life in the gym to keep in reasonably good shape.
The fitness of divers varies widely, a fact that was highlighted when Diver and Stoney Cove arranged a basic series of tests for divers one chilly Saturday morning at the popular inland site in Leicestershire. Stoney is putting a lot of emphasis on safety and health with its new Diverlog registration scheme, which comes into force this year, so it seemed an appropriate place to carry out the Challenge.
There were several hundred divers around, "a bit below average for a Saturday," reckoned Stoney Cove director Martin Woodward. These were the sort of divers hardy enough to take the plunge in February, so we reckoned they should be in reasonably good shape.
Many of us wait until April or May and then dive straight back into the sea, regardless of the poor shape we got into during the winter.
The tests were conducted by the extremely fit Beccy Weissbort, a fitness consultant from London. We checked out 15 divers and tested their blood pressure, resting pulse and lung capacity, and put them through three minutes of mild exercise - stepping on and off a step - before checking their heart rate immediately afterwards. Each set of tests took up to 15 minutes.
The overall results were then compared to statistics gathered for an average person of the same age, sex, height and weight.
"The blood-pressure test is used only as a rough guide, because that can be affected by so many factors, such as whether you've had a big meal," explained Beccy. "Similarly pulse rate can depend on nerves, or the cold, or whether you've just had a cup of coffee, so we make allowances there.
"Lung function does improve with cardio-vascular fitness, and that is affected by things like smoking, asthma or bronchial problems. The step-test measures cardio-vascular function and gives an idea of general fitness. The idea is that you raise the heart rate and time how fast it returns to normal. The fitter you are, the lower your heart rate."
We soon discovered that it was impossible to judge from participants' appearance how fit they would turn out to be. Equally interesting was that the divers' preconceptions of their fitness levels were often at odds with reality.
Some considered themselves very fit and were disappointed when they turned out to be only averagely so. We sent them for a quick work-out on the step machine, and many resolved to try harder in future. Others thought they were unfit and were delighted to find themselves in the average category, while a few others finished in the very poor category and, quite frankly, didn't give a toss.
Most significant of all, we felt, was that so many divers were keen enough to queue up to have their fitness checked. We had made it clear that although the publicity for the event tied it in with both Diver and Diverlog, we were simply gathering material for an article - there was no question of less-fit individuals being barred from the site!
Still, we had half-expected to have to gang up and overpower the weaker specimens before dragging them down to the check-up tent. That expectation proved unworthy. Divers clearly care about their health, and our apologies to all those we had to turn away because we ran out of time.
Those who volunteered were not only the superfit ones keen to show off, either, although that, according to Beccy, is the usual pattern. Not too many smokers put themselves forward, however!
Divers can't afford to be blase about their fitness. The fitter you are, the more you will get from your diving, but it is in an unexpected or extreme situation that fitness really counts.
It makes it easier to swim in a current, reach a shotline or tow an unconscious casualty through the water. And, of course, your air consumption is likely to be lower.
"It was particularly interesting listening to all those hearts one after the other," said Beccy Weissbort. "You can tell the good ones because they recover so strongly. If everyone could listen to the sound of healthy and unhealthy heartbeats like that, I'm sure it would make them do something about their own fitness."
Philip Whitworth Working out at work
Philip Whitworth is a 51-year-old PADI Advanced Diver from Welling-borough, Northants. He works as a gas fitter and is a non-smoker. "I don't go out running or jogging, but I work bloody hard all day," he said. On a scale of one to ten, Philip reckoned he would score about five in the test, but he had underestimated the power of hard work. His blood pressure was on the high side but lung capacity was OK and he proved better than average on the step test, with 100 beats per minute. "I would say you are in quite good nick," was Beccy's verdict. "Everything seems to be OK, so I'm quite happy with the way things are going," Philip told Diver.

Dave Collier I'm a slob
"I don't do half as much as I ought to," said 29-year-old PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Dave Collier, who is an engineer and lives in Wellingborough. "My job is sedentary - I take telephone calls from customers and advise them on technical subjects. I drive to work. In the summer I cycle but in the winter I just go out for a couple of walks." Dave doesn't smoke, but on a scale of one to ten reckoned he would score about two. His blood pressure was normal and lung capacity only slightly under average, but three minutes on the steps boosted his heart rate to 120bpm, against an average 101-106bpm. "You were poor, I'm afraid," Beccy told him. "I didn't pass the MoT, and it confirms what I suspected," said Dave. "I admit I'm a slob, but I'll probably start using my own stepper, which is collecting dust in my loft."

Stuart Laughton Where's my bike?
Stuart Laughton is a PADI Open Water Diver from Raunds in Northants. He is 26, a non-smoker, and works as an electrician. "I don't do much exercise outside work," he confessed, but was fairly optimistic about his score in the test, estimating "about seven". The step test left his heart beating at an above-average 114bpm, and his lung function was less than average. "You're just below average for your age," Beccy told him when the tests were complete, but Stuart was horrified. "I really thought I'd be a lot fitter than that, with an active job. Without a doubt I'm going to make changes - I'll probably start swimming, and get my pushbike out."
Katie King Needs new fins?
Katie King really doesn't look it but she is 56, a Sports Diver with BSAC General Branch, and another non-smoker. "I do some swimming, some badminton and cycling in the summer," she told us, but had low expectations of her fitness. "I haven't got much stamina, that's my main worry. I get very out of breath, and also feel I get left behind when finning. When the tide is against me, and I'm trying to reach the shotline, I find it difficult to get there." Her lung capacity was below average but on the step test at least, Katie's heart rate told another story - it was 108bpm against an average 113-117. "You have an above average score," Beccy told her. "You've done really well. Your blood pressure was very good." Katie was relieved: "I'm very happy about that," she said.
Alan Baldock Walking the dog
Dunstable BSAC Dive Leader Alan Baldock is a 52-year-old fitter at Vauxhall, a non-smoker. "I don't do a lot of exercise these days," he said, though he does walk the dog daily. "I'm not as fit as I used to be, but I'll give myself a score of seven out of 10." It was Alan's heart rate that let him down, however - it was 146bpm after the step test, against an average 109-115. Beccy told him he had fallen into the "very poor" category. "That means that you can do with more walking. You just need some regular aerobic exercise to work your heart and lungs." Alan was surprised: "I thought I was feeling fit, but this test shows me I must do more to come up to standard and be a safer diver."

Jeff Shone As the smoke clears
Jeff Shone is 32, and a furniture-maker from Sheffield. This PADI Advanced Diver used to smoke 20 a day but gave up to take up diving, and because his wife had a baby. His exercise is - diving. "My work is fairly physical, but I don't do anything else," he said. "I would say that my fitness would be below average. If 10 was an athlete and one was a couch potato, I would say that I would be a five." Jeff was wrong - he was above average. Blood pressure was slightly high, lung capacity above the norm and after three minutes of stepping, his heart rate was just 95bpm (average 101-106). "That's a good sign," said Beccy. "I'm impressed," was Jeff's reaction. "It confirms that giving up smoking was a good move. I should have done it a long time ago."

Matthew Outram Unshaken, unstirred
"I walk from the car park to my office and that's about it - I try to avoid doing any more than that," admitted 25-year-old computer science lecturer Matthew Outram, a BSAC Advanced Diver. He comes from Hull, is an ex-smoker and was realistic: "I would rate poor to very poor." After three minutes on the step, Matthew's heart rate was 163bpm - a stonking 60 per cent higher than the average of about 102. "You were very poor," Beccy confirmed. "In fact you are at the bottom of the scale - I'm sorry to have to tell you that. I recommend that you look at your lifestyle and your diet and exercise a bit." Matthew was unshaken. "The result was predictable. Doctors and health people always say this to me, but I feel fine. I'll probably make some changes in the long run."

Paul Meynell There goes another bus
A 31-year-old SAA Dive Leader, Paul Meynell comes from Nottingham. He is a field service engineer and a non-smoker but is slightly asthmatic. "I exercise very little," he told us. "I just dive at the weekend and do a little bit of swimming. I'm not particularly fit, but I wouldn't say I was mega-unfit. If I had to run for a bus, I'd be out of breath. I'd give myself a score of three out of 10." Paul's breath test was slightly below average but after three minutes on the steps, his heart rate was 109bpm (average 101-106 beats). "Just below average - that was pretty good," was Beccy's verdict. Paul was surprised, considering his lack of exercise. "I expected to be in the 'really bad' category. I've bought an exercise bike, so I must start using it more."
Paul Carter Gyms are boring
"I do nothing and I don't go to gyms because they're boring, but I do play a bit of squash," said 31-year-old engineer and Advanced Diver Paul Carter from Warrington, Cheshire. He too was a non-smoker. "I'm just about fit enough to survive to the next day." Paul predicted a score of 5/10. His lung capacity was slightly less than average and after three minutes on the steps his heart rate was 114bpm against an average range of 101-106. Overall his score was just below average. "Not too bad," Beccy told him. "I'd probably do more when it's warmer," said Paul. "I wouldn't do something just to get fit, but I'd do something that's fun which would keep me fit."

>Megan Payne Canine training
Megan Payne, a 28-year-old coe administrator, a BSAC Advanced Instructor and non-smoker, believed she would prove to be reasonably fit, and gave herself seven out of 10 before the tests. "I walk the dog for about an hour every day - and that's it." Megan's lung function was better than normal, and her heart rate of 96bpm compared well with the average for a woman of her age, 112-118. "That's a good result," Beccy told her after the check-up. "You have a good, steady pulse." Megan declared herself "very happy" with the confirmation. "It's reassuring to know that I'm quite fit. It's well worth having the dog just to keep me that way."

Glen Boyce Double your diving
Glen Boyce does nothing energetic but diving. "I'm concerned about keeping fit, but I don't seem to find the time or the motivation to do it. Still, I would say I'm of average fitness." The 42-year-old company director from Worksop is a PADI Advanced Diver and non-smoker, and did very well on the lung-capacity test and not too badly on the steps. His heart rate was up to 113 beats a minute (average 105-111). "You're just below average, but you shouldn't take that as an excuse not to exercise," Beccy told him. "It's more or less what I expected," said Glen. "I don't do any exercise but I accept that I should do more. I think I'll do more dives, and come to Stoney fortnightly rather than just once a month."

Jerome Pochon Willpower not enough
Frenchman Jerome Pochon, a student at Coventry University, says he smokes only six or seven cigarettes a day, but used to partake far more heavily. The 24-year-old PADI Open Water Diver's only exercise is diving. "My fitness is poor, but I have good stamina and strong willpower," he said gamely. His blood pressure was slightly high and his lung capacity was only just below average, which was surprising for a smoker. But time spent on the steps had his heart beating 134 times a minute, against an average of 104. "If you want to be fit, you have to start exercising and stop smoking," Beccy told him.

Pushing his luck
Diver's Managing Editor Steve Weinman is 47, a BSAC Dive Leader and these days far too regularly drawn to couches and other furniture suitable for lying on, with only sporadic outbreaks of jogging and swimming. "I drive everywhere and worry about my lack of exercise, yet I always feel quite fit," he said. And indeed the test showed that, defying all logic, he was in good shape, with low pulse, average blood pressure, plentiful air in his lungs and a heartbeat of 105bpm, putting him on the high side of average. "Perhaps it's genetic?" was all Beccy could suggest when he confessed to his lack of exercise. "I'm really pleased, but I do feel I'm pushing my luck a bit," said Steve. "If only my stomach was in equally good shape."

David Bull The pay-off
David Bull is a 46-year-old PADI instructor from Northampton, a non-smoker, and there was no doubt that he fancied his chances. "I do quite a lot - cross-country running and circuit-training three times a week," he told us. "For my age, I think I'm quite fit. I'd be upset if I wasn't. David had a distinctly low resting pulse of 59bpm, and after three minutes on the steps, his heart rate was just 78bpm. Average for his age is 109-115bpm, so that, with the other tests, put him firmly into the "excellent" category. "You've got a really good result - the best we've had all day," said Beccy. "It's what I expected, but that is because I do so much work. Fitness and general health are very important to me," said David.
Adam Beaumont The morning after
Adam Beaumont, 20, lives round the corner from Stoney Cove, in Stoney Stanton. He is a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, non-smoker and breathing apparatus engineer. He was reasonably bullish, anticipating a score of six out of 10. "I do a lot of mountaineering and plenty of hill-walking. I'm not as fit as I would like but hopefully I'm not too bad." Adam did admit to having had "more than a skinful" the night before, which can affect fitness test results. Blood pressure was slightly high and the steps pushed his heart rate to 105bpm, close to the average 101-104. "You fell into the average category," said Beccy. "That's not bad. The result could have been affected by drinks last night and the fact that you've had flu recently." Adam was disappointed, however. "I was hoping to do a bit better," he said. "I'll definitely be doing more exercise."
TEN GIVEAWAY SIGNS OF AN UNFIT DIVER
Several of our guinea pigs said diving was their only exercise. Exercise? Louise Trewavas considers the evidence.

Diving is an "adventure sport" in the same way that darts is a "sport"; fitness appears to be optional, and ability to down quantities of beer has assumed a mysterious but central role. You could mistake the BSAC's National Diving Committee for an unsuccessful branch of Weight Watchers.

Most of my dive weekends are spent getting there in the car, hanging about in bars, eating chips and waiting for slack. Occasionally I fall off a boat into the water, and try to float and relax. The only exercise is loading and unloading the boat and retrieving the shot. So how come I end up so tired?

You don't need Beccy Weissbort to tell you if you're unfit. Here are 10 tell-tale signs:
  1. The effort of carrying your kit on board renders you incapable of moving or speaking for a good 15 minutes
  2. Your fellow divers have wised up to the "give us a hand, my back's playing up" routine, and simply stand back in amusement as you huff and puff along the slipway
  3. You've invested in your own personal block-and-tackle so that you can be winched back on board
  4. You drain half your cylinder on the swim to the shotline...
  5. ... and need a five-minute break to compose yourself before descending
  6. You remain convinced that your 15-litre cylinder shrinks dramatically on contact with the water. Your friends referyou as the "Human Hoover"
  7. The knees of your suit look like a battlefield. Why bother finning? It's much easier to crawl.
  8. You always thought "slack" was something to do with tides - now you know it's your stomach
  9. A day's diving leaves you so exhausted that you tend to slump unconscious into your dinner after your first pint...
  10. ...and your buddy has become skilled in the pub-table recovery position, and the subtle art of removing chips from the nose.

Appeared in DIVER - April 1999