Frequently, some of my friends and people interested in scuba diving asked me if it is ok to scuba dive if you are overweight or not the best fan of moving a single muscle. I am not a doctor or sports trainer to make an assessment if they are in good shape or not, so I always avoid saying yes or no. I am convinced that scuba diving, as any other sport, requires that you have at least some degree of physical preparation.
I have found that there is the erroneous idea that it doesn’t matter your physical condition to practice scuba diving or snorkeling. We, novice and experienced scuba divers, spend a lot of time researching scuba diving equipment, until we find the best design, technology and security features. And all this is ok, if we think that these are accessories that will support the scuba diving engine, our body.
In general terms, my recommendation is to establish a simple but effective workout routine, something achievable. For a beginner scuba diver, I will say start at the treadmill, after some weeks switch to running and then swimming. For somebody who is used to do some kind of exercise, maybe a combination of running, swimming and light weightlifting. For veteran divers who do some kind of exercise on a regular basis, on top of all these suggested training options, I will suggest some days only for abs and legs combined with stretching. After some weeks, you will notice that you feel great and your scuba diving experience is better now, the reason: your body is in better shape. You can dive more time; consume less oxygen and move faster than ever in the water, and…you will have less calf cramps for sure!
Be aware that these are only general ideas; always consult a professional prior to start any training program.
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