Tired after diving....

*Clare Gledhill* · November 26th, 2005, 07:46 PM

I learnt to dive at this time of year. I drove to the dive site in the dark, left in the dark and yawned all the way home. I became accustomed to being tired after diving - and everyone I spoke to said they did too - it was normal.

About six weeks or so ago, I was having a conversation with someone and realised that I didn't feel tired any more. I was as bouncy after diving as before (which is quite bouncy

)

We put this down to mild 'sub clinical' bends during faster ascents that I did before I came across to DIR (tbh it also coincided with my cracking my buoyancy control to the point that ascent were controlled rather than haphazard) - and I always dive Nitrox now - not supposed to make a difference but hey - a lot of people say it does. So, on the basis, of my experience, slow ascents were "good" and left me in better shape after diving.

I did two nice shallow dives yesterday, follwed by two incredibly slow ascents (as I wanted to try out the new wing) and killed myself on the way home.

I fell asleep at the wheel driving home from a dive and drifted across the central reservation on a 60 mph road, towards an on-coming car. This was no 'shutting one's eyes for a rest' it was full on asleep. The car I was heading for hooted and I woke up enough to swerve back on to my side of the road. I pulled off for a sleep and started driving again half an hour later with an O2 stage in the car beside me.

The problem with using your own experiences to work out deco is you only have one model and no control group. My view is, on reflection, that the temperature drop has left my body working so hard to keep warm that I am as tired after a dive (I was very, very cold yesterday) as if I had been excercising hard for a similar period.

But this view may be as wrong as my previous one - so I wonder if any of you would care to comment - do you notice that you are more tired after getting cold, fast ascents etc.

Gareth Burrows · November 26th, 2005, 07:50 PM

Jesus girl, glad you're ok.

Janos · November 26th, 2005, 08:00 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by CHG)

I fell asleep at the wheel driving home from a dive and drifted across the central reservation on a 60 mph road, towards an on-coming car. This was no 'shutting one's eyes for a rest' it was full on asleep.

Feck!

Glad you're ok!

To me, I often feel tired after a dive. Not meaning to be flippant, but this is often because I get up at stupid o'clock (0530) to go diving. Even if I'm diving to 6m with really slow ascents (such as when I'm teaching at Stoney) then I feel tired.

Don't understimate the cold though. Even if you don't feel cold, you are still using up energy maintaining your temperature. When I dive in February it's not unusual for me to have the heating at around 21C on the way to the dive, but set at 26 or 27 on the way back.

Cold also makes you feel tired. I often talk about my ex-boss' experiments in narcosis. They also compared narcosis to being drunk and to being cold, and they found that a person in swimming trunks in 5 degree water has a significantly slower response time than someone who is warm.

Janos

***techadmin*** · November 26th, 2005, 08:25 PM

Glad your ok!

I too noticed that I was always tired after diving when I started, then I discovered Nitrox, bouyancy control, slower ascents then maxing out my PPO2 during deco.

Now I get far far less tired.

Those 2 incredibly shallow dives wouldn't have been on air would they?

I have a little theory that its high PPN2 that messes us up have not noticed the cold making that much difference to me personally.

Might have bit a little bit of left over jet lag too maybe?

*Clare Gledhill* · November 26th, 2005, 08:32 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by techadmin)

Those 2 incredibly shallow dives wouldn't have been on air would they?

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...... nope.

Quote:

Might have bit a little bit of left over jet lag too maybe?

Perhaps.... although I felt fine during the day.

Watching brief I suppose - together with a new set of arctics

**Alastair** · November 26th, 2005, 08:37 PM

Wow - glad you are OK.

I didn't feel tired after the dives on friday so I'd have to guess cold was the main factor in leaving you worn out.

Artics sound like a very sensible option.

Cheers
Al

Rick · November 26th, 2005, 08:49 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Alastair)

Artics sound like a very sensible option.

Cheers
Al

Hmm...some bugger still has my top!!

Diving Dude · November 26th, 2005, 09:25 PM

Clare, maybe you should try breathing warm gas instead of that cold stuff in your twins. :D

**Alastair** · November 26th, 2005, 10:10 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Frogman)

Hmm...some bugger still has my top!!

The sad thing is, the silly twat has bought his own and keeps forgetting to return yours!

Quote: (Originally Posted by Diving Dude)

Clare, maybe you should try breathing warm gas instead of that cold stuff in your twins. :D

Howard, don't give her ideas - let her leave the RB80 a couple of years!

ReikiMaster · November 26th, 2005, 10:35 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Alastair)

Howard, don't give her ideas - let her leave the RB80 a couple of years!

The rate Clare is going she will be instructing people on how to dive it by this time next year

November 26th, 2005, 07:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
Clare Gledhill (Online) GUE Instructor Site Admin Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UK Posts: 1,540	Tired after diving.... I learnt to dive at this time of year. I drove to the dive site in the dark, left in the dark and yawned all the way home. I became accustomed to being tired after diving - and everyone I spoke to said they did too - it was normal. About six weeks or so ago, I was having a conversation with someone and realised that I didn't feel tired any more. I was as bouncy after diving as before (which is quite bouncy ) We put this down to mild 'sub clinical' bends during faster ascents that I did before I came across to DIR (tbh it also coincided with my cracking my buoyancy control to the point that ascent were controlled rather than haphazard) - and I always dive Nitrox now - not supposed to make a difference but hey - a lot of people say it does. So, on the basis, of my experience, slow ascents were "good" and left me in better shape after diving. I did two nice shallow dives yesterday, follwed by two incredibly slow ascents (as I wanted to try out the new wing) and killed myself on the way home. I fell asleep at the wheel driving home from a dive and drifted across the central reservation on a 60 mph road, towards an on-coming car. This was no 'shutting one's eyes for a rest' it was full on asleep. The car I was heading for hooted and I woke up enough to swerve back on to my side of the road. I pulled off for a sleep and started driving again half an hour later with an O2 stage in the car beside me. The problem with using your own experiences to work out deco is you only have one model and no control group. My view is, on reflection, that the temperature drop has left my body working so hard to keep warm that I am as tired after a dive (I was very, very cold yesterday) as if I had been excercising hard for a similar period. But this view may be as wrong as my previous one - so I wonder if any of you would care to comment - do you notice that you are more tired after getting cold, fast ascents etc. __________________ Clare . "Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions....Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too can become great." Interested in DIR dive training? Always happy to chat/answer questions so get in touch via PM or visit www.dirdiver.co.uk Last edited by Clare Gledhill; November 26th, 2005 at 07:52 PM.

November 26th, 2005, 07:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
Gareth Burrows(Offline) Chimp 2 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Horsham, West Sussex Posts: 365	Jesus girl, glad you're ok. __________________ Garf Amusing and Clever Signature under construction.

November 26th, 2005, 08:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
Janos(Offline) "Two Sheds" Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Surrey Posts: 400	Quote: (Originally Posted by CHG) I fell asleep at the wheel driving home from a dive and drifted across the central reservation on a 60 mph road, towards an on-coming car. This was no 'shutting one's eyes for a rest' it was full on asleep. Feck! Glad you're ok! To me, I often feel tired after a dive. Not meaning to be flippant, but this is often because I get up at stupid o'clock (0530) to go diving. Even if I'm diving to 6m with really slow ascents (such as when I'm teaching at Stoney) then I feel tired. Don't understimate the cold though. Even if you don't feel cold, you are still using up energy maintaining your temperature. When I dive in February it's not unusual for me to have the heating at around 21C on the way to the dive, but set at 26 or 27 on the way back. Cold also makes you feel tired. I often talk about my ex-boss' experiments in narcosis. They also compared narcosis to being drunk and to being cold, and they found that a person in swimming trunks in 5 degree water has a significantly slower response time than someone who is warm. Janos __________________ You can lead a horse to water but you can't climb a ladder with a large bell in both hands - Vic Reeves www.hellfins.com/shed

November 26th, 2005, 08:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
Clare Gledhill (Online) GUE Instructor Site Admin Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UK Posts: 1,540	Quote: (Originally Posted by techadmin) Those 2 incredibly shallow dives wouldn't have been on air would they? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...... nope. Quote: Might have bit a little bit of left over jet lag too maybe? Perhaps.... although I felt fine during the day. Watching brief I suppose - together with a new set of arctics __________________ Clare . "Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions....Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too can become great." Interested in DIR dive training? Always happy to chat/answer questions so get in touch via PM or visit www.dirdiver.co.uk

November 26th, 2005, 08:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
Alastair(Offline) DIRX Supporter Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UK Posts: 693	Wow - glad you are OK. I didn't feel tired after the dives on friday so I'd have to guess cold was the main factor in leaving you worn out. Artics sound like a very sensible option. Cheers Al __________________ Helium is our friend - GI3

November 26th, 2005, 08:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
*techadmin*(Offline) Administrator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Data Center Posts: 214	Glad your ok! I too noticed that I was always tired after diving when I started, then I discovered Nitrox, bouyancy control, slower ascents then maxing out my PPO2 during deco. Now I get far far less tired. Those 2 incredibly shallow dives wouldn't have been on air would they? I have a little theory that its high PPN2 that messes us up have not noticed the cold making that much difference to me personally. Might have bit a little bit of left over jet lag too maybe?

November 26th, 2005, 08:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
Rick(Offline) Jock Exley Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Falkirk/Stratford UK Posts: 730	Quote: (Originally Posted by Alastair) Artics sound like a very sensible option. Cheers Al Hmm...some bugger still has my top!! __________________ Forget Everything And Remember http://phreaticzone.thedeepstop.com/ http://www.dublinbaydiving.com/

November 26th, 2005, 09:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
Diving Dude(Offline) new member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Stanmore Posts: 27	Clare, maybe you should try breathing warm gas instead of that cold stuff in your twins. :D __________________ Howard

November 26th, 2005, 10:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
Alastair(Offline) DIRX Supporter Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UK Posts: 693	Quote: (Originally Posted by Frogman) Hmm...some bugger still has my top!! The sad thing is, the silly twat has bought his own and keeps forgetting to return yours! Quote: (Originally Posted by Diving Dude) Clare, maybe you should try breathing warm gas instead of that cold stuff in your twins. :D Howard, don't give her ideas - let her leave the RB80 a couple of years! __________________ Helium is our friend - GI3 Last edited by Alastair; November 26th, 2005 at 10:13 PM.

November 26th, 2005, 10:35 PM	#10 (permalink)
ReikiMaster(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Reading, Berkshire, UK Posts: 123	Quote: (Originally Posted by Alastair) Howard, don't give her ideas - let her leave the RB80 a couple of years! The rate Clare is going she will be instructing people on how to dive it by this time next year __________________ Steve