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Comment by Rock on May 2, 2013 at 2:01pm

One of the questions I always ask when folks tell me about a diving mishap is, "At what point did you consider aborting the dive and decided not to"..... I have aborted a few dives in my time, and there are no repercussions or second guessing about it. Yes, it is unfortunate to have to make the decision, but there it is. You can spend a lot of money and time in getting to a prime dive site, and the decision to abort the dive is a hard one, as it means you and your buddy will miss all the cool things you can see in the water. But pushing a bad situation into a dangerous one is how folks get hurt. I apologize for the soapbox.

Squirting the gel in your mouth underwater is trickier than it sounds. I would suggest trying it in a swimming pool first. I came up choking and spluttering my first time, to the amusement of my fellow students.

I felt little woozy once near the end of a dive and gave my buddy our hand signal for "Low Glucose". He took control of the dive and we made a controlled ascent to the surface. Once on the surface, I squirted the gel in my mouth and started to feel better. He gave me a 15 second medical evaluation, and, over my objections, towed me back to the dive boat. After we got back aboard and got the gear taken care of and an adult beverage in hand, we reviewed together what might have caused the low glucose event and how it could be avoided in the future. In his own quiet and understated way, my dive buddy, who is also my son, chewed me out for being stupid. We both learned a valuable lesson that day.

Brian, did you see any lionfish in Roatan? They are turning into a first class ecological disaster.

Rock

Comment by Clare on May 2, 2013 at 8:18am

I was in Roatan in November but it was just a stop off on a cruise so I didn't get to dive. Glad your dives were unimpeded by blood sugar. I am the same I generally try to run a bit on the high side when I am diving, more for my non-D dive buddy than for me. It would stink to have to abort just because of a low. I have never gone low while diving, but I do carry glucose gel in my pocket just in case. It's probably not a bad idea to actually practice removing your mouthpiece, sucking down some gel, and purging and replacing the mouthpiece, just to be sure you are capable if the need should arise. I'm hypo unaware so that makes diving even more tricky and an even better reason to eat hearty before.

Comment by Brian on May 2, 2013 at 8:07am

Hi All,
I just got back from a dive trip to Roatan, Honduras. It was awesome. I had no issues with my BG while diving. I typically run high when diving just to play it safe. I also carry some energy gels in my BCD. Has anyone had a low while diving? If so what did you do?

Photo from the trip

Comment by Clare on October 10, 2012 at 3:40pm

Thanks for the welcome Rock, I have been diving a couple of years but only in Belize not locally. My brother in law is a master instructor and awesome underwater photographer so he managed to get the turtle to pose for me. I did my advanced certification in the Blue Hole which I know is a dream dive spot for many. And the hol chan marine sanctuary is home to some amazing aquaculture. I am heading out for a cruise to the western caribbean in November and hope to dive either in Roatan or Grand Cayman. One thing I do try to do is make sure my blood sugar is always a little bit high before I get in the water. It's amazing how much energy one uses swimming and certainly not a place I want to go low.

Comment by Rock on October 7, 2012 at 5:54am

Welcome to the group! Love your photograph. I want to know how long it took you to get that sea turtle to pose for the camera?

I live in Bedford, so let me know if you want to go diving somewhere. The local fur seals and great white sharks have dampened my enthusiasm for the local dive spots this summer.

Any insights you have that might help a fellow diver would be welcome here.

Let me know if you want to go diving. Always looking for a dive buddy.

Rock

Comment by Clare on October 7, 2012 at 5:00am

HI all, new to this group. I certified in advanced open water diving in Belize at the Blue Hole. I have done most of my dives in Belize but live in Boston so don't get much of an opportunity to dive locally. I am heading on a cruise in November and may do a dive in Grand Cayman. I have had T1 D for 37 years and diving is one of the few things that I need my doctor's note to do.

Comment by Rock on May 12, 2012 at 3:51am

Thanks are due to Mr. Yates for providing the link to the DAN research and recommendations. As always, the protocols are safe and conservative, and I would agree that someone that is a diver and newly diagnosed, or the reverse, a diabetic that wants to take up scuba diving, should follow them.

Just remember that the two most important safety measures are first, knowing yourself, and second, dive with a buddy you trust. The rest, as they say, is easy....

Rock

Comment by Peter Yates on May 11, 2012 at 10:27pm

Here are the DAN guidelines/diving safety protocols for people with Diabetes

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/article.asp?arti...

Comment by Jakub on March 7, 2012 at 11:00am

Adv Nitrox/ Deco. I was in the process of doing my trimix... So much for that... I'd love to get back in the water! It's been 2 months and it sucks! How far away are you?

Comment by Rock on March 7, 2012 at 10:10am

Jakub,

Are you already certified? If so, I am not all that far from New Bedford... If want to go diving for lobster, scallops, or do some spear fishing, please let me know.

Can we wait for spring so things warm up a bit?

Rock

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