What is a good Scuba Diving physical conditioning program?

Question

How do you stay in shape or exercise for diving?

Answer 1

Perfect fitness is not required to scuba dive but it helps. I like to weight train and cycle 3 or 4 times a week.

Lean muscle mass makes buoyancy easier to accomplish.

I also do a lot of core strength exercises such as crunches. I find that if your core is strong everything is easier.

Answer 2

To play tennis, one must play tennis.

SCUBA diving, one must SCUBA dive.

Respect your training and limits of your training.

Be safe first, evaluate, then plan your dive, dive your plan.

Answer 3

Living in Arizona, I don't get to dive as often as I'd like to. Therefore, I focus on other hobbies and activities to stay in shape.

Diet is probably the most important because it doesn't matter how much you workout, if you eat like crap you'll never reach your goals. Otherwise I just try to stay active by rock climbing, mountain biking, and hiking. Increasing your cardio will help to lower your air consumption and the less body fat the less weight you need when diving. It all plays together, make small and traceable goals and just take it day by day.

Answer 4

I recommend swimming laps, obviously. At least 500 yards (or meters), if not 1,000. I lift weights and ride a bike at least 5 miles every other day, with swimming in between every other day. Builds strength and cardio,

Answer 5

I ride a bike everyday! 10 miles or so.

If you spearfish then I would also recommend a little weight training; it makes loading the gun a LOT easier.