The Implications of Gender on Diving

Have you ever heard that women are able to tolerate cold conditions better than men? Turns out there's some truth to this. In general, our lean body mass (mass minus that of fat) is less than men, this is because we have a greater natural distribution of fatty tissue underlying our skin.

However, this increased amount of fatty tissue serves as a greater store for nitrogen in our bodies, theoretically increasing our risk to getting the bends over men. But this is nothing to worry about, as the risk of getting the bends is rare providing we follow our diving tables.

In general, women tend to harnest their lower-body strength more than men, who rely more on their upper-body strength. Studies have found that men on avergae, kick more than women to cover the excact same distance. This more effective kicking style, combined with a smaller lung volume results in a better air-consumption, making us ladies able to stay down for longer and capable of providing more air incase a buddy runs out.

Okey, this is one myth I would like to address. YES, you can still dive when you are on your period. Many women refrain from diving as they believe sharks will detect the scent of blood in the water (and yes I do get asked this). With knowing that it is possible to dive, there are still a few things to keep in mind.

Heavy periods can cause problems, especially when they result in iron deficiency. Your body's ability to carry oxygen efficiently is reduced, which might put you at risk of tiring out while swimming into strong currents. Diving with severe stomach cramps can also be potentially dangerous, as it leads to an inability to swim properly on a dive.

So saying you can dive, doesn't mean you always should. My general saying is if any of your symptoms requires medication, the answer is easy - don't dive! ALWAYS make sure to listen to your body.

The majority of oral contraceptives contain combined derivatives of the two hormones, oestrogen and progesterone. The basic idea is to stop the cyclic flow of our bodies releasing a viable egg from our ovaries each month. Without ovulation, no fertilisation can occur and mission accomplished. However, there are some side-effects to be aware of.

One such side-effect is the tendency for platelets to clump, leading to abnormal blood clotting, especially around the calf veins where blood flow is slower and more sluggish than anywhere else in the body. Venous nitrogen bubbles that can form after a dive also stimulate platelet aggregation around them, leading to the increased risk of venous thrombosis in female divers on the pill.

If you are diving while on the pill try and take precaution - practise safe diving, take care to avoid excessive bubble loading and ensure you're calf muscles aren't compressed during the dive. You can also sit or lie with your knees extended after a dive to allow easy blood flow from your calves.

In my experience, girls fall within two groups of divers. Most girls are extremely safe and independent divers, always planning and executing their dive plan. They take few risks and are very considerate diving buddies. However, a few girls fall under the 'barbie doll diver' league. They normally request their male buddies to help with every aspect including carrying gear, set up and dive plan. Buddies like this can become a liability, as over time one might forget the basics and when a problem arises are then incapable of providing a safe solution.

In diving, there is no place for sloppiness - both buddies in a team need to be fully independent divers as you have to rely on each other with your life.