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Gastric band and scuba diving? Advice please

Posted , 3 users are following.

Alicia87
Alicia87

I had my band fitted in April. I am a qualified diver and planning a big trip next year to Barbados to dive. My clinic have told me that there are no rules set in stone for diving with a band but I should be careful as the water pressure can cause tightness.

Has anyone dived with a band and if so how did you get on? I'm thinking about doing a trial dive in this country before booking my trip.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • JasonDudd
    JasonDudd Alicia87

    Posted

    Hi Alicia,

    I am booked in to get my band done on 30 November.

    I am a PADI instructor and from what i've been taught by PADI the water pressure only really affects the air spaces inside your body, as the band is filled with liquid it shouldn't compress.  One other thing to note is that the biggest pressure change is between the surface and a few meters deep so you could probably test this in a deep swimming pool. If you do a trial dive let me know the outcome!

    Jason

    • Alicia87
      Alicia87 JasonDudd

      Posted

      Ah thank you so much! Makes me feel a lot better hearing it from an instructor! I'll keep you posted!

      Good luck for you opp smile

  • Bandid
    Bandid Alicia87

    Posted

    i would def do a trial here at home cos then at least if you need a defill you know where to get one easily enough rather than being in a strange country and not having a clue where to seek help - lots of things can affect the tightness of the band but i have no experience of scuba diving so cannot offer any advice - goodluck
  • JasonDudd
    JasonDudd Alicia87

    Posted

    Hi Alicia,

    I spoke to my surgeon yesterday about this and he said that the band contains no air just saline solution which is effectively just water. He told me that the liquid in the band would compress at depth but only slightly and would have the opposite affect as flying so if you were to eat whilst at depth you would find it easier as if the band had been loosened but only slightly.

    I'm now on the milkshake and yoghurt diet so looking forward to the operation and actually testing this theory out afterwards.

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