Diving is meant to be a relaxing activity, provided you dive correctly. It is important to keep in mind that there are times when certain physical demands may come into play. For this reason, you should have level of health, fitness and conditioning sufficient to handle moderately strenuous activity. Being in good health will help ensure safe participation in diving.

General health recommendations regarding rest and diet apply to diving as well as everyday life. Never use alcohol, drugs or tobacco prior to diving. Alcohol and drugs - even quantities that have minimal effect on the surface - can impair your judgment at depth, where their effects may be more intense. The consumption of alcohol before or immediately after a dive may increase your risk of decompression sickness. If you are taking a prescription drug, discuss its effects with your physician prior to diving. If you do smoke, abstain for several hours before diving. Smoking significantly decreases the efficiency of your circulatory and respiratory systems.

A good rule of thumb is, if you don't feel well, don't dive. This especially rings true if you have a cold. Diving with a cold can cause ear and sinus squeeze or reverse blocks due to equalization difficulties. Taking an over the counter drug to combat the cold in order to dive is strongly discouraged. I speak from experience about this one! Even if the medication offers encouraging words such as "Non-drowsey formula" or "Side-effect free", don't believe it. Once you jump in and start your descent you will experience a medicine head you have never felt before. The best thing to do is to wait the cold out. I know it doesn't sound like much fun but believe me missing a few dives is better than missing the rest of your life because of a stupid choice.

Maintain a reasonable degree of physical fitness and have a complete physical examination when you first enter diving. Some certification organizations require you complete a physical before you ever set foot in the water. Ideally, you should be examined by a physician knowledgeable in diving medicine. Be sure to keep your immunizations current; this is especially important for your tetanus and typhoid immunizations.

If you are a woman, you have some special health considerations, specifically pregnancy. Little is known about the effects diving may have on a developing fetus, so it is recommended that you discontinue diving while pregnant.