Can you SCUBA dive with the lap band?

[Jamie83 0]

Just wondering if you are allowed to scuba dive with the lap band. Obviously after healing up. Just wasn't sure if the increased pressure of being at depth would have any affect on the band at all.

[Corrigan 75]

My son has a friend who is banded and dives all the time. If you're concerned, give your doctor a

call.

[Jamie83 0]

Thanks. I actually searched and found another thread on the subject. I am not yet banded, but just got certified in SCUBA last weekend. It sure was cold diving in 49 degree Water in the river for our check-out dives. Can I just say that one of my weight loss goals will be to be able to buy a wetsuit that actually fits! I had to wear a 3x suit that I think was mens. It fit in the heavy areas, but the arms and legs were too long so there was some bulging of the suit which let in more cold water. I would ove to be able to buy a great woman's suit and then to top that off, I would love to look good in it!

[wannawearabikini 9]

I asked my doctor this same question and he said it was perfectly safe. I leave for Saudi Arabia in the morning and will be doing my checkout dive! I'm really excited about it...but like you, not too excited about being in a wet suit or worse just my bathing suit!! Oh well...I'll get over it. Best of luck to you!

[Jamie83 0]

Good luck with the check out dives. Are you vacationing in Saudi Arabia? The whole squeezing into the wetsuit was the worst part. Once the wet suit was on it wasn't too bad. At least underwater you feel weight-less!!

[cakegirl 12]

Jamie83, I feel your pain - I've also been hiring a big men's wetsuit that just doesn't fit right. I have a women's wetsuit from yeeeears ago, and I can't wait to be able to fit into it again and not have all that Water pouring down my back and up my legs!!!

I'll be going on my first post-band dive in a couple of weeks.

[soccermonster31 8]

Glad this was posted! I was trying to get certified the week before being banded. But the liquid diet hit me too hard and I just didn't think it would be safe to finish the class. So even though I won't be certified by the time we go to New Zealand at the end of the year, I still plan on finishing the course so I can dive with my husband in the future.

[Jamie83 0]

We did ask the surgeon at our seminar about SCUBA diving with the lap band. He said it's safe. Since the band is filled with Fluid and not air, the pressure change doesn't affect the band. If it was filled with air, then that would be a different story. He also said that he could look at some dive tables to be sure.