Why shouldn't SCUBA divers drink coffee or tea before diving? Where can I find more info about this?

Question

I was told by a health professional that SCUBA divers shouldn't drink coffee or tea at least 12 hours before a dive. I've never heard of this before and I've been diving for 30 years.

Answer 1

Sounds to me like your "health professional" is one of those anti caffeine advocates. Caffeine will actually help your performance and it has been proven that coffee and tea will hydrate you which is always good before a dive. Your friend is probably going off old data that states that caffeine is a diuretic and could dehydrate you. That is only true if you take a min of 250 mg of caffeine and the effects are very mild at that point. Plus you are adding fluid to your system with the water in the drink. I would suggest that you ask them where they get their information, and if it's just their opinion then what formed it.

Good Luck

Answer 2

The Divers Alert Network agrees. I've also heard this as well.

Here are two of DAN's articles regarding coffee and diving. You'll note that they regard not drinking coffee is part of what they call "good diving practice".

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medica...

for starters.

Then head to

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medica...

Have a peek here, where "if your coffee is caffeinated, you may wish to switch to a decaffeinated brand, as caffeine is a known diuretic that also interferes with the production of ADH."

It's further explained in the article.

Answer 3

never heard that in my training however, I read this (don't know if it's accurate)

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/38539

Answer 4

That sounds like a old wives tale.  I have been diving for many years(5+), often times with professional divers and many drink a big cup of joe before and after the dive, especially when the water is a bit cold.

The idea that it dehydrates you and then makes it more likely that you would suffer for dive injury is pure conjecture and there is no proof, especial as it relates to no decomp diving.