What should I do if I'm hungry?

What if we are hungry under water? I didn't think about taking the regulator off, drinking a bottle of functional beverages under the water, or eating a snicker bar to add energy. This is not a legend! Take a look at an old news story. In 2013, British diver Sean McGahern dipped for more than two days on the seabed, breaking the relevant world record. In the course of nearly 50 hours of diving, Sean McGahern passed time by eating, drinking, and sleeping. And these are all done in strong winds, big streams, and one meter high waves.

Why do divers eat underwater? :

In fact, most of the leisure diving do not need to eat, drink or drink underwater. However, the longer the dive time, the divers need to bring snacks or drinks to supplement their fitness.

Keep moisture: Breathing dry gas from a cylinder can easily dehydrate a diver. In addition to the stimulation of cold water, it is more desirable to pee, so divers can easily dehydrate during long dive. There is nothing worse than thirsty, but it is more disturbing to be surrounded by unclean water and unable to drink. Dehydration also increases the risk of decompression sickness. When diving for a long time, it is a good idea to bring a small amount of drinks.

Keeping Energy: We always feel tired after diving. That's because diving burns a lot of calories. If the diver plans to stay underwater for a few hours, he will need to add high-calorie foods to fuel the body. This also allows divers to become awake and more comfortable underwater.

Avoid cramps: During long dive sessions, divers can easily cramp. The underwater recharging of energy ensures that the divers do not dehydrate, maintain the body's electrolyte system while diving, and replenish their body energy so that they can avoid leg cramps from hours to longer.

Keep warm: As the dive burns a lot of calories, which reduces the body's energy reserves, it is difficult to keep warm while diving. Diving in cold water often feels uncomfortable and it is easy to get distracted and carelessly neglected. Eating something can maintain body temperature and feel warmer during long dive.

Eating something underwater is actually more complicated than it looks. So there is still some experience to share before trying.

What container to carry food and drinks into the water:

Containers for food and beverages under water must be sealed to prevent food from being soaked in water. In any case, tightly sealed containers (such as Tupperware) may not be opened due to crushing, or they may be squeezed out due to pressure.

In closed containers, food and beverages are easy to carry and transport. The following are the most suitable:

Flexible plastic bottle: similar to a sports bottle with lid

Sealed plastic or aluminum foil packaging: For example, tin foil for packaging candies.

Plastic bags: To tie a bag and just bite the bag when it's underwater, it's that simple.

Tubular container: empty toothpaste tube can be used

Syringes without needles: eg syringes for feeding dogs

The most popular way to bring a drink is to use a covered waterproof bag.

The diver also decides how to take his snacks. It is possible to place a quick-release button on the plastic bottle and hang it on the D-ring of the BC vest or in an attached pocket. If you use plastic bags and foil packaging, it is difficult to handle food after eating. If the pockets are not sealed, they can easily fly out. Many times, I use them to wrap my wet sleeves.

What's better to drink under water?

Pure water is easy to buy and very effective. However, some divers may prefer to have a drink or a functional drink that supplements moisture. Try to avoid liquids with caffeine (diuretics) and those with high sugar content. Stay away from carbonated beverages or easily vented beverages. If you think about carrying drinks, it's best to think about what they are underwater. Chocolate milk can be used to supplement water, but it is definitely not the first choice under salty seawater. Also, never drink alcoholic beverages underwater.

* Note: Do not drink special formula beverages supplemented with electrolytes and minerals. They are suitable for drinking when sweating a lot in aerobic exercise (dive not) rather than drinking while diving.

What's more suitable for eating underwater?

Slurry, gum, and toothpaste are all suitable and can be squeezed directly into the diver's mouth from the container. I know that divers often eat chocolate bars underwater, but it is still advisable to eat food that does not require chewing. There are several reasons for this:

Easy to absorb water: I will not bring biscuits to eat underwater. Because it is easy to absorb water bubbles.

Danger of suffocation: Divers need to handle those nuts or any food that may produce suffocation. Because the nuts may get stuck in the throat or block the regulator's exhaust valve.

Viscosity: Divers will find that those sticky foods, such as peanut butter or caramel, are sticky and hard to eat. Be sure to remember because you must first remove the regulator, put the food in your mouth, swallow it, and put the regulator on it. Peanut butter is not fun if it sticks to the regulator.

Large sugar: Divers need to avoid high sugar content foods. It is not advisable to substantially increase blood glucose and then drastically reduce it.

Large calorie content: Selecting calorie-rich foods to reduce the amount of food carried is permitted.

Difficulties: Considering the difficulty of eating underwater, I prefer foods that one hand can handle. Think about it this way, or avoid eating things that are divided into tiny pieces, such as M&M beans, because it's still difficult to hold these small pieces of water underwater in your mouth.

The most favorite underwater food:

Energy gel, children's food, easy-to-eat peanut butter, and hazelnut paste (although sugars are high) are all ideal. Many divers will also use home mixers to make their own favorite food.

Remember: Eating, drinking, and drinking underwater are all advanced skills.

Underwater eating and drinking with friends is because of this need. Of course, this is also an interesting topic, but it is highly recommended that new divers or advanced divers do these things underwater unless it is due to depth and time. Since it is necessary to remove the regulator under water to complete this task, it is easy to drown and suffocate. Can you eat and drink underwater? of course can. So casual divers should eat and drink underwater? not necessarily!

“In the long dive, my and my dive buddies decided to bring some snacks and drinks. Learning and experimenting on what to eat underwater and how to eat. But there was a very unpleasant experience when I put on a new cylinder. Go to the hole and use the companion's gas bottle when you withdraw (we included the gas bottle that I used to breathe when I evacuated when I was doing the dive.) But was it wrong? I used it with my partner. Before the gas bottle, we took a short break and ate some snacks to supplement our fitness.We chose peanut butter.Okay,then I got a breathing regulator with peanut butter taste.It was disgusting.So remember to eat underwater. The first rule: Don't share the regulator!"