Vaping has become a big trend, especially among young people. But when it comes to scuba diving, safety is everything. What many divers don’t realize is that vaping can affect the body in ways that may change how safe it is to dive.

This article looks at vaping and scuba diving safety, and what every diver should know before heading underwater.

What Is Vaping?

E-cigarettes or vapes don’t resemble traditional cigarettes, as they are considered electronic devices that heat a solution of nicotine salts, propylene glycol, glycerin, flavorings and other chemicals to produce a vapor that you inhale.

These devices were first marketed to help smokers quit. However, because of the various marketing strategies in addition to the available exotic flavorings, vaping quickly caught on with teens and young adults who hadn’t smoked before.

It is a fact that vapes don’t release as many harmful and carcinogenic substances like those released by traditional cigarettes, but they aren’t considered completely harmless.

The vaping liquid contains various chemical flavorings and additives that have potential safety concerns. For instance, Diacetyl in some vaping liquids is linked to a lung condition (popcorn lung) and was banned in the U.K.

However, diacetyl and other harmful compounds such as heavy metals are still a constituent in many vaping products on the market today.

Vaping and Scuba Diving: the Effects of Vaping on Divers’ Bodies

While there are less carcinogenic compounds in the vape compared to traditional cigarettes, it contains a high nicotine percentage of these liquids which is still a potential concern. The content of vaping pods/devices in nicotine is equivalent can contain up to 40 milligrams of nicotine or the equivalent of smoking 40 cigarettes.

As a stimulant, nicotine leads to the constriction of the blood vessels in addition to increasing the heart rate. This in turn causes an increase in your blood pressure as well as the stress on the heart. All these factors potentially increase your risk of arrhythmias.

The vaping liquid with its contents from chemicals may also result in irritation of the lungs. Any substance you inhaled will coat the lining of your lungs with potentially harmful chemicals and lead to constriction of the respiratory tract.

In addition to that, the irritation of the delicate membranes in the lungs can decrease gas exchange and increase susceptibility to infections. As divers, we depend particularly heavily on our lungs in the process of clearing any inert gases that build up while scuba diving to avoid suffering from decompression sickness.

The effects of vaping aren’t only about physical effects. The exposure to nicotine and THC through vapes are also related to increased depression, anxiety, and ADHD. These effects are strongest in adolescents and young adults still maturing.

How Can I Quit Smoking Or Vaping?

Smoking’s harmful health impact is well proven. However, Vaping is new, and its long-term health effects remain unclear. The absence of quality research isn’t proof of its safety.

Some countries have adopted the products of vaping as a sort of harm reduction for smokers, but it is highly recommended to consult your healthcare provider.

In addition to that, your healthcare provider can prescribe to you some alternatives such as lozenges, nicotine patches, and gum or medications like bupropion and varenicline that have been proven to improve the withdrawal symptoms of smoking cessation.

In case of having no history of using nicotine products, you should avoid inhaling any substances, vaping included.

As divers, we need assurance the cylinder gas is clean and suitable for scuba diving. Why don’t we care for the air we breathe before diving?”