Eye-opening Article about Caffeine

An article by Alex Brylske in the February 2009 issue of Dive Training magazine provided some facts about caffeine that may be as eye-opening for some as the substance itself. Following are some highlights from the article, which begins on page 32 of the above-named issue.

Caffeine, Brylske states, is one of a group of related compounds called methylxanthines. These compounds are commonly added to medications and to carbonated drinks. Because of the wide range of places they're found, it's virtually impossible to know how much caffeine you actually take in during a given day.

Caffeine reaches its highest concentrations in most people about an hour after being consumed and can take up to fourteen hours to be entirely eliminated. Some drugs, including quite a few antibiotics, interfere with caffeine elimination.

Caffeine effects us in multiple ways. These include:
-Stimulation of the central nervous system (this is why most of us drink it)
-Increase in the effectiveness of painkilling meds (think "extra strength")
-Stimulation of breathing as part of the effect on the central nervous system
-Increase of the heart rate and force of cardiac contractions, thus the amount of blood output
-Irregular heartbeat in some individuals
-Reduction in flow of blood to the brain
-Increase in blood pressure

For divers, some of the specific effects of caffeine can have significant, possibly negative consequences. For one thing, caffeine could increase a diver's susceptibility to oxygen toxicity. If you're a nitrox diver and you've been consuming caffeine before a dive, you may want to avoid diving near your maximum operating depth, where you're exposed to higher partial pressures of oxygen.

Caffeine also increases the secretion of digestive acids from the stomach. This can lead to heartburn and an increased possibility of vomiting, which can lead to an increased risk of drowning at depth.

Finally, caffeine is a diuretic, which can contribute to dehydration (dehydration could be the topic of a whole separate article here). As a diuretic, it causes the user to need to urinate more frequently, which can be inconvenient at best for divers, especially those wearing drysuits.

The article also notes two positive effects of caffeine. It increases the force of muscle contractions and reduces muscle fatigue, meaning the user can work harder for a longer period of time. It also increases the portion of energy gained from the metabolism of fat.

Want more information? You can read the entire article by Mr. Brylske beginning on page 32 of the February 2009 issue of Dive Training magazine. The article is part one of a two-part series, and also discusses the use of decongestants.

Congratulations to New Divers in Training!

We had some new divers-in-training wrap up their pool work this past weekend. Their next step: open water certification dives, then certification as SSI Open Water Divers and a whole new lifestyle of underwater exploration and fun!

Congratulations to Danielle K., Steve K., Rich K., and Bruce B. on completing your academic and pool requirements!

Also, Ken M., a previously certified diver with another agency, completed a total review and update of his scuba skills. We look forward to diving with Ken in the open water, too!

Way to go, all! Well done!

Great Things Planned

We hope you'll bookmark this blog and check back often! We have plans to post lots of well-written, informative articles of interest to anyone who dives or snorkels (and some for those who just like to hang around water). We'll include product reviews, trip reports and destination reviews, info about regional dive sites, info about health and nutrition for divers, and much, much more. Informed, knowledgeable divers are better divers and have more fun. It's our aim to provide you with a resource that will help you meet your diving goals and have a great time, too!

Mesh Bags

Anyone who spends any time around water needs a good mesh bag. Snorkelers, divers, and swimmers all have gear that gets wet, and stuffing wet gear into a duffle bag or tossing it in the backseat just doesn't cut it. A mesh bag keeps all your gear in one place whether you're on a dive boat, the beach, or the pool, and allows everything to air dry without becoming moldy or smelly

Husker divers carries a variety of mesh bags in several different sizes to suit your specific needs. Whether you're lugging a load of scuba equipment or just need a place to stash your towel and swimsuit, we'll hook you up with the right bag for your needs. Stop by the store and see the brand new Deep See bags, pictured here, or any of the other great bags.

Husker Divers Plans Trips for 2010

Husker Divers' dive travel experts have booked two fantastic dive trips for 2010. Check with the store if you're interested in signing up for one of these trips or for more details.

The dates are January 23-30 for the first trip of 2010. We'll travel to Ramon's Village, near San Pedro, Belize. We'll be staying at Ambergris Caye in beachfront rooms. Numerous diving options are yours for the choosing, and on non-dive days, a variety of fun excursions on shore await you.

You'll experience a beautiful white sand beach and the 2nd largest barrier reef on earth, just 400 yards from the resort. Dive the famous Blue Hole or two rare and gorgeous atolls.

Not a diver? How about snorkeling with stingrays and nurse sharks at Shark Ray Alley?

Non-divers and divers on non-dive days can explore ancient Mayan ruins or discover the beauty of the jungle.

Contact Husker Divers at huskerdivers@prodigy.net or at 402-420-6338 to register or for more information on this trip.

Habitat Curacao is the second destination of 2010. 24-hour shore diving and two boat dives per day await you. The ease of the diving makes this an ideal trip for newer divers, and the stunning underwater beauty will leave even veteran divers wanting more. The dates of this trip are February 20-27, 2010.

Marine biologists and noted underwater photographers return again and again to Habitat Curacao for the world-class diving.

As always, you can register for this trip or get more information from the experienced dive travel experts at Husker Divers. Just e-mail them at huskerdivers@prodigy.net or call them at 402-420-6338.

Husker Divers is on Twitter!

Follow Husker Divers on Twitter! Twitter is a free online social networking site featuring thousands of individuals, groups, and businesses who want to let others know what they're up to. All posts on Twitter must be 140 characters or less - no novels. Twitter users can choose to "follow" anyone else on Twitter, and others can follow you. When you follow another Twitter user, you'll see each of that user's tweets, or posts. Stay in touch with Husker Divers by becoming a Twitter follower today! You can find us under the name "huskerdiver." See you there!

Polar Bear Club

The Husker Divers Polar Bear Club enjoyed some unique dives to close out 2008. The underwater pumpkin carving was a hit, with several "interesting" gourds carved.

The November dive was in a lake not normally accessible to divers, but with special permission and arrangement with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, we were able to look for fish habitat in Walnut Creek Lake in Papillion, Nebraska.

The December dive date arrived just as the temperature plummeted. The divers entered the icy lake while a windchill of -18 degrees kept things chilly topside. Ice on the surface was thicker than anticipated, so the divers didn't do much underwater exploration. They toughed it out and swam down to the underwater van and back before calling it a day and heading to the heated garage for brownies.

There will not be a Polar Bear dive in January, and February and March plans are uncertain at this point. The March dive may take place at Walnut Creek again after ice out, with hopes of better visibility then.

In April, the Polar Bear season will wrap up with a trip to Oronogo, a popular dive site near Joplin, Missouri. The dates for that trip are April 10-12. Please visit our website at http://www.huskerdivers.com/ if you'd like more information on this fun dive trip!

Welcome!

Welcome to the Husker Divers blog! We're glad you're here. We'll soon be posting informative articles on topics of interest to divers and snorkelers, like dive travel, underwater photography, continuing education classes, and much more.

Not yet a certified scuba diver? Husker Divers can help you through the certification process, or answer any questions you may have about what it takes to get certified.

Going on a trip and want to do some snorkeling? Husker Divers can help you with everything from destination planning to equipment purchases and information on local customs.

We're just starting out with this blog, so we hope you'll bookmark us and check with us again soon!