Barbara Krooss has a Ph.D. in clinical neuropsychology and has earned instructor certifications with the National Association of Underwater Instructors and the Handicapped Scuba Association. She creates examinations to evaluate candidates in hiring and promoting New York City police and firefighters. Her scientific articles and underwater photos have be published in Alert Diver, Scuba Diving, Northeast Dive News, Northwest Dive News and other publications and on line.
Whether it's a prescription, an over-the-counter remedy or common foods, beverages and snacks, everything we consume has an effect on the body and therefore is a drug. No one should even think about diving after taking some prescription drugs, much less illegal ones. However, many are unaware that common snacks and OTC medicines can have effects ranging from increased sensitivity to the sun to potentially fatal conditions, especially at increased pressure at depth.
Being cold is more than uncomfortable for divers; it can be deadly. Whenever a diver is in water cooler than body temperature, the core body temperature is dropping. Hypothermia is a cumulative condition that can stealthily creep up on divers even at warm-water resort destinations, muddling judgment underwater and contributing to disagreements with buddies top-side.