Scuba Divers and OSA

Have noticed that a couple of regular posters have mentioned that they are scuba divers and it has got me thinking about a few different things. Questions for divers

1) Did you find that you had no problem adapting to the masks and the sounds of your breathing echoing through the hose? Personally I find the noise soothing

2) Do you ramp your pressure? I did for about 3 nights but now go straight to prescribed pressure of 9cmH2O

Would also love to hear anything you might to have to say about your observations about OSA and diving

As an open water certified diver (but havent dove for about 5 years) I had no problem at all getting used to the mask
and the breathing sounds, and like you I find the gentle rush of air pretty much puts me to sleep.
I dont ramp my pressure either...it's straight to 9 just like yours.
However when I first started this therapy I had chest soreness that went away all by itself....I was a bit worried by that but by
going to this board I found out that other people experienced this also.
Note to self: let's get the scuba gear out this year



Bill

I've never done any scuba diving, but I was on some volunteer fire departments for a number of years, and I firmly believe that wearing the air packs (or "Air-Pak" Scott brand name) prepared me well for wearing a full face mask in this therapy.
Also, with those air packs, you could set the air supply regulator to "demand" (sort of like using C-Flex/EPR) or you could switch to "bypass" (like straight pressure).

And, I never used Ramp, either.


Den

I am a Open Water diver and also have experience with the Scott air pack, 24 years military helo jock. I had no problem with the mask or the sound of my breath. I am only 1 month into this but I changed my ramp so that it is only 2 lower than my final setting. I don't think it is making any difference and I probably don't need it at all but I just didn't make that jump yet.

I actually teach diving and own a dive shop. I really had no problems adjusting. I started out with a full face mask but now have the nasal mask. They only thing that made me change from the quattro was that is was destroying the bridge of my nose. Being an avid diver, I am used to both having a mask on my face (albeit a different type) as well as having to breath a little differently for both inhale and exhale.

I used the ramp for about 2 night and after that decided it just wasn't a big deal to start out at full pressure. As far as the sounds of breathing, its pretty normal for me. Besides I am fairly used to noise when I sleep as my wife cant fall asleep in total silence so the radio or tv is always going.

For anyone who is having trouble getting used to it, I would thing the same tricks we use in teaching people to dive would work on CPAP (in fact I have seen them suggested). Wear the mask when you are awake just sitting around to get used to it. Wear it for longer periods until you desensitize yourself to it.

Brian

I've been scuba diving for many years and I find it much more soothing and relaxing than my apnea blower. I even nodded out for a brief moment on a drift dive. I never notice the noise diving or sleeping, and rarely do I adjust the flow rate on my dive regulator. If I may suggest- the diving with the mantas, and in the WWII wrecks in Micronesia is my favorite, and the reef diving (Astrolabe) in Fiji is terrific.