5 Pre-Dive Foods to Give Yourself a Boost
When getting ready to dive, it is vitally important to get ready by giving your body the right fuel to work at peak efficiency (especially when diving in cold water). After all, the last place you want to run out of steam is underwater. So, how do expert divers maintain their energy levels during a dive? They eat. However, you should not just eat any food. One must eat the right foods prior to a dive. Here are some foods to eat before diving:
- Bananas: Bananas are the perfect pre-dive snack. They are light and provide your body with sufficient carbohydrates and healthy calories to support you during a dive. Moreover, they provide you with essential nutrients that benefit your health and support muscle function.
- Eggs: Eggs are high in protein which can not only give you power, but they also help to put off hunger pains. So, scramble, poach, or boil a few before you venture out into the waters to avoid that hungry feeling halfway into your dive.
- Salmon: By now you’ve no doubt heard many nutritionists sing the praises of this healthy fish. As it so happens, foods high in omega-3 fatty acids are some of the best things to eat before a dive. The high amount of protein salmon contains keeps you from feeling hungry too quickly. Also, the vitamins in salmon help your body convert food into energy. Finally, be sure to find out if the seafood you consume has been caught or farmed in a sustainable manner.
- Brazil nuts: Nuts are high in both fats and protein. Both of these can give you the energy you will require to sustain an extended dive. We suggest bringing a bag of these with you on your next dive.
- Water: It is ironic that some divers forget to bring drinking water with them out on the water but some do. Drink water before and after the dive to remain hydrated.
It is equally important to avoid eating the wrong foods before you dive. Here are a few you should shy away from.
- Red meat, very fat dishes, raw vegetables, green vegetables…
- Foods that are fermented
- Fast sugars that will give you an ephemeral feeling of satiety.
- Large quantities of coffee: Coffee could increase your stress if you are anxious.
- Alcohol: Save the partying until your dive is over and you have left the water. Drinking and diving are a bad combination.
This is just a small sample of the kinds of foods you should consume prior to diving so that you do not run out of steam mid-dive. Over time you will develop your own unique diet to help you stay powered up. You can get a first hand view of this world through one of our private scuba tours in Maui. Our scuba packages in Maui are affordable and are guided by PADI certified instructors.
