Last Updated: July 18, 2023
Scuba diving may cause the bends, a gastronomical problem whose symptoms include abdominal cramps, nausea and stomach aches. However, it may not make you poop.
Professional scuba divers attest that diving has side effects on your body due to the changes in water pressure. The bowel movements may have some minor issues but not to the extent of pooping.
Regardless, scuba diving may induce pooping in some unique circumstances depending on an individual. The urge to defecate while diving is common when freediving.
Read on to learn more.
Impact of Scuba Diving on Bowel Movements
Scuba diving has several effects on the diver’s bowel movements. Below are some of the negative gastronomical problems a swimmer may experience when scuba diving:
- Abdominal Cramps
When scuba diving, the body experiences water pressure that may create air spaces in the digestive system. The impact affects gas production and may cause bloating and abdominal cramps.
Physical exertion may also reduce the blood flow to the intestines, hampering digestion. The slowed system may lead to stomach ache.
- Nausea or Vomiting
The inner ear is responsible for the body’s balance. When scuba diving, the coordination between the eyes, ears and the body is lost.
The eyes perceive a still environment in the boat, while the rest of the body senses the water motions. The conflicting senses may induce nausea and, in some instances, vomiting.
- Gassiness
Though you may not be gassy while scuba diving, the problem may arise once you are back on the surface. Swallowing air when entering or leaving the ocean may later on cause cramps, abdominal fullness, flatulence, and belching.
What to Do if You Need to Poop While Scuba Diving?
If you get an urge to poop while underwater, the best solution is to restrain yourself. The need may disappear, and you will be able to continue with the exploration.
If the need persists, do not relieve yourself in the waters. Doing so may ruin your diving wear. Instead, alert the team of your exit, and get back to your boat to relieve yourself.
If the urge is urgent and challenging to hold, swim further away from your partners. Relieve yourself at a place where you are sure the water tide is going away from your buddies.
Can You Poop in a Wetsuit?
Yes, you can poop in a wetsuit, though it is not good. Defecating while in your diving gear may ruin it. It is better to ascend and head back to the boat, where you can poop conveniently.
How Do Saturation Divers Poop?
Saturation divers do the extremely risky underwater constructions, inspections, maintenance and repairs. The professional divers may live and work on the seabed for several days or weeks at a time.
While under the water, saturation divers live in a saturation chamber. The cabin has a unique bathroom known as a wet pot. The toilet comprises of special pipes, valves and containers from which the waste is drained procedurally after every use.
Warhammer Maneuver
Warhammer maneuver is a swimming technique allowing a diver to poop at the seabed. The diver poops away from where the team is diving. The diver must ensure to poop where there is a current to blow away the waste.
Related: Does Scuba Diving Make You Pee?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Scuba Diving Make You Constipated?
Yes, scuba diving may make you constipated. The pressure changes while diving may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, known as the bends. The pain may cause stomach cramps, flatulence, and nausea, among other gastrointestinal issues.
Should You Dive on an Empty Stomach?
It is advisable to scuba dive while on an empty stomach. If you must eat, have a healthy light snack before you dive. Fruits and vegetables are ideal options rather than dairy and caffeine products that may take longer to digest.
Does Diving Give You Diarrhea?
No, scuba diving cannot cause diarrhea. It usually causes gastronomical issues. The activity may cause bowel movement problems such as nausea, tummy ache, abdominal cramps and gastroenteritis, among other problems.
Diarrhea is common when freediving in a tropical location.
Does Scuba Diving Make You Gassy?
No, scuba diving may not make you gassy. Diving reduces the gasses from your stomach due to water pressure. The process removes any gas that may be in the body, hence enhancing your underwater experience.
Why Do I Burp So Much After Diving?
You may swallow some air when descending into or ascending out of water. The air in the gut expands when you climb out of the water, making the body swell. Even if you inhale a little air, it will expand to a larger volume on the surface.
Conclusion
Scuba diving may not cause you to poop. However, it has several side effects on bowel movements. Changes in the water pressure may cause gastronomical discomforts.
The negative impact on bowel movement may induce nausea, vomiting, and tummy pain. Swallowing air may cause it to be gassy after leaving the sea.
To avoid the urge to poop when in the water, it is advisable to take a light and healthy meal sometimes before diving. If you get the desire to poop, restrain yourself, it may go away.
If the urge persists, alert your team that you are leaving the waters. You may return to your boat, where you can take the dump comfortably.
My unbounded love for the oceans and everything it has to offer motivated me to pursue my passion and become a professional scuba diving instructor.
I keep reading, exploring, and learning more about scuba diving and the underwater world all the time, so I’m excited to share my knowledge with fellow scuba enthusiasts and hopefully contribute a little to your development as a diver. I want people to fall in love with the oceans with as much passion as I have. Read more about me here.