Posted by Steve on June 16, 2001 at 12:37:52:
In Reply to: Dehydration from coffee--why do the dive boats support it? posted by Eins on June 14, 2001 at 22:24:18:
"So, why do the boats offer coffee in the first place?"
Because there is not enough evidence to support prohibition of that evil stimulant caffeine. Yes it dehydrates but not enough to be the single factor that leads to DCS. There must be other factors that cause it. The human body compensates for water loss as marathon runners demostrate. As gaunt as some of the elite atheletes are they still drop 8-15 lbs of water weight per race. There must be 30 dives boats with 20-30 dives doing almost 2000 dives each Saturday and Sunday in California. Many of these drink coffee before and in between each dive including myself but I also drink lots of water when diving. That front zipper on the dry suit is paying off if you know what I mean. ;-)
Steve