High humidity can make the heat in the Philippines feel even hotter. Impacting activities and lifestyle choices in the Philippines like wearing an exposure suit can make it harder for your body to cool down. Perspiration is how your body cools down naturally, but when diving in the humid Philippines plus your wet suit, it is all the more harder to sweat incapacitating you to naturally cool off.
A commonly asked question is how hot is it in the Philippines, but what you should be asking is how humid is it in the Philippines. Humidity in the Philippines plays a significant role in shaping the daily life and climate of our vibrant archipelago.
Most expats who are used to 4 season countries and have lived here for quite some time. They have observed that the Philippines has 2 seasons, humid and rainy. Some even claimed that we have up to 95% humidity ratio.
To avoid overheating
1-Take off your wet suit if not diving.
More often than not some divers opt to skip the wet suit altogether. However In some places, like the philippines, wearing a wetsuit or dive skin is advised to guard against jellyfish stings, as jellyfish can’t pierce the material, allowing for safe and comfortable swimming without losing the sensation of water. On my dive charters, especially during jellyfish season, wearing at least a dive skin is mandatory for safety. Box Jellyfish, more lethal than sharks, are a significant risk. Wetsuits also protect against sunburn and minor injuries from marine life, while offering added buoyancy to help swimmers conserve energy.
2-HYDRATE
Drink plenty of WATER, yes just water, or pack a watermelon or cucumber which are both commonly found in the Philippines. Snack on these during SIT instead of coffee and fizzy drinks or biscuits.
Water makes up more than half of our body weight and is vital for all body functions. It’s crucial for joint lubrication, heart health, temperature regulation, and waste removal.
You might have heard of the “8 x 8” rule, suggesting eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily. However, clinical recommendations vary, suggesting 3-4 liters daily for men and 2-3 liters for women. Factors like age, weight, medications, climate, and activity level may require more water intake.
And here are other factors contributing to dehydration when we scuba dive in the Philippines:
a.CONTAINED AIR is super dry, pulling more water from our bodies as we breathe when we go scuba diving we lose more water.
b.WIND can make you lose water faster, especially during boat rides to dive spots. Strong winds increase evaporation, leading to dehydration.
c. SALT is everywhere in scuba diving: in the water, on our skin, and in the air. After diving, salt water evaporates from our skin, leaving behind tiny salt crystals. This salt can draw moisture from our skin, making us feel dry.
2-STAY SHADY
Maximize shade during equipment setup. Delay wearing exposure suits until ready to enter water. Apply sunscreen generously every hour; it’s not fully waterproof. Use SPF 130. Protect yourself with wide-brimmed hats and lightweight long-sleeve shirts. After diving, rinse salt off the skin promptly.
And again find shady spots. Keep an eye on how you feel; if you start to feel too hot, act quickly to cool off.
Hopefully the following won’t be necessary because prevention is key. But if things do get out of hand and you or your buddy feel these symptoms:
Signs of dehydration include:
- Decreased sweating or worse no sweating (real worrisome)
- Thirst
- Dry mouth and lips
- Fatigue or weakness
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Headache
- Dry skin
- Sunken eyes
- Rapid heartbeat or breathing
CALL OUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY AND OR DIVE GUIDE
HOWEVER HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR EXTREME DEHYDRATION JUST SO YOU KNOW:
1. Apply a cold pack or wet cloth to lower body temperature.
Convection:
2. Fan them to help heat escape.
3. Keep their skin moist to aid cooling.
OH AND REMEMBER
HYDRATING PILLS
AND GATORADE ….
WORKS LIKE A CHARM
Happy Diving everyone