Yes, You CAN Dive on Your Period

I know, right off the bat you’re probably wondering why we’re even talking about this. Periods are not historically a topic of conversation in polite company, but let’s face it, I’m not polite company and it’s a topic that matters! So let’s get right down to it.

As the title suggests, yes, you CAN dive on your period. This is a question I get asked a lot by women who are planning on taking their Open Water course. And unfortunately, I see it answered online a LOT by men -- who are wrong.

There is absolutely no reason that you cannot dive on your period, as long as you feel well and comfortable. Let’s put it this way – if you wouldn’t go to the gym for an hour because of period pain or symptoms, you probably shouldn’t dive. But if your period has never stopped you from doing any of your normal activities, you’re fine!

I am not a doctor. I am not giving medical advice. If you have questions about your specific period, symptoms, and limitations, you absolutely should talk to a gynecologist, and ideally, one who is familiar with diving.

Now, let’s have a real conversation about the logistics of diving on your period.

If you have a heavy period and will only use a pad or sanitary napkin, you will have the hardest time being in the water on your period. Your heavy flow will probably be notable to others and is going to ruin your bathing suit. I don’t have a good suggestion for you unless you’re willing to try other methods, at least while diving.

Those with very light periods might be able to get away with it. Use your best judgment. If you wouldn’t sit in a pool for an hour on your period, you probably won’t want to dive for an hour, either.

If you use tampons, you’ve probably been diving in them already and it’s been fine. You can definitely continue to do so, but my personal recommendation is that you don’t. Here’s why - tampons are designed to be absorbent and can absorb bacteria and fungi from the water you’re diving in. This can increase your risk of Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) and just other general funkiness in your lady bits.

I personally opt for a funk-free vagina whenever given the choice, but you do you! 😝

I recommend you replace your tampon or pad with a menstrual cup when you go diving.

If you’ve never used one, here are a few of the benefits:

• Menstrual cups are not absorptive, so you’re not sucking up any of the water around you on the dive

• You’ll never experience the horror if finding out your tampon string was hanging out of your swimsuit bottoms

• Menstrual cups are way more eco-friendly than tampons and pads because you reuse them

• Menstrual cups are more economical because you don’t toss them out each time. You buy one and keep using it.

Menstrual cups are made to be washed and reused, and they’re super simple to insert and remove. No muss, no fuss!

I know this is a new idea for a lot of women, so I’ve scoured Amazon to create this curated list of options for your first menstrual cup purchase. Amazon is offering a limited-time free trial of Amazon Prime, so if you don’t already have it, use this link so that you get free shipping on your menstrual cup (and all) purchases.

Keep in mind you’ll want to grab a bottle of the cleaning solution, too. I recommend buying the brand that corresponds to the cup you choose to make sure the soap doesn’t affect the material of your menstrual cup.

If there is a brand or solution that you like that I haven’t mentioned here, please feel free to drop it in the comments. I hope to see you all in the water, with or without Aunt Flo!

Head’s Up

These are all products I like and personally recommend, and if you purchase them through the use of any of the Amazon links included here, I may earn a small commission from that purchase. I NEVER link to a product I don’t personally believe in. Your purchases via my Amazon Storefront help support the scuba content you know and love, both here and on my Instagram account.

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