Students should also be able to position themselves, by shifting tank and weight system height, so that they can achieve a perfectly horizontal hover. Students can test this by seeing if they can view everything that is going on behind them simply by tucking their chins to their chests. While in the position just described, students should be able to complete a 360-degree turn, simply by sculling with their ankles and fins. The rest of the body, including and especially the hands, should remain motionless throughout the turn. In an emergency, personal fitness can literally make the difference between life and death .
Fitness is also a key factor in reducing the risk of decompression illness.
Successful Cavern and Cave Diver students typically have the following commitment to personal health and fitness. During a typical day, you have a fairly good feel for not only your total calorie intake, but also your consumption of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Fatty foods, typical of what you find at most fast-food restaurants, are simply not part of your normal diet. You have little difficulty maintaining a body weight that is in proportion to your height, sex and build. Your minimum aerobic workout should consist of at least 20 minutes a day, three times a week.