## Can You Fly Within 24 Hours of Scuba Diving?
Diving and Altitude
Scuba diving involves breathing compressed air at depths where the ambient pressure is greater than at sea level. This increased pressure causes nitrogen to dissolve into the body’s tissues. When you ascend from a dive, the pressure decreases, and the dissolved nitrogen comes out of solution and forms bubbles in the bloodstream. This process is called decompression.
If you fly within 24 hours of scuba diving, you can develop decompression sickness (DCS), a potentially serious medical condition caused by the presence of these bubbles in the body. DCS can cause a range of symptoms, including pain in the joints and muscles, dizziness, nausea, and shortness of breath. In severe cases, DCS can be fatal.
Guidelines for Flying After Diving
To reduce the risk of DCS, it is important to follow the recommended guidelines for flying after diving. These guidelines include:
Wait for 12 hours after a single dive.
Wait for 18 hours after multiple dives in a day.
Wait for 24 hours after a dive that involved decompression stops.
These guidelines are based on the amount of nitrogen that is dissolved in the body after a dive. The deeper and longer the dive, the more nitrogen is dissolved in the body, and the longer you need to wait before flying.
Exceptions to the Guidelines
There are some exceptions to the recommended guidelines for flying after diving. These exceptions include:
Flying after a shallow dive to a depth of less than 30 feet (9 meters).
Flying after a dive that lasted less than 60 minutes.
Flying after a dive that did not involve any decompression stops.
If you are planning to fly after diving, it is important to consult with a physician who is familiar with diving medicine. They can help you determine if it is safe for you to fly based on your individual circumstances.
Symptoms of DCS
If you develop any symptoms of DCS after flying within 24 hours of scuba diving, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. Symptoms of DCS can include:
Pain in the joints and muscles
Dizziness
Nausea
Shortness of breath
Confusion
Loss of consciousness
Treatment for DCS
Treatment for DCS typically involves breathing pure oxygen and receiving hyperbaric therapy. Hyperbaric therapy involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber. This helps to reduce the size of the bubbles in the bloodstream and promote their reabsorption into the body.
Prevention of DCS
The best way to prevent DCS is to follow the recommended guidelines for flying after diving. You can also reduce your risk of DCS by:
Diving with a dive computer. A dive computer can help you track your depth and dive time, and it can provide you with information about how long you need to wait before flying.
Ascending slowly from dives. Ascending too quickly can increase your risk of DCS.
Drinking plenty of fluids. Fluids help to flush nitrogen out of the body.
Avoiding alcohol and caffeine. Alcohol and caffeine can dehydrate you and increase your risk of DCS.
Conclusion
Flying within 24 hours of scuba diving can increase your risk of decompression sickness (DCS). To reduce your risk of DCS, it is important to follow the recommended guidelines for flying after diving. If you develop any symptoms of DCS after flying within 24 hours of scuba diving, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.