## How Long Should You Wait Between Scuba Diving and Flying?
After a scuba dive, it’s important to wait a certain amount of time before flying. This is because scuba diving can cause decompression sickness (DCS), which is a serious condition that can occur when nitrogen bubbles form in your body and travel to your joints, tissues, and organs.
The amount of time you need to wait before flying depends on several factors, including the depth of your dive, the length of your dive, and whether you made multiple dives.
### What is Decompression Sickness?
Decompression sickness occurs when nitrogen bubbles form in your body and travel to your joints, tissues, and organs. These bubbles can cause a variety of symptoms, including:
Joint pain
Muscle pain
Fatigue
Nausea
Vomiting
Dizziness
Confusion
Seizures
Paralysis
In severe cases, DCS can be fatal.
### How to Prevent Decompression Sickness
The best way to prevent DCS is to wait a certain amount of time before flying after a scuba dive. This allows your body to eliminate the nitrogen that has been absorbed into your tissues during the dive.
The amount of time you need to wait depends on the depth of your dive, the length of your dive, and whether you made multiple dives.
### Guidelines for Waiting Between Scuba Diving and Flying
The following are general guidelines for waiting between scuba diving and flying:
For dives shallower than 100 feet: Wait at least 12 hours before flying.
For dives between 100 and 130 feet: Wait at least 18 hours before flying.
For dives between 130 and 160 feet: Wait at least 24 hours before flying.
For dives deeper than 160 feet: Wait at least 48 hours before flying.
If you made multiple dives, you should wait even longer. For example, if you made two dives to 100 feet, you should wait at least 24 hours before flying.
### Exceptions to the Guidelines
There are a few exceptions to the guidelines for waiting between scuba diving and flying. These exceptions include:
If you are using a nitrox mixture: Nitrox is a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen that is used by scuba divers to reduce the risk of DCS. If you are using nitrox, you can fly sooner after your dive. The amount of time you need to wait depends on the percentage of oxygen in the nitrox mixture.
If you are making a shallow dive: If you are making a dive to a depth of less than 30 feet, you may not need to wait any time before flying.
If you are flying to a lower altitude: If you are flying to a lower altitude, you may not need to wait any time before flying.
### Symptoms of Decompression Sickness
If you experience any symptoms of DCS after a scuba dive, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. Treatment for DCS typically involves recompression therapy, which is a procedure that uses a hyperbaric chamber to increase the pressure around your body and help dissolve the nitrogen bubbles.
### Conclusion
Waiting a certain amount of time between scuba diving and flying is important to prevent decompression sickness. The amount of time you need to wait depends on several factors, including the depth of your dive, the length of your dive, and whether you made multiple dives. If you have any questions about how long to wait, please consult with a diving professional.
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