TIL commercial divers can get decompression sickness from flying too soon after a dive

I was reading the NOAA Diving Manual last night and it said you need to wait at least 12 hours after a single no-deco dive before you get on a plane. For multiple dives or deco dives, they recommend a full 24 hours. I always thought the big risk was just from the dive itself, not the flight home. How strict are you guys about this wait time after a job?

3 comments

3 Comments

hernandez.gavin26d agoMost Upvoted

Actually, the NOAA manual says 12 hours is the minimum for a single dive, but they really push for 18 to 24 hours to be safe. I treat that 24 hour window as a hard rule, not a suggestion. It's just not worth the risk to cut it close.

xenam8426d ago

Ever hear about the guy who got bent on a flight home from a job in the Bahamas? My buddy's coworker pushed it to catch an earlier flight, said he felt fine after the dive. He spent the next three days in a chamber. That story made our whole crew religious about the 24 hour rule, no matter how much the client complains about schedule. You ever seen someone pay the price for rushing it?

emma_lee2226d ago

That story about the guy in the Bahamas is the perfect free lesson, no tuition required. I love how clients will whine about a schedule like we're holding up their vacation plans and not, you know, basic medical rules. My favorite is when they ask if you can just "take it easy" on the deco stop so they can make their 5 PM flight. What's your best client excuse for rushing?