Why when going deep sea diving you should not go flying?

Answer 1

There are definitely some well stated guidelines for flying after diving. Here is some information.

The concerns of heading to altitude too soon after diving are the same as those when you ascend from your dive too quickly because the same scientific principles apply: Going to altitude takes you to an area of lower outside pressure, meaning residual nitrogen still dissolved in your blood can come out of solution as bubbles if the ascent isn't slow enough to let your body off-gas. This is why it's so important to ensure you've off-gassed any nitrogen in your system before going to altitude. The more diving you do, the more residual nitrogen you'll amass, so the amount of time you should wait relates directly to the type of diving and how many dives you make in a given period of time.

I recommend waiting at least 24 hours before flying after diving - better safe than sorry - but if that's not possible, the following shows the minimum guidelines for different diving circumstances, based on flying in commercial aircraft.

• A single dive within recreational limits: 12 hours
• Multiple days/multiple recreational dives: 18 hours
• Decompression diving (planned or unplanned): 24 to 48 hours

Answer 2

Going to higher altitudes can cause a problem due to expansion of dissolved gasses that are still in your blood as a result of your dive.

Answer 3

Air pressure is lower up in the air -

thus increasing the possibility of bubbles (referred to as the bends).