Flying After Diving And Diving After Flying

Did you know that flying immediately after diving can jeopardize your health? This is a crucial question for all divers, especially when you’re on a diving trip.

You’ve just finished your diving vacation in Cozumel, and now it’s time to head back home. The excitement of one last dive is undeniable, but we can’t forget that there are specific wait times between diving and flying. Failing to respect these times can lead to serious issues, including the risk of decompression sickness (DCS).

The danger of flying after diving lies in how nitrogen dissolves into your body during dives and how that nitrogen can form bubbles when the pressure is quickly reduced during a flight. To avoid health complications, it’s vital to know how long you should wait between a dive and a flight. In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about flying after scuba diving, the scientific recommendations, and how to plan your next trip without putting your well-being at risk. Keep reading to ensure you enjoy your dives and flights safely!

1. Why Should I Wait Before Flying After Diving?

The answer lies in the risks associated with decompression sickness (DCS).

According to Henry’s Law, as pressure decreases, gases dissolved in liquids tend to form bubbles. During a dive, your body accumulates nitrogen, a gas that dissolves into tissues due to high pressure. As a diver ascends to the surface, the nitrogen is gradually released and slowly eliminated from the body once out of the water. However, if you don’t allow enough time for the nitrogen to fully leave, nitrogen bubbles can expand when pressure is reduced.

This is exactly what happens in an airplane. The cabin pressure drops significantly with altitude, which can cause these nitrogen bubbles to expand, putting you at risk of DCS.

But aren’t airplane cabins pressurized, you might ask? Yes, they are, but even so, the pressure inside is considerably lower than the pressure you experience at sea level.

Let’s break it down. At sea level, atmospheric pressure is approximately 14.5 PSI or 1 bar, while airplane cabins are pressurized to resemble the pressure found at about 8,000 feet (around 2,438 meters) above sea level, which is between 11 and 12 PSI or 0.76 to 0.83 bar. This represents a 25% pressure reduction.

An article published in Alert Diver Magazine (DAN’s publication) discusses how nitrogen bubble levels in a diver’s body peak approximately 30 minutes after the plane reaches cruising altitude. This behavior is similar to the rapid ascent that occurs when leaving a dive. This change in pressure can cause residual nitrogen bubbles to expand rapidly.

According to studies by Divers Alert Network (DAN), it’s crucial to wait an appropriate amount of time after diving before flying to allow the nitrogen to fully leave the body. Current recommendations suggest waiting anywhere from 12 to 24 hours before flying, depending on several factors.

2. Factors That Affect Wait Times Before Flying After Diving

DAN Europe’s “Flying Bubbles” project provided key insights into the risks of flying after diving. This analysis looked at how residual nitrogen in a diver’s body responds to atmospheric pressure changes when flying after diving. The findings have refined the guidelines for waiting before a flight.

While general guidelines recommend waiting 12 to 24 hours, the research showed that factors like dive depth, duration, and gas used can significantly alter these times.

Here’s how each of these elements affects your planning:

1. Dive Depth and Duration
   Deeper and longer dives require longer wait times before flying. These dives cause greater nitrogen saturation in the body’s tissues, which needs more time to be safely eliminated.
2. Number of Dives
   If you’ve done multiple dives in a short time, the risk of DCS increases significantly. Each additional dive accumulates more nitrogen in your body, which extends the desaturation time needed before you can fly.
3. Type of Gas Used During Diving
   Using nitrox, a mix with higher oxygen content and less nitrogen than regular air, can reduce the risk of DCS. By lowering the amount of nitrogen absorbed during the dive, nitrox allows for shorter wait times before flying after diving. However, its effectiveness depends on specific training and using dive tables or computers adapted for this mix.

This personalized approach helps divers manage their diving and flight schedules more safely. By planning appropriately, those who wish to dive and fly can minimize risks associated with flying after diving.

3. Recommended No-Fly Times After Diving

Consensus recommendations suggest that divers should wait between 12 to 24 hours before flying, depending on the factors we’ve discussed earlier.

After researching the guidelines from DAN (Divers Alert Network) and PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) on wait times before flying after diving, we found that:

• PADI recommends waiting at least 12 hours before flying if you’ve made a single dive. If you’ve made multiple dives, it’s best to wait 18 hours before flying. These guidelines are critical to ensure that the nitrogen levels in your body have sufficiently decreased to prevent any complications.
• DAN provides a similar approach but with a few key variations. For a non-decompression dive, it’s ideal to wait 12 hours. If you’ve made multiple dives in a single day or consecutive days, it’s recommended to wait 24 hours. If your dives required decompression stops, the recommended waiting time before flying is 48 hours.

4. No-Fly Time Table

5. How to Control and Reduce Wait Times for Flying After Diving

If you’re an avid diver, you know that good planning is key to enjoying diving without compromising your health. One of the best tools to monitor your dive time and the nitrogen buildup in your body is the dive computer. These small devices not only provide real-time data but also help you plan your ascent and wait times, which are essential to minimize the risk of decompression sickness (DCS) and ensure your transition to a flight is safe.

The Impact of Nitrox on Wait Times
Nitrox (enriched air with oxygen) is a gas mix containing more oxygen and less nitrogen than normal air. It offers several benefits for divers, particularly in reducing the risk of DCS. With less nitrogen in the breathing mix, the body absorbs less nitrogen during the dive, which can lower the risk of DCS. Additionally, Nitrox dives allow divers to stay deeper for longer without needing a decompression stop.

Although some studies suggest that Nitrox use could allow shorter wait times before flying, most diving organizations still recommend following the traditional wait guidelines out of caution. The recommended wait time can vary based on several factors, but Nitrox certainly helps reduce the overall risk.

What About Oxygen Pre-Breathing?
Oxygen pre-breathing is another technique that can enhance decompression. It involves breathing pure oxygen before leaving the water, which speeds up the removal of nitrogen from the tissues. This practice is especially useful in technical dives, where the risk of DCS is higher. By eliminating more nitrogen before leaving the water, the likelihood of developing DCS is reduced.

However, although this practice can improve decompression, it doesn’t necessarily allow you to reduce the wait times before flying. Safety guidelines remain important, and oxygen pre-breathing is not a magic solution to bypass these recommendations.

6. Symptoms of Decompression Sickness (DCS) and Risks When Flying After Diving

Decompression sickness (DCS) is a serious condition that can occur when a diver ascends too quickly, causing dissolved nitrogen in the tissues to form dangerous bubbles. These symptoms can appear immediately after a dive or even several hours later. Flying after diving increases the risk of worsening these symptoms due to the reduced atmospheric pressure in the airplane cabin. Let’s explore the symptoms of DCS and the risks of flying after diving.

Common Symptoms of DCS The symptoms of DCS vary depending on the severity and the tissues affected. Some of the most common signs of decompression sickness include:

• Joint and Muscle Pain: This pain can be deep and dull, and may be mistaken for regular muscle soreness. However, in the context of flying after diving, it’s a clear sign of DCS.
• Dizziness or Vertigo: After flying post-dive, divers may feel disoriented or have difficulty maintaining balance, signaling that DCS symptoms might be starting.
• Breathing Difficulty: This is another important symptom that can worsen when flying after diving. Divers might experience chest tightness or trouble breathing.
• Extreme Fatigue: A profound tiredness that doesn’t improve with rest can be a sign of DCS and a reason to avoid flying before receiving medical attention.

Risks of Flying with DCS Symptoms It’s crucial to understand that flying after diving with DCS symptoms can be very dangerous. The reduced pressure in the airplane cabin causes nitrogen bubbles in the body to expand, worsening symptoms and increasing the risk of serious complications. These complications can include irreversible neurological damage, paralysis, and, in extreme cases, death. When flying after diving, this risk increases significantly, so it’s important not to underestimate the severity of DCS symptoms.

Emergency Recommendations if DCS is Suspected If you suspect you have DCS, especially after diving and before flying, follow these recommendations to reduce the risk of serious complications:

1. Do not dive again: If you experience DCS symptoms, it’s vital not to dive again or fly after diving until a doctor gives the green light.
2. Seek medical attention immediately: If DCS symptoms are present, you should seek medical care without delay. The faster you get treated, the better the outcome.
3. Do not fly until evaluated: If you already have DCS symptoms, do not fly after diving until a medical professional evaluates your condition. Flying with DCS symptoms can worsen the situation.
4. 100% oxygen: If available, breathe pure oxygen while waiting for medical care. This helps reduce the nitrogen in your body.
5. Recovery Position: Maintain a comfortable recovery position while waiting for medical help. This can prevent further complications.
6. Hydration: Stay hydrated, but avoid drinks like alcohol and caffeine, which can worsen dehydration.

Remember, if you suspect DCS, especially after diving and before flying after diving, seeking medical care immediately is essential. DCS is a serious condition, and early treatment is crucial to prevent severe consequences. 

7. Common Myths About Diving and Flying

When it comes to diving and flying, several myths circulate that can cause confusion. It’s important to debunk some of them to ensure your safety:

1. “It’s safe to fly after diving if I feel fine”: This is a dangerous myth. Even if you feel fine after a dive, your body may still have nitrogen dissolved in tissues, increasing the risk of decompression sickness (DCS). Feeling okay doesn’t guarantee that your body is free of nitrogen. It’s crucial to follow the recommended wait times before flying to avoid risks.
2. “I can fly immediately after a shallow dive”: No matter how shallow the dive, there is always a risk. Even shallow dives may require waiting before flying. This myth downplays the risks involved.
3. “Flying at high altitudes will speed up decompression”: Flying doesn’t accelerate the removal of nitrogen from your tissues. In fact, the reduced pressure in the airplane may cause nitrogen bubbles to expand, worsening DCS symptoms.

8. What to Do with Dressel Divers While Waiting to Fly After Diving

If you’re in a popular dive destination like Riviera Maya, Bayahibe, or Montego Bay and need to wait before flying after a dive, here are some activities you can enjoy while letting your body recover and eliminate nitrogen safely:

Snorkeling Tours:

• In Riviera Maya, you can go on snorkeling excursions to Cozumel, visit cenotes, or, if it’s whale shark season, swim with them.

• In the Dominican Republic, you can visit Saona Island and Catalina Island.
• Jamaica also offers the chance to do a mangrove safari, swim in the luminous lagoon, or visit Montego Bay Marine Park.
• On top of that, all our locations offer a catamaran cruise.

Water Sports If you’re looking for adrenaline, enjoy a variety of water sports such as sailing, parasailing, jet-skiing, windsurfing, and more.

9. Diving After Flying

While there shouldn’t be any issues with diving after flying, remember to stay hydrated during the trip. Dehydration is a factor that makes it harder for your body to eliminate inert gases, and as you know, nitrogen is one of them. Also, long-distance flights can affect your sleep. Take the time to recover from the trip before your first dive.

Now that you know how long to wait before flying after diving, where will you go on your next diving trip?