Is Light DCS Possible with Very Shallow Dives?

[nimoh]

Having "light" DCS is a little bit like saying you are just a "little" bit pregnant. You either have it or you don't.

Asking if it is possible it a little bit like asking if it is possible if you can win the lottery. You might if you buy a ticket but I wouldn't quit the day job.

At the depth and time you did your dive it would be highly unusual to have DCS. It is more likely and more probable that you simply had associated sx not related to diving but either exertional discomfort from over exerting on a dive and some contact irritation from whatever you contacted for an itchy back.

I disagree, not the same thing.

skin bends is generally not life threatening and could be considered light DCS. On the other hand a diver could be extremely bent and be dead before they hit the surface.

 

[iluvtheocean]

the contact irritation could simply be dried salt irritation as well.

 

[boulderjohn]

It is possible to have very mild cases of DCS. There is something often called "subclinical DCS" that is probably a mild case of DCS that leaves you feeling not so good for a while. Skin Bends i(mentioned above) s a mild form of DCS that often resolves itself when left alone.

At the other extreme, it is possible to die on the surface at the completion of the dive. One of the most famous instances would be Chris Rouse. Of course, he blew off about 90 minuets of decompression on a direct ascent to the surface, so it was not the kind of case a recreational diver encounters.

It is possible to have about anything in between.

 

[oldschoolto]

I'll open the can of worms.... :headscratch: "EVERY" dive is a deco dive in theory as you are on gassing whenever you dive... The question is has your body on gassed enough to "NEED" a deco stop to "OFF GAS".... This why I always give 24hrs of off gassing before flying ... And plus it gives us time to hangout at the bar.... ....

Now to answer your question.... The chance of you have DCS with the dive profile you gave us is very very very very small... I think more like you were overworked on the dive and tried.... And the rash on your back is most likely from a wetsuit that's got a lot of PEE in it...:tmi2:

 

[WB2GLP]

What was the water temp? Fresh or salt? What were you wearing? Personal wetsuit or rental? How was the fit; tight loose?

As always, I would check with DAN (hopefully you learned about DAN in class) and/or your MD. If you choose to ignore it for now, keep it in mind the next time you dive.

 

[boulderjohn]

.... This why we always give 24hrs of off gassing before flying ...

Actually, for more than the last decade DAN has recommended 12 hours before flying for basic dives and 18 hours for a repetitive dive day. Longer times are recommended after decompression dives. Many people consider even those regulations to be conservative. I would not hesitate to dive 12 hours after the ones described in this thread.

 

[aramid]

What was the water temp? Fresh or salt? What were you wearing? Personal wetsuit or rental? How was the fit; tight loose?

As always, I would check with DAN (hopefully you learned about DAN in class) and/or your MD. If you choose to ignore it for now, keep it in mind the next time you dive.

Water temp was around 54 degrees, diving in pacific ocean, I was wearing a rental 2 piece wet suit, the fit was snug (definitely not loose). The part that seemed strange to me was that I was fine after diving on Saturday and Sunday, but the itching started only on Monday, also there is no rash on the skin, just kind of internal itching.

I'll probably ignore it this time and see how I feel next time I'm diving. Thanks for your advise.

 

[oldschoolto]

It's so hard to keep up with what all these outfits say.... They seem to change the rules like I change underwear.... 24 hours to clean-dry-and pack all my gear works for me.... Now , I was also a skydiver flying to 13,000 AGL in non pressurised aircraft for the last 30+ yrs.... You are more up to date on the recommended time frames....

Jim...

 

[dumpsterDiver]

You're a new diver right? Itching and skin irritation, where the backpack may have been rubbing a little? Do you normally bathe in urine? Seriously, you did pee in the suit right?

 

[aramid]

You're a new diver right? Itching and skin irritation, where the backpack may have been rubbing a little? Do you normally bathe in urine? Seriously, you did pee in the suit right?

I am very new and I understand that most likely it wasn't DCS, just the delay in the start and the kind of itching were a bit unusual for a surface irritation.
And no, I went through the trouble of getting out of the wetsuit to use the restroom between dives, so no urine involved in this one