Hello:
We often get indignant letters asking why people who have convulsions cannot dive. The answer is fairly simple - without special equipment and a knowledgeable buddy - they will drown. In addition they will endanger the lives of others on the dive.
1. People with seizures (any kind) should not dive or drive a motor vehicle until they have met the usual criteria of seizure free periods before returning. (See #5 below)
2. US training agencies, dive operations and dive medicine organizations would be unlikely to grant clearance to dive to an individual with seizures and on anti convulsant therapy.
3. One consultant states that if you require any anticonvulsant medication, all of which to a greater or lesser extent effect level of consciousness and information-processing speed, the response must be negative.
4. Dr. Carl Edmonds writes that there are epileptogenic provocations associated with diving (nitrogen narcotic effect, oxygen toxic effect, ?CO2, and the immersion effects). There is a frequent observation that the first epileptic attack encountered
by divers often develops during a dive.
5. A knowledgeable UK diving physician provides this information from the UK Sport Diving Medical Committee. There should be no diving until off medication and entirely free of seizures for three years. Diving while on medication is not advised.
Finally, one must recognize that there are situations and 'triggers' that will cause you to be more at risk for convulsions accompanied by unconsciousness. The additive effect of nitrogen narcosis, even at shallow depths could be dangerous. Increased partial pressures of oxygen can cause seizures and there is a risk of oxygen toxicity lowering the seizure threshold of an epileptic. Hyperventilation is a known seizure trigger and occurs frequently in anxious diver or divers who have to exert themselves physically.
There is a real danger of drowning with a seizure. The regulator falls out of the mouth, there is a sudden intake of water into the lungs and the diver drowns. Compounding this is the fact that the diver then has to ascend in the water column - subjecting him/her to pulmonary barotrauma and gas embolism.
Our consultant, Bruce Miller, MD points out this succinct passage in Bove's 'Medical Examination of Sport Scuba Divers', 3rd edition, p.27; "Because of the risk of drowning and the serious risk to would-be rescuers, seizure disorders are absolutely disqualifying for diving, regardless of control by anticonvulsant medication."
We often get indignant letters asking why people who have convulsions cannot dive. The answer is fairly simple - without special equipment and a knowledgeable buddy - they will drown. In addition they will endanger the lives of others on the dive.
1. People with seizures (any kind) should not dive or drive a motor vehicle until they have met the usual criteria of seizure free periods before returning. (See #5 below)
2. US training agencies, dive operations and dive medicine organizations would be unlikely to grant clearance to dive to an individual with seizures and on anti convulsant therapy.
3. One consultant states that if you require any anticonvulsant medication, all of which to a greater or lesser extent effect level of consciousness and information-processing speed, the response must be negative.
4. Dr. Carl Edmonds writes that there are epileptogenic provocations associated with diving (nitrogen narcotic effect, oxygen toxic effect, ?CO2, and the immersion effects). There is a frequent observation that the first epileptic attack encountered
by divers often develops during a dive.
5. A knowledgeable UK diving physician provides this information from the UK Sport Diving Medical Committee. There should be no diving until off medication and entirely free of seizures for three years. Diving while on medication is not advised.
Finally, one must recognize that there are situations and 'triggers' that will cause you to be more at risk for convulsions accompanied by unconsciousness. The additive effect of nitrogen narcosis, even at shallow depths could be dangerous. Increased partial pressures of oxygen can cause seizures and there is a risk of oxygen toxicity lowering the seizure threshold of an epileptic. Hyperventilation is a known seizure trigger and occurs frequently in anxious diver or divers who have to exert themselves physically.
There is a real danger of drowning with a seizure. The regulator falls out of the mouth, there is a sudden intake of water into the lungs and the diver drowns. Compounding this is the fact that the diver then has to ascend in the water column - subjecting him/her to pulmonary barotrauma and gas embolism.
Our consultant, Bruce Miller, MD points out this succinct passage in Bove's 'Medical Examination of Sport Scuba Divers', 3rd edition, p.27; "Because of the risk of drowning and the serious risk to would-be rescuers, seizure disorders are absolutely disqualifying for diving, regardless of control by anticonvulsant medication."
