Diving and Flying

[kadrian]

I am looking for info on diving and flying. We have all heard don’t fly the same day as diving but I have never seen any real hard facts on the subject. A friend of mine is a pilot and his aircraft at 8000 ft is pressurized to sea level. Would any of you fly in this say 2hours after a two dive day.

 

[northcoast_diver]

The NOAA Diving Manual has a chart called "Minimum Surface Interval Time Before Ascent To Altitude." It will give you the aggressive answer to your question about how long you need to wait, depending on your NOAA/NAVY repetitive dive group.

The conservative answer is given by the various training agencies and by DAN (Diver Alert Network). Your previous scuba instructor would be able to give you the specific general guidelines of the agency (YMCA, NAUI, PADI etc) that issued your C-card.

DAN publishes their advice in their Alert Diver magazine. This issue comes up at least once a year.

If I am pressed for time, I go to the NOAA chart.

Otherwise, I normally wait 24 hours, a full day at the resort, during which I do not scuba, before I get onto a plane. For deco dives, I wait 48 hours. But that is just me, wanting to be really safe.

I like to spend my last day at a diving resort swimming and freediving, no scuba. Its also a good day to let my equipment dry out completely before packing it.

 

[stu_in_fl]

Personally no, I wouldn't take the risk...however, if as you say @ 8000 ft the aircraft is pressurized to sea level (and the aircraft will DEFINATELY not go over that level) then theoretically it shouldn't be a problem, as it is the reduced air pressure that would increase the risk of getting bent.
If you are doing really shallow dives, you may weigh up the risks and decide your risk is more limited....if you're going deeper / longer or over a period of diving days (i.e.having more residual nitrogen) then it is a BIG risk

 

[sharkdiver00]

I am looking for info on diving and flying. We have all heard don’t fly the same day as diving but I have never seen any real hard facts on the subject. A friend of mine is a pilot and his aircraft at 8000 ft is pressurized to sea level. Would any of you fly in this say 2hours after a two dive day.

I would not take the risk either. As for information, go to www.diversalertnetwork.org they have been conducting a very extensive study on diving and flying.

Maria

 

[DandyDon]

I am looking for info on diving and flying. We have all heard don’t fly the same day as diving but I have never seen any real hard facts on the subject. A friend of mine is a pilot and his aircraft at 8000 ft is pressurized to sea level. Would any of you fly in this say 2hours after a two dive day.

I think you may have misunderstood your friend. What kind of plane is it? I doubt that it'll hold a complete seal of sea level pressure.

The NOAA Dive Manual has extensive work on this. See if you can browse one at a book store, as they run about $80.

 

[scubabamatxn]

Don't do it. There is not enough clinical data to be sure, but you would be pushing the limits too hard. Plus, who knows what your dive profiles would be, exertion, etc. DCS is too serious to take shortcuts with.

 

[Saturation]

On air on NSL dives? There are tables for such an issue but I personally would not risk it simply for recreational purposes.

Bubbling post dive is maximal during the first hour, and typically during the first 3 hours. There are prelim results from DAN FAD studies suggesting substantially lower than 18 hours pre-flight SIT, but still the risk for bends increases with shorter SIT pre-flight.

Note, the mechanics of desaturation is much different with He in the mix and using 02 for accelerated decompression ... but again even with trimix the N2 fraction would be worrisome during the first 3 hours.

 

[pasley]

Not the expert here. But I will share a personal story.

3 years ago I got bent. After chamber ride per the doctors orders I stayed dry for 7 days. Then 2 short, shallow dives (40FSW 20 min, 2 hr SI, 20 FSW 20 min) on Thursday. Saturday, I drove 100 miles to Hemet, elevation 1,400 feet (I live at 17 feet). In pain, I turned the car around and headed straight to the chamber for 2 more rides.

I believe one of the DAN benefits is aero evacuation in a plane pressurized to sea level. So I guess it is possible, but that is unusual. Normally planes pressurized to 7000 to 8000 feet elevation.

Read accidents and Incidents, bent bad in Cancun. Evaluate the risk and the benifits and then make your own decision. Remember, not all is known about DCI and there are a lot of variables.

 

[kadrian]

Thanks for all your input.
I think the smart thing to do is wait until next day to fly. We all take calculated risks at one time or another. It is the unknown ones like DCS that can bite you. No point in playing with fire.