How high in elevation is it safe to drive after diving?

[mikesbucky]

I have a business trip to Las Vegas in December and was hoping to go to San Diego to dive the Yukon. Since the dives are at sea level and Las Vegas is at 2100' with mountain passes over 4000' would this be unsafe. We all know about the 24 hour dive/fly rule, but how does that relate to driving into higher elevations. How high is too high and for how long? Thanks for your answers.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

Variable that should be known before your question can be properly answered include the number of dives, duration of each, and time interval before you start the drive, and time interval to maximum elevation. Remember that airplanes are pressurized to about 5000 feet elevation equivalent, so as you approach that elevation, the time before flying rules give good guidance. The longer you wait, the lower the risk. The less bottom time you log, the less time you need to allow before driving to altitude. Provide more data and I, and others, will certainly have a better answer for you.
DivemasterDennis

 

[mikesbucky]

2 Dives, max depth of about 100fsw. Duration, max of 40 min, but probably closer to 30 as I'm a bit of an air sucker. I'd be at low elevation for at least 4 hours after the dives as I'm meeting a friend in LA. From the time I leave LA to Max elevation is about 3 hours depending on traffic. Just a side comment on aircraft pressurization, it's actually closer to 8000 than 5000, but that does depend on a number of factors. Thanks for the response.

 

[beaverdivers]

Good Question.

The dive computers that we use give us an elevation limit after diving.

I believe the time to fly rule is based on a much higher elevation, but using the time to fly rule would be a conservative approach.

 

[davetowz]

Interesting question... I believe this should be on the list for DAN to get a study group together for. No standards exist currently for driving at altitude after diving. I would assume the safe bet would be to apply flying after diving guidance to this issue and wait 12 or 18 hours depending upon profiles, until doing an over mountain drive.

 

[fisheater]

<snip> No standards exist currently for driving at altitude after diving. <snip>

What about the NOAA Surface Interval before Ascent to Altitude After Diving Table?
http://www.ndc.noaa.gov/pdfs/AscentToAltitudeTable.pdf

There may be more.

 

[farsidefan1]

I can only share my experiences diving here in the mountains of utah. I live at 4,500 feet and sometimes I dive in the "crater". To get there I drive over a pass that is about 8,000 feet then drop down to the crater which is at about 5,500 (Scott, chime in and correct my estimates). We usually do 2 dives with an hour surface interval. The bottom of the crater is 64 feet (temp 95 degrees) so average depth is usually around 50 feet. Shallower if doing drills on the platform (25 feet or so). Dives are usually about an hour. After the second dive we get dressed and drive home, once again over the pass on the way home. Niether I nor any of dozens of divers I know have ever had an issue. The total drive from home to crater is just under an hour.

 

[knotical]

What about the NOAA Surface Interval before Ascent to Altitude After Diving Table?
http://www.ndc.noaa.gov/pdfs/AscentToAltitudeTable.pdf

There may be more.

When using the NOAA/USN Altitude table, be sure to also use the NOAA Air tables, since the group letters are not the same as most recreational tables.
http://www.ndc.noaa.gov/pdfs/NoDecoAirTable.pdf

 

[Zen Diving Inc.]

I can only share my experiences diving here in the mountains of utah. I live at 4,500 feet and sometimes I dive in the "crater". To get there I drive over a pass that is about 8,000 feet then drop down to the crater which is at about 5,500 (Scott, chime in and correct my estimates). We usually do 2 dives with an hour surface interval. The bottom of the crater is 64 feet (temp 95 degrees) so average depth is usually around 50 feet. Shallower if doing drills on the platform (25 feet or so). Dives are usually about an hour. After the second dive we get dressed and drive home, once again over the pass on the way home. Niether I nor any of dozens of divers I know have ever had an issue. The total drive from home to crater is just under an hour.

Altitude rules that apply for you are not the same for others. You live at 4500, dive at 5500 ft and rise to 8000ft. Elevation gain is 2500ft(from the dive). Your body was already adjusted/saturated at 4500. This is different then say I diver who lives at sea level then travels to 5500ft to dive then goes over a mountain pass at 8000ft returning to sea level. As is the diver who does a 100 ft dive then travels over a mountain pass at 8000ft. All must be treated differently. What you are doing is fine, however driving over an 8000ft pass directly after diving not recommended... On the flip side one could drive up to a mountain dive site, spend the night then dive to 100ft and directly drive home to sea level.

---------- Post Merged at 09:18 AM ---------- Previous Post was at 08:57 AM ----------

I have a business trip to Las Vegas in December and was hoping to go to San Diego to dive the Yukon. Since the dives are at sea level and Las Vegas is at 2100' with mountain passes over 4000' would this be unsafe. We all know about the 24 hour dive/fly rule, but how does that relate to driving into higher elevations. How high is too high and for how long? Thanks for your answers.

I can see no issue with what you are planning, regardless of time. You can dive and drive directly to 4000'. You don't have to wait. I would not concern yourself with diving and elevations changes up to 4000'. After 12hrs you could go to 8000' after 24 you could go to the moon

---------- Post Merged at 09:26 AM ---------- Previous Post was at 08:57 AM ----------

Variable that should be known before your question can be properly answered include the number of dives, duration of each, and time interval before you start the drive, and time interval to maximum elevation. Remember that airplanes are pressurized to about 5000 feet elevation equivalent, so as you approach that elevation, the time before flying rules give good guidance. The longer you wait, the lower the risk. The less bottom time you log, the less time you need to allow before driving to altitude. Provide more data and I, and others, will certainly have a better answer for you.
DivemasterDennis

I would not tell people planes are pressurized to the equivalent of 5000'. Its just not true. If that were the case, then you wouldn't have to wait before flying. I've been in commercial planes pressurized to the equivalent of 8000' and some not pressurized at all flying at an altitude of 12000'...

 

[fdog]

We routinely do a longish dive in Monterey (80' to 100' w/ 32%), then drive over Donner Summit (7200') enroute to Reno (4500').

Over a couple decades, with a pretty good sized community, no one has reported a niggle.

We also occasionally do this after a deco dive (say, 170'), but since we extend the oxygen segment,I would place this as less risk than the usual recreational profile.


All the best, James