Is Light DCS Possible with Very Shallow Dives?

[oldschoolto]

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

Good on you..... But " EVERY OTHER " diver has....

Jim..

 

[261311]

This thread title should be changed to something more similar to "Why wearing a Wetsuit is as personal as underwear". Don't rent those kiddies, yuck.

As per DCS, no possible way under that profile. I'd be impressed if it did and count you as someone who needed to buy a lottery ticket with the probable 1-10000000 chance you just underwent. You learned this and probably have some form of tables to calculate the obscene number you'd need Don't be so paranoid, have a bit of confidence in your training, just remember to keep learning the current theories.

 

[Adobo]

I would not hesitate to dive 12 hours after the ones described in this thread.

I would not hesitate to dive just as soon as I could swap out tanks after the dives described in this thread.

I would not hesitate to fly just as soon as I could drive to the airport and hop on a plane after the dives described in this thread.

 

[boulderjohn]

I would not hesitate to dive just as soon as I could swap out tanks after the dives described in this thread.

I would not hesitate to fly just as soon as I could drive to the airport and hop on a plane after the dives described in this thread.

That's what happens when your fingers are moving faster than your brain.

 

[Quero]

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.

A 48-hour lag in the onset of DCS symptoms would be extremely unlikely, even more unlikely than getting a bend after the dive you performed. Your itchy back may not be related to scuba diving at all, in fact--it could just be leftover sunburn that has healed up, for example.... Having said that, it's better to be overly cautious and ask the question than it is to be overly complacent and risk blowing off symptoms, so until you're more used to how your body reacts, please feel free to come and ask!

 

[SeaHawk12]

Although this is mostly unrelated (luckily), I would like to point out something to go with the "can of worms" that was opened. Subclinical DCS is actually the formation of tiny bubbles in your blood stream which occurs after EVERY dive. This is responsible for part of the fatigue of recreational diving (the other bit is probably being outside and doing stuff ).

I'd also say, based on your profile, you're very unlikely to have had DCS. I'd hazard a guess at either irritation from the equipment or some malevolent marine organism. Better safe than sorry, though!

 

[Tigerman]

I would not hesitate to dive just as soon as I could swap out tanks after the dives described in this thread.

I would not hesitate to fly just as soon as I could drive to the airport and hop on a plane after the dives described in this thread.

I wouldnt hesitate to just keep diving instead of surfacing...
With a max depth of 25 feet, heck lets call it a constant depth of 10 meters (33 feet), I could (and would, all else permitting) stay down for 90 minutes on half an al80..


As to the OP, Id say strain from handling the gear and some kinda random rash seem to be the most plausible explanations

 

[GrimSleeper]

Agree that the profiles in this case make a bend highly unlikely, especially with the delay in onset of symptoms, but would take issue with those describing a skin bend as 'mild' - repetitive skin bends can be indicative of a PFO or other shunt, and can also be associated with much more dangerous neurological bends. They certainly shouldn't be ignored.

In this case, though, since the usual suspect - peeing in your wetsuit - is apparently absent, I'd suspect a reaction to the neoprene of the wetsuit or some other, random, dermatological thing.

 

[CamG]

First of all to try to always dive within the NDL of your training and make your safety stops with slow ascents and you should be fine.
NOW with that being said hydration is huge!
I know of a young lady who partied all night got on the boat still quite tipsy and left the boat bent on a ambulance!
Before you start I was not on the boat and try to talk others who have done this out of it!
The dive was on a shallow reef 45' -50'.

Obviously your dive was not under these conditions but it is possible to be dehydrated and get bent on shallow dives!
Just be a safe diver and follow the rules.
With this being said how can you be very hydrated if you never pee in your suit?
I thought the same that i could hold it but let me tell you I guarantee this gets to be very difficult and if you are diving longer deeper dives DANGEROUS!
It sounds gross but it is a matter of safety if maxing out depth and times just bear that in mind.

I used to get a rash on my legs from my wet suit on my legs.
These dive days were long DMing training divers with not removing my suit.
Even with a rinse after every dive neoprene and I have a rub!

CamG

 

[aramid]

Thanks for all the responses! It's great to know there is such an active community in case I need to have a less dumb question answered one day