Isla contadora diving!!

[1sttimer]

Greetings Divers,
I am going to Panamá city Panamá for vacation in the near future and I am trying to scuba dive when I get there. However, the day trip for the isla contadora is a thirty to fourty minute flight from the city to the isle. Then our first dive will be 70 feet then the second 50 to 40 feet. At the end of the day I'll will fly back to the city. Has anyone ever done a day trip as this type? Flying to the site, then scuba, then fly back? What do you advise?

 

[1sttimer]

Just to clarify, one can reach the isle by boat but it takes too long and would have to stay over night ( an option that I don't have ).

 

[SubMariner]

Just to clarify, one can reach the isle by boat but it takes too long and would have to stay over night ( an option that I don't have ).

Then you don't dive.

Flying after diving is a no-no.

 

[SeanQ]

How high does the aircraft fly? If they pressurize the cabin, what pressure do they set it to? If the cabin is pressurized to sea level you won't have any problems diving; however, this is not a common practice.

 

[1sttimer]

Divers,
Thanks for your response, awesome inputs. The craft used is a cessna and it will fly about 3,000 to 5,000 ft and the flight as I am told is about 15 to 20 minutes.

 

[SubMariner]

How high does the aircraft fly? If they pressurize the cabin, what pressure do they set it to? If the cabin is pressurized to sea level you won't have any problems diving; however, this is not a common practice.

With all due respect, it's much more than simply "not a common practice". It's DANGEROUS.

I am not a hyperbaric medicine professional (nor do I play one on TV), but as a Scuba Instructor I'd like to reiterate that going to altitude is NOT adviseable after diving, regardless of whether it's in an aircraft or even driving a vehicle to elevation after diving.

1sttimer, I strongly suggest that you contact DAN medical http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/ or ScubaDoc (Dr. Ern Campbell) http://scuba-doc.com/ to get REAL dive-medical advice on this important question.

Please don't let your desire to dive cloud your judgement!

 

[1sttimer]

Divers thanks for the input, I will not dive with this operator since I am convinced that this is very and highly dangerouse dive trip. Thanks