Jet Lag and DCS

[Rick Inman]

There is a thread right now discussing DAN paying a claim for treatments from a diver getting hit after just one dive (THREAD)
Here is a quote about the single dive:

The day he arrived, he was signed up for an afternoon dive with another shop because I didn't have space (not the other shops fault for his hit of course). He did ONE dive, very conservative profile, Santa Rosa Wall, 70 ft max, 42 minutes (included safety stop). Within 30 minutes of his dive, he was severely dizzy, cold sweats, tingling in his toes, no strength, and a vicious cycle of vomiting. They took him back to his hotel and his symptoms progressed over the next hour to include significant loss of motor skills, severe nystagma (eyes darting back and forth) incresingly weaker, continued and worsening dizziness and vomiting. I called to see what time he and his wife wanted to meet up for dinner and she told me what was going on. I dropped what I was doing and by the time I got there, he barely knew where he was. He could barely walk on his own and he barely knew where he was. He was put on an IV for the dehydration and so they cuold medicate him for the nausea caused by the dizziness. He started recompression treatment right away and improved everyday through the five treatments. That's the short version

So, the question is, how many of you divers dive right away after a long travel period (fly or drive), and what are your opinions about doing so? After spending thousands of dollars to get to a distant place like Cozumel, and with limited time there, many people want to get right to the diving. I am going to Coz in May for 12 days and taking a rest day on each end, but my buddy is arriving a week later and wants to dive the same day he arrives after 18 hours of travel (night/beach dive). How much rest should you take before diving? What about flying and dehydration? What other precautions should one take?

 

[BigJetDriver]

Rick,

I thought you were in on the other discussion of this. The key is hydration, hydration, hydration.

Did I mention that the key is HYDRATION???

Aircraft are wonderful machines for drying out the body. The air coming out of the air-cycle machines is drier than that in the Sahara Desert.

Drink lots of water, and do it on a regular and continuing basis throughout the day as you travel. If you find your self peeing a lot, and it is relatively clear, this would be a good rough guide to show that you are properly hydrated. But keep at it.

Food and rest will make your dive more enjoyable, but proper hydaration will do more to help keep your dive trouble-free with respect to DCS.

Rob Davie

 

[HammerNoMore]

Drink lots of water, and do it on a regular and continuing basis throughout the day as you travel. If you find your self peeing a lot, and it is relatively clear, this would be a good rough guide to show that you are properly hydrated. But keep at it.

I would add that you should start this process a couple of days before you travel. In fact, IMHO it's a good idea to always keep yourself properly hydrated, diving or not.

James

 

[Valwood1]

[/QUOTE] So, the question is, how many of you divers dive right away after a long travel period (fly or drive), and what are your opinions about doing so? After spending thousands of day he arrives after 18 hours of travel (night/beach dive). How much rest should you take before diving? What about flying and dehydration? What other precautions should one take?[/QUOTE]

Following up on Rick's question: After a long flight, how much rest should one have before diving? For example, I'll arrive at my destination in Australia at about 1pm on Wednesday after about 18 hours in airplanes, and am scheduled to dive on Friday at 7:30 am at the Yongala (80'-100'), with two dives that day. Assuming I'm properly hydrated before beginning the flights, and continue to hydrate after landing (I'll sleep on the long haul from LA to Sydney), and assuming I am not otherwise having problems, does the travel schedule impose any particular DCS risks for the Friday dives?

 

[Seadeuce]

I second BigjetDrivers post, and would like to make one point.

It is well known that fatigue can pre-dispose you to DCS. You don't have to feel tired to be fatigued!
Jet lag will mean your metabolism has altered, slowed down, is inefficient. Together with dehydration that is a recipe for trouble.

Why risk it? Tell your friend he can go on a night dive (third dive of the day) with you on the second day after his arrival. That way he won't miss out on his dive, but will be one heck of way towards safer off-gassing of those microbubbles!!

Cheers,

Seadeuce

 

[BigJetDriver]

So, the question is, how many of you divers dive right away Following up on Rick's question: After a long flight, how much rest should one have before diving? For example, I'll arrive at my destination in Australia at about 1pm on Wednesday after about 18 hours in airplanes, and am scheduled to dive on Friday at 7:30 am at the Yongala (80'-100'), with two dives that day. Assuming I'm properly hydrated before beginning the flights, and continue to hydrate after landing (I'll sleep on the long haul from LA to Sydney), and assuming I am not otherwise having problems, does the travel schedule impose any particular DCS risks for the Friday dives?

Valwood,

I think you have already answered your own questions. If you start the hydration process ahead of time, drink a lot of water during the flight, eat lightly, and rest as much as possible, you will feel much better in general. I, personally, would have no problem attempting the schedule you propose.

Rob Davie