Do you think that the dive profiles indicate anything related to a risk of a decompression accident? As I said all the other dives were not deeper than 30 meters and in general there was no signs of a dive accident (all safety stops done, etc)
Not direclty related to the incident, but be aware that ANY kind of dive and profile can induce both barotrauma and/or DCI. There is no 100% safe profile. The profiles you showed do not seem particularily agressiv, but also don't "downplay" the frequent dives to "only" 30 m the days before.
Any nowadays 7 day Safari the way they are conducted are all pushing the limits somewhat. When I learned back in the according CMAS the recommendation was not doing more than 2 dives a day and not more than 3 consecutive days. Both those recommendations are blatantly ignored with the "standard" Red Sea Safari week. Usually it is 3 to even 4 dives a day depending on the and for sure 6 consecutive days. So the divers body is accumulatings substantial ongassing particularily in the medium and slow compartments. There is simply no model and no study that in a scientific frame ever ventured in such prolonged inert gas exposure (other than saturation diving in commercial diving, but that is a complete different venue).
So having said that on a Safari everyone is prone to DCI no matter how subjectively or objectively the profiles have been "conservative".
Then on the bright side. The track record of the Safaris is pretty good as well as in, people are not going to the chamber on a regular basis, it still is more the exception, so it seems to work fairly ok, depite the lack of scientific backup.
I would still think that there might be a fair amount of not severe, mild cases that go frequently undetected as a certain degree of denial and normalisation is just human and Safaris are fun. I used to go four even five times per year in my rec diving "prime"
Also to consider is that particularily at Red Sea Safaris and more prone in Summer there definitely is a very high correlation to DCS when not properly hydrated. So another factor to keep an eye out.
From what you describe I also do not think that there was DCS involved, there is a residual chance though. So definately worth some more checkups and involving a diving medicine specialist rather than your GP
However, it's good to know that an MRI cannot rule out a potential DCS. Do you know if there's actually any medical procedure to detect something like this in the ear? The doc I saw didn't do anything about that.
I can definitely feel that my symptomps are sometimes stronger, however, they haven't disappeared fully so far. But I assume DCS symptomps would be more permanent? I'm definitely going to see another diving physician and I hope I could get a quick appointment soon at one who's also an ENT.
If there was DCI involved then by now any manifested bubble should be capsuled by now. So a chamber treatment will not be effective as well.
I did have balance and ear issues in the past due to a prolonged late detected likely DCS. A lot what you describe reminds me of it. It was never determined 100% but whether it is just "regular vertigo" (for a lack of better term) treatment or if caused by DCS the treatment will be the same. It is a Cortisone IV followed by phasing out with Cortinsone tablets. Thats what they did in my case and it helped tremendously. after the first IV it was like the brain fog was lifted and I experienced a new world which had become somewhat dull due to getting used to the constant disturbance that had affected myself.
The only fall out was after I was treated. For quite several years I did actually very moation sensitive and was seasick on a boat after that for the first time of my life. It got better over the years but was very unusual initially
Go to an inner ear specialist and take it from there! Fingers crossed on your recovery!
