Snuba and flying

[bgsnmky]

Hi everyone...

I am a certified diver but have only gone diving 3 times.

A friend of mine who is not a diver will be going to Hawaii with me and we are going to try to do SNUBA to see if she likes it.

I have asked the tour operator and checked around, BUT I also wanted to ask here this question:

How much time should we wait to fly after we SNUBA.

The tour we are thinking about is the day before we fly. And we fly out at 2:42pm the next day.

I am thinking that is plenty of time, but wanted to get feedback. The tour operator stated there were no rules for flying after SNUBA...but I would rather be safe then sorry.

 

[Jax]

Just another diver, here, no special training. But, it seems if you are breathing compressed air, you are loading nitrogen. Therefore, the rules of flying after diving should apply.

Today's recommendations for do-not-fly are for 18 hours -- it sounds like a good surface interval before flying.

 

[fisheater]

It doesn't matter one whit whether you are breathing compressed air from a tank on your back or back on the boat. It's only a question of what pressure(s) and duration(s) you are breathing.

The SNUBA operator is incorrect. IMHO, SNUBA is a very dangerous undertaking - because neither its customers nor operators appear to take it seriously.

That said, the standard DAN recommendation for fly after dive is 12-18 hrs.

 

[Jax]

Hi everyone...

I am a certified diver but have only gone diving 3 times.

A friend of mine who is not a diver will be going to Hawaii with me and we are going to try to do SNUBA to see if she likes it.

I have asked the tour operator and checked around, BUT I also wanted to ask here this question:

How much time should we wait to fly after we SNUBA.

The tour we are thinking about is the day before we fly. And we fly out at 2:42pm the next day.

I am thinking that is plenty of time, but wanted to get feedback. The tour operator stated there were no rules for flying after SNUBA...but I would rather be safe then sorry.

Good on you for thinking it through!

 

[windapp]

I would think, that given the highly restricted depths in snuba, you wouldn't really need to worry about it. However, that is an opinion that is not based on any sort of empirical or statistical study. Therefore, you should follow the usual rules for scuba diving - 12 hours for a single dive, and 18 for multiple. You should tell the operator that he is being foolish by not recommending the same, and he should be limiting his own liability by informing you of the available guidelines.

All that being said, I would not hire this snuba operator. Anybody who seems to know little to nothing about basic open water guidlines, in my opinion, is unqualified to operate a snuba operation.

 

[scubadiveilat]

In simplicity! To be on the safe side and not get confused. Wait at least 18 hours prior to flying.

Have fun and enjoy!!!

 

[bgsnmky]

This is perfect..as it should be almost a full 24 hours....

Thanks!!!

 

[Frosty]

Just for education here--isn't snuba basicly at 20 feet depth/30 minute maximum? on that basis wouldn't 12 hours for a single snuba "dive" be the minimum no fly?
Happy to be corrected

 

[Mr Carcharodon]

It really depends on how deep you go and how long you stay there. The no-fly guidelines, as you can tell just by reading through the last 8 posts, are all over the map. That is because different assumptions are being made. Assumptions like you are planning to do repetitive dives to the DSAT no decompression limit. But those assumptions may not apply to snuba. Assuming the max depth is on the order of 25 feet, and you are in the water less than an hour, flying the next morning should not be a problem at all. You will certainly not exceed Buhlmann like m-values, or even 70% of m which most people would take to be conservative. It is possible to get arterial gas embolism (AGE) by making a rapid ascent from a shallow depth. That would be true of snuba or scuba. If you do have unresolved bubbles due to a gas embolism then you should not fly.

 

[Teamcasa]

SNUBA is a fun way for a non-diver to experience diving. Yes, you are limited to 15-20' and 30 minutes in most cases. A 18 hour wait time is plenty I'd think.
Have fun!