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FLYING AFTER DIVING
In 1990 the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) published a set
of guidelines aimed at minimizing the possibility of decompression sickness due to
flying too soon after diving. The UHMS suggests
1
divers using standard air tanks
and exhibiting no symptoms of decompression sickness wait 24 hours after their
last dive to fly in aircraft with cabin pressures up to 8,000 ft.
The only two exceptions to this recommendation are:
1) If a diver had less than 2 hours total accumulated dive time in the last 48
hours, then a 12 hour surface interval before flying is recommended.
2) Following any dive that required a decompression stop, flying should be de-
layed for at least 24 hours, and if possible, for 48 hours.
Since the introduction of the 1990 UHMS guidelines, data from the Diver’s
Alert Network (DAN) was introduced that resulted in DAN’s position
2
that “A
minimum surface interval of only 12 hours would be required in order to be
reasonably assured a diver will remain symptom free upon ascent to altitudes up
to 8,000 feet (2,439 meters) in a commercial jet airliner. Divers who plan to make
daily multiple dives for several days, or make dives that require decompression
stops, should take special precautions and wait for an extended surface interval
beyond 12 hours before flight.”
* excerpted from 1. UHMS Flying After Diving Workshop, and 2. DAN’s Current Position on Recreational Flying After Diving
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