How long to wait before diving after tattoo?

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My tattoo artist advises 2 weeks without swimming or diving in a wet suit. After my last tattoo I went diving 2 days after the tattoo (in a dry suit). You just don't really want to get it too wet and you want to avoid risk of infection. Even in the shower you need to be careful for a couple of weeks and just let water 'run over it', not pelt it. By the by, she also advises not working out at a gym for 2 weeks to minimize infection-gyms are very 'dirty' places.
Hope you enjoy your tattoo. I've got 5 and still thinking about more (after one it's an obssession!).
 
well if you're a good buddy, you should enter the water soon after him
 
I think it depends on what the tattoo looks like. Post pics!!!
 
I was diving in salt water 2 weeks right after, but had a big waterproof bandaid sealed over it, gooped in polysporin. No problems, but probably not the best thing to do. Definately wait for it to heal.
 
So I guess just like DCS, everybody is different therefore forcing a blanket statement of some safe amount of time.

At the time I added the hammerheads to my previous tattoo, I was working 6 days a week as a DM on a boat averaging about 14-16 dives a week. I waited three days (I was supposed to be off but my back up got sick) and was back to working. I took a great amount of care to glob up my art work with A & D ointment before and after each dive and made certain to clean it well.

Like DCS, who the heck really knows. Lets just say in theory :05: you should wait as long as humanly possible before giving in to your diving addiction right after inking up..



Make sure to hook us up with a photo if you get something done :wink:
 
A & D is the ticket, better than Neosporin for tatoos.
Nice tats Vickie.
 
come on that tat will be there forever dont rush getting back into the water its not going anywhere I promise,...unless you have to (job).. i had to DM next day after one of mine kind of screwed it up but I just fixed it after it healed.. ...let it heal
 
standard varies depending on how fast of a healer you are...etc. most folks tell you 2-4 weeks after you get the paint. need to keep it dry and out of the sun initially. i'm a fast healer. i've got 2 and went diving after about 10 days with the first one, and about 8 days after the second one. haven't had a problem either time. i dive wet. a truly dry, dry suit is a different story. think you'd be good if you put a waterproof bandage over it with some waterproof tape in a dry suit.
 

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