Short, low altitude flights after diving.

[Bagheera]

In two weeks, I'm going to drive to La Ceiba, Honduras and catch a flight to Utila. I'll dive for a few days, then fly back to La Ceiba.

I really want to dive the day before I fly. I know it's a no-no to go on a passenger jet less than 48 hours after diving. And I know I'm probably going to get the same answer regarding short flights, but I'm going to ask anyway: Is it safe to take a short, 30-minute flight that only goes a few hundred feet off the ground 24 hours after diving?

 

[Diver Dennis]

Quantify "a few hundred feet".

 

[DeepBlueResort]

Hi

Just to let you know the flights from Utila to Le Ceiba do not fly at a few hundred feet, they usually fly higher the other option is to get the ferry

 

[aabond]

I thought you it was only 24 hours you had to wait before flying. Damn, I went to cozumel did a deep dive of about 115' and then flew back to florida 24 hours later. That was 4-5 months ago, and I'm still fine.

 

[speedhound]

Hi Bagheer,
You'll find some good information at DAN www.diversalertnetwork.org They've done a lot of research into it, and while no-one can ever be sure not to get bent, they recommend 24hours after multiple dives.
A page to to visit is: http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/faq.asp?faqid=56
Have fun and dive safe!

 

[speedhound]

Big oops...the first link was Diving after flying... Here's the one for Flying after diving: http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/faq/faq.asp?faqid=54

Time for me to go home.........

 

[MB]

Most dive agencies teach that 24 hours after diving is a safe rule of thumb. Less (18 hrs) is proscribed after single dives; multiple dives across multiple days gets a 24 hr break though.

 

[Don Burke]

Is it safe to take a short, 30-minute flight that only goes a few hundred feet off the ground 24 hours after diving?

As long as you were not bent before the flight, 24 hours should be enough. Minimizing nitrogen loading on the last dive by staying shallow or using EAN or some combination of the two would help you hedge your bet.

 

[MB]

...Minimizing nitrogen loading on the last dive by staying shallow or using EAN or some combination of the two would help you hedge your bet.

When thinking about the tissue groups that saturate and off-gas most quickly, those nice long, relaxing shallow dives aren't necessarily the best plan of action prior to a flight.

 

[Don Burke]

When thinking about the tissue groups that saturate and off-gas most quickly, those nice long, relaxing shallow dives aren't necessarily the best plan of action prior to a flight.

Even followed by a 24 hour surface interval?

What tables are _you_ working off of?