Regular flying Monday and friday

[Markb]

I've looked up the advice re flying after diving but I'm in a bit of a quandry , I'm going to be flying to Holland on Monday morning and back on friday afternoon which leaves me a problem for diving at weekends.

I've been told not to fly 24 hours after diving but I though it was 12 hours? Also what does this mean for flying BEFORE diving - are you supposed to leave the same amount of time?

If I leave 24 hours after flying and before this means no more diving at weekends at all which is a major problem for me....

My diving is at moderate depths - max 30 metres and more usually 20)25 metres - how can I accurately guage how much diving I can do with these flying schedules?

cheers

MarkB

[Paul Bailey]

I've looked up the advice re flying after diving but I'm in a bit of a quandry , I'm going to be flying to Holland on Monday morning and back on friday afternoon which leaves me a problem for diving at weekends.

I've been told not to fly 24 hours after diving but I though it was 12 hours? Also what does this mean for flying BEFORE diving - are you supposed to leave the same amount of time?

If I leave 24 hours after flying and before this means no more diving at weekends at all which is a major problem for me....

My diving is at moderate depths - max 30 metres and more usually 20)25 metres - how can I accurately guage how much diving I can do with these flying schedules?

cheers

MarkB

I used to fly to Stockholm & Oslo regularly. The flights are slightly longer than Amsterdam and I used to dive the following morning.
The 24hr thing is a guideline and usually refers to longer flights.
I've spoken to medical type people about this and all agree that 12hrs is going to be fine for a couple of hours flying.
This was always in relation to diving after flying so I'm not sure it it holds the other way around.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Paul

[PBrown]

I've been told not to fly 24 hours after diving but I though it was 12 hours?

Different agencies (& other interested organisations) have different times, OTTOMH BSAC allow you to fly after 6 hours. Have a read of some of the papers here: The Rubicon Foundation: FAD Tables

Also what does this mean for flying BEFORE diving - are you supposed to leave the same amount of time?

From memory, the issue is to do with tiredness & dehydration, so long as you recover from both you should be fine.

My diving is at moderate depths - max 30 metres and more usually 20)25 metres - how can I accurately guage how much diving I can do with these flying schedules?

Frankly, suck it and see is about all you can do. Personally I wouldn't worry about diving on Sat after a flight on Fri, just make sure you drink lots on Fri night (& I don't mean alcohol!). With regard to the Mon flight, I would leave as much time as possible, use nitrox for the actual dives & if I was feeling very worried about it, spend half an hour or so breathing pure oxygen after the Sunday dive.

hth,
cheers,
Paul

[Divingminxsy]

Different agencies (& other interested organisations) have different times, OTTOMH BSAC allow you to fly after 6 hours. Have a read of some of the papers here: The Rubicon Foundation: FAD Tables



From memory, the issue is to do with tiredness & dehydration, so long as you recover from both you should be fine.



Frankly, suck it and see is about all you can do. Personally I wouldn't worry about diving on Sat after a flight on Fri, just make sure you drink lots on Fri night (& I don't mean alcohol!). With regard to the Mon flight, I would leave as much time as possible, use nitrox for the actual dives & if I was feeling very worried about it, spend half an hour or so breathing pure oxygen after the Sunday dive.

hth,
cheers,
Paul

I believe BSAC say 16 hours after diving is generally ok although I like to leave 24 hours if it's going to be a longish flight.

Common sense applies really.

[don]

I seem to recall the US Navy dive tables go as low as four hours........but then again their fitness levels and acceptable casualty rates are just a bit on the higher than average side.

Is there really a problem in a pressurised modern airliner?

Yes you get a bit of ear popping so there is definitely a pressure change but are there any airplane geeks out there who can tell us what the equivalent height is in a pressurised cabin - it certainly isnt 30,000 feet.

Of course none of this counts if you get a cabin de-pressurise but I guess risk is actually very small.

[MaryS]

Latest PADI advice is;

1. For a single dive within the no decompression
limit, a minimum preflight surface interval of
12 hours is suggested
2. For repetitive dives and/or multiday dives,
a minimum preflight surface interval of 18
hours is suggested.
3. For dives requiring decompression stops, a
minimum preflight surface interval greater
than 18 hours is suggested.

Edit; Didnt read the whole question. No restrictions on diving after flying unless diving at altitude compared to your pre-flight location. I know Holland is pretty flat but I cant see it being a problem to then dive in the UK on Sat.

[MaryS]

Is there really a problem in a pressurised modern airliner?

I guess we'll find out after your trimix course as we are flying the next day

[kevlo]

I'm sure you can dive straight after a flight as there has been no nitrogen loading,but the normal rules apply for flying after diving.
Kev

[PeeBee]

In terms of altitude/pressurisation, my understanding is that most airliners are pressurised to the equivalent of 10,000 ft. hence the ear popping but no need for O2.
I would happily do my last dive on a sunday at 3.00pm or 4.00pm and fly the next morning and as others have said whilst I have read of it not being a good idea to fly into a resort, get off the plane and an hour later be down at 30m or 40m diving the next day isn't a problem as far as I know.

hth

[Markb]

Thanks all - I think this is going to be ok then - I have a worrier buddy that got me going but this looks safe enough for me. Haven't passes the Nitrox exam yet which is a shame as this looks a good option for reducing DCI risk.

cheers
Mark B