Table of Contents
Precautions for Divers
Travelers planning to descend rather than ascend must also take precautions. Individuals with the following conditions should not scuba dive:
- Heart and lung diseases
- Bleeding disorders
- Chronic ear infections or sinus infections blocking the ears
- Diabetes
- Pregnancy
- History of seizures
- History of migraine headaches
Diving, in fact, is becoming known as a cause of many types of headaches, and anyone with a history of chronic or frequent headaches should discuss these issues with a health professional familiar with this sport.
Avoiding Air Embolism. Air embolisms are bubbles that obstruct blood vessels and can occur in divers who hold their breath while swimming up to the surface. They can be life threatening and cause long-term neurologic impairment, including memory lapses, impaired thinking, and emotional disorders. Even tiny bubbles may do some harm over time. One study found that in amateur divers who dive frequently, tiny bubbles appeared to increase the risk for small brain lesions and degenerating spinal disks.
To eliminate these bubbles, experts recommend that you:
- Ascend no faster than 30 feet per minute
- Remain 15 feet below the surface for 3 - 5 minutes before surfacing
- Avoid air travel for 24 hours after diving.
Drowning. The other major cause of scuba diving deaths is drowning in underwater caves due to improper training and poor equipment.
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Review Date: 01/30/2011
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.
Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M.,
Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
