After diving, what is the recommended wait before flying?

After diving, what is the recommended wait before flying?

• A. 24 hours (may cause decompression sickness)
• B. 12 hours
• C. 48 hours
• D. 72 hours

Answer: (A)

After diving, you must allow time for nitrogen absorbed in tissues to off-gas before flying. The cabin of an aircraft is pressurized to a lower equivalent altitude, so dissolved nitrogen can come out of solution during flight and trigger decompression sickness. Waiting 24 hours provides a safe buffer for off-gassing in most common dive profiles. For deeper or multiple dives, longer delays may be advised, but 24 hours is the standard recommendation.

After diving, you must allow time for nitrogen absorbed in tissues to off-gas before flying. The cabin of an aircraft is pressurized to a lower equivalent altitude, so dissolved nitrogen can come out of solution during flight and trigger decompression sickness. Waiting 24 hours provides a safe buffer for off-gassing in most common dive profiles. For deeper or multiple dives, longer delays may be advised, but 24 hours is the standard recommendation.