4 Things to Avoid After Scuba Diving

Following No Decompression Limits, ascending slowly, staying close to your buddy, and checking air consumption on a regular basis are all important aspects of scuba diving safety. There are a few things to remember in the hours following a scuba dive to stay safe and healthy. We accumulate nitrogen when we dive, as scuba divers learn in their courses. The more nitrogen in our bodies absorbs the deeper we dive. We ascend slowly and make safety stops to allow the nitrogen to "off-gas" while we are still submerged. When you ascend too quickly or skip safety stops, the nitrogen in your blood forms little bubbles, which causes decompression sickness. Check the 4 things below, so you can plan your departure date accordingly after your Bali Diving Trip

However, some divers are unaware that this nitrogen is still off-gassing in the hours following a dive. So, in order to off-gas safely and successfully, it is critical to avoid a few things after diving.

1. Experiencing high altitudes

If you've taken a scuba diving course, you've probably heard this important rule: don't fly after diving! The general rule is to wait 12 hours after one dive and 18 hours after two or more dives before flying. It is recommended that you wait 24 hours if you exceeded your no-decompression limits or missed a safety stop on the dive.

This is due to the fact that as we fly higher in an airplane, the altitude increases, resulting in lower air pressure than at sea level.

This can cause the nitrogen you accumulated during the dive to expand too quickly (similar to ascending too quickly), which is what causes decompression sickness.

It is also advised to avoid climbing mountains higher than 1,000 feet (300 meters) for 24 hours after diving.

Because the altitude is higher than at sea level, the pressure difference between your surroundings and the nitrogen in your body from the dive is greater. Decompression sickness becomes a risk as the nitrogen expands too quickly.

When planning your vacation itinerary, keep the following risks in mind: Do not dive on your last day, and do not climb any mountains after diving.

2. Free-diving

Ocean enthusiasts can also explore the reef by free diving. But did you know that free-diving after a scuba dive can be dangerous? It can be tempting to jump back into the water with your mask and fins after an exciting scuba dive to see a little more. Perhaps a manta ray is circling the boat. This is because your body still contains nitrogen from scuba dive. Returning to depth and rapidly ascending could affect nitrogen off-gassing, which, as we know, is what causes decompression sickness.

Scuba divers generally follow the same free-diving rules as pilots: 12 hours after one dive, and 18 hours after two or more.

Instead, snorkel at the surface to be safe.

3. Hot Water

Who doesn't enjoy a hot bubble bath? Especially if you're cold from cold water diving! However, you should probably wait before turning on the water. Although it may be tempting to try to warm up quickly in a hot shower or bath, when your body is submerged in hot water, your tissues become warm. This can promote the formation of nitrogen bubbles in the blood, which causes decompression sickness. Temperature affects a gas's solubility.

There are no hard and fast rules, but DAN (Divers Alert Network) recommends waiting five to 30 minutes after a dive before taking a hot shower or bath or getting into a hot tub. If you really can't wait to rinse off, try diving more conservatively (shallower and well within No Decompression Limits) to reduce the amount of nitrogen left over in your body after the dive, and take a luke-warm shower or bath instead of a very hot one.

4. Massage

There is nothing more relaxing than a massage, and it is the ideal way to unwind while on vacation. However, you should avoid scheduling a deep tissue massage after a scuba dive. Although there is little evidence to back up this theory, many scuba divers believe that massage can cause bubble formation because it increases blood flow. Some believe it can also push these bubbles into the joints, trapping them and causing pain.

Another reason to avoid massage after diving is the risk of infection. Deep tissue massage may result in tissue pain and muscle soreness. Because aches and pains are a symptom of decompression sickness, they may be misinterpreted and result in an unnecessary trip to the doctor. Alternatively, you may believe that your muscle soreness is the result of a strong massage and disregard your symptoms of what is actually decompression sickness. This could result in you waiting too long to seek important treatment.

If you are interested in learning to dive safely. Check out the www.balifundiving.com