Scuba Diving

[mad_jock]

I hope this is the right Forum for this topic.

I have been a very keen scuba diver for the past 10years and would like to get some advice from anyone who is regularly enjoying the sport, and flying at the same time.

I know the base line is give it 24hrs but after a couple of weeks diving i can quite easly build up 36 hrs de-saturation time if i am doing long deco's without using nitrox etc.

I use ddplan or Zplan to do techie stuff and an aladin Blue for < 50m dives single mixes.

MJ

Edited for poor spelling and grammar :)



[This message has been edited by mad_jock (edited 31 May 2001).]

[brymon]

I am a commercial pilot and I dive regularly (PADI AI), but no "techie stuff", and mainly air.

So far I have had no problems except for the obvious inconvenience that "following the rules" imposes. My advice is always to follow the MOST limiting of the surface interval recommendations from your dive organisation (PADI, BSAC, etc) and the CAA. It can be anoying waiting 12 hours after a very shallow dive (perhaps "techies" don't do these but instructors do plenty), but it's more than your life and licence are worth to flaunt the rules.

As far as return travel after a holiday of multiple/repetitive diving is concerned, I would advise as long a surface interval as practicable. Risk is a relative thing, but the consequences of a bend especially if you are a pilot (or worse the operating crew) is serious.

Also be pragmatic about your dive planning even if the "tables" or computer you are using aren't specific. Do the deep diving at the beginning of the holiday if you can and the shallower stuff towards the end. Use NITROX where applicable (if qualified) as often as you can.

Just finished reading a book called "The Terrible Hours" about "Swede" Momsen; the US Naval Officer who pioneered submarine rescue technology and also deep diving using Helium. Divers in those early days regularly diving 80 to 100m on air to perform (or rather trying) complex tasks in low visibility and cold water conditions.
A riveting read...but makes me grateful that I wasn't diving 65 years ago.

Enjoy your diving.

P.S. If something doesn't seem right..it probably isn't!!

[quidam]

Hi,
I would agree with Brymon as far as being conservative with yer timings.
I'm only a techie as far as 'simple' nitrox and I don't do planned deco. Even so, having followed the PADI guidlelines and then some I got 'bent' flying home from Sharm last summer. I didn't enjoy it or the chamber (and I only had a mild case)
Would have thought speaking to a specialist diving Dr or alternatively RN Haslar (02392 584255) or DDRC would probably be the most useful. Having been a patient, the staff at Haslar are marvelous.

------------------
It went Earth,Sky,
AMBULANCE

[mad_jock]

Sharm is a killer

Dehydrated most off the time, body with not alot of salt in it. 10+ dives in 5 days...
I am suprised more people don't get bent. the really stupid one is the folk that climb up Mount cyni ( the 3000m one with the monastry at the bottom) on there day off. Mad!!