Diving tips from our own MediaMan

[GHoosdum]

Do you really have to wait 12 hours after scuba diving to get on a plane?!?

[MediaMan]

GHoosdum had this to say
Do you really have to wait 12 hours after scuba diving to get on a plane?!?

Yes. Otherwise you could suffer the bends.


Think about it...you take a balloon down 33 feet (1 atmosphere). It reduces by half every 33 feet. Return to sea level and the balloon returns to normal but it takes 12 hours to normalize entirely. Therefore if you go up in a plane that balloon expands as outside pressure diminishes. The balloon, because it isn't normalized, expands too much.

This is the bends...nitrogen molecules come out of the blood to form air pockets. Ouch.


What this has to do with an ATI benchmark test..I dunno. ;D

[primesuspect]

Actually the bends are caused by nitrogen bubbles in the blood, not oxygen.

See how useful this site is? ;)

[GHoosdum]

;D

I knew about the existence of the bends and what it is (even the nitrogen part), I just didn't know that it took 12 hours to normalize after scuba diving. I plan on taking a trip out to the US Virgin Islands sooner or later, and MM's article here just saved my ass from getting the bends when I fly home... no scuba for me the day before departure!

[MediaMan]

Oh GHoosdum...you got that right pal.

Page 220 of the PADI Open Water manual. " A minimum surface interval of 12 hours is required to be reasonably assured you remain symptom free from decompression sickness upon ascent to altitude in a commercial airliner. (altitude up to 2400 meters/8000 feet cabin pressure)"

Hints from a Divemaster: Alcohol on vacation and diving. Sure why not. If really hungover you are going to feed the fishes for sure. Hangovers and alcohol don't mix. If drinking the night before, drink plenty of water before bed and in the morning. This will help out the dive...just warn the guy swimming on your 6.

If drinking enough to impair you by the law...even though you may be walking just fine...take an extra couple minutes safety stop at 15 and 8 feet. Helps even out the keel.

Diving is not depth...it's not time...it's time at depth.


"Life is just a surface interval".

[primesuspect]

You guys :rolleyes: ....

For our sanity, I split this thread into a new topic ;D

[GHoosdum]

Hey man, it relates directly to his article somehow... it's one of the disclaimers. ;)

But thanks for splitting it off. You've truly saved my sanity! :p

[Dexter]

MediaMan had this to say

Hints from a Divemaster: Alcohol on vacation and diving. Sure why not. If really hungover you are going to feed the fishes for sure. Hangovers and alcohol don't mix. If drinking the night before, drink plenty of water before bed and in the morning. This will help out the dive...just warn the guy swimming on your 6.

And, as Mediaman pointed out to me on one of my first dives, that is why they teach you how to "clear your reg." :D

I have had the experience of feeding the fish...not from an alcohol - perspective, as I have not yet "drank and dived"...but just going down to depth can cause some stomach upset the first few times, as your stomach contents are also subject to increased pressure. Alcohol just exacerbates that problem a little bit more :)

MM: What article is referenced here, I would like to read it.

Dexter...

[GHoosdum]

It's actually his Radeon 9800-256 vs Radeon 9700-128 article I read his disclaimer in!

[RADA]

Been diving for 10 years now. Alcohol and diving don't mix. Vodka n OJ do!!

From experince, ralphing through a regulator is one of the least pleasant experinces in my life. VERY HARD to overcome the natural reaction to pull it out of your mouth. Everybody knows, you spew, then inhale, almost instantaniously. Guess what you'll inhale if your reg is in your hand! :(

[primesuspect]

ewwwww :wtf:

[Hawk]

Very bad! Ralphing in your reg. MMMMnnnn. lol I've Been PADI Open Water Certfied since 78. Let's see--thats 25 yrs this yr! Haven't been diving for a couple of yrs though. I really miss it. All my diving buddies moved out of town. :( Dove from Orlando fla to Key West and the (Cay Sal Bank Bahamas for some deep diving 150 ft.) Black Coral diving. Pretty stuff.