When Diving At An Altitude Above 300 Metres 1000 Feet

Question: How do you determine that a dive is an “altitude dive”?

Answer: Any dive made at 300 meters / 1,000 feet or greater above sea level.

Question: Why do you need to follow special dive table and computer procedures at altitude?

Answer: To account for the atmospheric pressure differences. The risk of decompression sickness increases if one doesn’t follow proper altitude procedures.

Question: What are the theoretical and practical differences between altitude diving, flying after diving and driving to altitude after diving?

Answer: The major difference is whether exposure to altitude precedes or follows the dive. Exposure to altitude precedes altitude diving; altitude exposure follows flying after diving.

Question: What are the current recommendations for flying after diving?

Answer: Wait 12 hours for single dives. For repetitive dives or those requiring decompression stops, wait 18 hours.

Question: What two potential detrimental physiological conditions possible from altitude diving, aside from decompression sickness?

Answer: Hypoxia and hypothermia.