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If you have ever thought about scheduling back-to-back dives – one in the air and one underwater – there is only one way you can do that, and that’s by planning your scuba dive after your skydive.
Scuba diving after skydiving is fine, but skydiving (and air travel in general) after scuba diving can cause serious and life-threatening health issues, including two types of decompression illnesses: decompression sickness and arterial gas embolism.
Decompression sickness, also known as caisson disease or the bends, is when gas bubbles are formed in a person’s blood and tissues due to inadequate decompression. Joint pain, muscle fatigue, localized tissue damage, and other symptoms can occur (learn more).
Arterial gas embolism is blood vessel blockage that occurs when the gas bubbles circulate through the body’s systemic arteries. These bubbles can also travel to the brain and potentially cause a stroke (learn more).
Check out the Divers Alert Network’s guidelines for flying after diving >>
Accomplishing something as unique as a back-to-back dive in the air followed by a dive in the water is an amazing feat. With careful and safe planning, you can have an adventure as thrilling as scuba skydiving!
Scuba Skydiving on the Great Barrier Reef in Tropical North Queensland
Filmmaking Team: Gulliver Page, Pete Mether, Matt Hodges
