Evacuation considerations and air travel after diving

The timing and method of evacuation for dive illness need careful consideration, particularly in relation to air transport. Given the primary pressure effects of diving illness, further changes in atmospheric pressure should be avoided for the patient being evacuated. This also applies to asymptomatic divers in the immediate period after a dive. Contact the Diving Emergency Service (telephone 1800 088 200 within Australia) for specialist advice in an emergency.

Air evacuation to emergency care or recompression facilities should not be delayed for a person with arterial gas embolism or decompression sickness, but should ideally only be done in an aircraft that can pressurise to sea level pressure. Helicopter or unpressurised aircraft or road evacuation should maintain a height of no more than 300 metres above sea level, if possible.

Asymptomatic (well) divers should avoid air travel after the latest dive. Estimates for safe intervals between diving and flying are:

• 12 hours if they have dived no more than once daily (and have not required decompression stops)
• 48 hours if they have had multiple dives per day or a single dive requiring decompression stops.