Question

Rules of SCUBA diving for flight crew, regardless of the type of dive is:

a) flight above 10000 ASL should be avoid for 24 hours
b) flight above 8000 ASL should be avoid for 24 hours
c) aviation medical examiner must provide clearance prior to flight

Answer 1

Flight crew should avoid flying above 8,000 feet ASL for 24 hours after diving to minimize the risk of decompression sickness. Slow ascent and decompression stops are standard preventative measures against DCS, with hyperbaric oxygen therapy being a common treatment.

Step-by-step explanation:

Rules of SCUBA diving for flight crew, regarding the avoidance of decompression sickness (DCS), indicate that a flight crew should not fly at altitudes above 8,000 feet Above Sea Level (ASL) for 24 hours following a dive. This rule accounts for DCS prevention after diving since the reduction of ambient pressure at high altitudes could exacerbate the risk of DCS, which is caused by the formation of gas bubbles as dissolved gases in the blood become less soluble when ambient pressure decreases. This is important because flight crew working at high altitudes are subject to lower barometric pressures similar to the reduced pressure experienced by divers ascending to the surface. To further mitigate the risks of DCS, various measures are advised, such as ascending from depths at slow speeds or making decompression stops during ascent.

For divers who experience DCS, hyperbaric oxygen therapy in decompression chambers is often the treatment provided. Efforts to improve understanding and treatment of DCS include research into the body's reactions and defenses against the effects of decompression.