Can I fly, go ballooning, parachuting or overland driving after scuba diving?
Increasing altitude and the resulting decreasing pressure is a definite factor in the contracting of decompression sickness. This is the reason for no flying 24 hours after diving. This relates to anything over 300 metres (1000feet) and definitely skydiving and hot air balloon rides (unless under 300m)!! It is especially relevant if you have been doing repetitive diving and deep diving (up to 40 metres) for a prolonged period (5-7days)….This is due to the release of pressure and the chance of built up nitrogen causing bubbles in your circulatory system and potential blockages and ‘bends’ occurring. Therefore you should definitely put any of these activities off for an extra day after the 24 hour period, or even better, do them before the diving trip…. There is no need to wait before diving after flying…but of course, if you have jet lag, you should take it easy with diving.
