How long should you stay out of the water after multiple dives before flying or elevating to altitude?

After completing multiple dives, it’s crucial to allow sufficient time for your body to eliminate nitrogen and reduce the risk of decompression sickness before flying or elevating to altitude. The recommended guidelines indicate that more than 24 hours is optimal for deep divers, especially those who have done multiple dives over consecutive days. This recommendation is based on understanding the physiological changes and nitrogen absorption that occur in the body during diving.

When divers ascend to altitude too soon after dives, the reduced atmospheric pressure can lead to nitrogen bubbles forming in the bloodstream, increasing the risk of decompression illness. Allowing more than 24 hours post-diving provides a safer margin to ensure that nitrogen has time to fully off-gas from your body, thus mitigating the risks associated with rapid elevation changes following diving activities.

Fewer hours, such as 12 or 18, may not provide adequate time for complete off-gassing, especially after deeper or multiple dives. Therefore, waiting for more than 24 hours is a safer practice to ensure your well-being when considering air travel or high-altitude activities.