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In message Tue, 23 Nov 93 21:25:03 EST,
bowen@cs*.Bu*.ED* (Devon E Bowen) writes:
> I recently purchased a watch with an altimeter on it. And I just got back
> from a trip (cave diving!) where I noticed that airplanes tend to keep
> the cabin pressure around the 4000-5000 feet of altitude range. So, other
> than the possibility that they may go outside this range, is there any
> reason you can't dive the day before flying as long as you adjust for the
> altitude? Not that I plan to try it. I'm just wondering if I'm missing
> anything.
>
Aside from the already mentioned explosive cabin depressurization, another
problem lies in the simple fact that the ambient pressure is reduced. This
pressure reduction alone can precipitate nitrogen (DCI). This is similar to
diving at altitude, and coming up from the dive into an already reduced air
pressure....but that's too much to go into here. The point is, you are
moving your body from high pressure to a lower pressure, and the rate of
this change, if fast enough, can cause DCI. Since DCI has occured only
after going up in an airplane in a few cases, it is reasonable to assume it
can happen again. There are many other factors involved in how one can get
a Decompression Illness. Those factors are best left to the classroom for
now since no-one can really say they know exactly how DCI occurs, and
exactly what is happening.
Just one man's opinion....I'll wait at least 24 hours after diving before I
fly.
Another interesting note, many Air Force pilots experience DCI too. Rumors
have it that there are more "bent" pilots than divers every year.
Carl W. Meilahn
NAUI Instr. # 14470
cmeilahn@cc*.cc*.ut*.ed*
cmeilahn@im*.cs*.ut*.ed*
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