Which statement about post-diving flight readiness is true?

• A. 12 hours
• B. 72 hours
• C. 24 hours (may cause decompression sickness)
• D. 48 hours

Answer: (C)

When a diver comes back to the surface, nitrogen from the tissues needs time to off-gas safely. Flying soon after a dive lowers ambient pressure in the cabin, which can cause dissolved nitrogen to come out of solution as bubbles. Those bubbles can trigger decompression sickness, even if you feel fine. Setting a minimum waiting period before flying helps allow the body to eliminate nitrogen and reduces the risk of DCS during ascent to altitude. A 24-hour wait is the standard precaution in this context, because it covers typical dive profiles and the conservative risk of symptom development after exposure to pressure changes in flight. Shorter times may be risky after deeper or repetitive dives, while much longer waits are not usually required for standard air travel after common recreational dives.