Are you planning on taking a deep dive with your beloved marine life? Scuba diving is an exciting and adventurous sport, but it requires precautions and safety measures to be followed to avoid any mishaps. Even with proper training and equipment, certain medical issues can arise while scuba diving. So, it’s crucial to be aware and equipped with knowledge to handle common medical issues while scuba diving.

In this article, we will take you through the tips and tricks to keep yourself safe while diving with the help of markdowns and emojis.

1️⃣ Ear Barotrauma

Inhaling and exhaling compressed air can create some pressure in your ears which can be painful, and if not addressed, can turn into ear barotrauma. Some signs of this are a persistent earache, hearing loss, or bleeding from the ear.

To handle this situation, you can try to equalize the pressure in your ear and relieve the pain by holding your nose and gently blowing out through it. This helps in equalizing the air pressure on both sides of the eardrum. You can also try yawning, swallowing, or making a Valsalva maneuver (pinching your nose and blowing out gently).

Person holding their nose and blowing to equalize pressure in their ears

2️⃣ Decompression Sickness

Another common medical issue is decompression sickness, also known as “the bends.” This occurs when divers surface too quickly, and nitrogen bubbles form in the bloodstream or tissues. Symptoms include fatigue, joint pain, tingling sensations, and skin rashes.

To avoid this, it is essential to follow the guidelines of ascend and descend rates while diving. If you feel any signs of decompression sickness, return to the surface immediately and seek medical attention.

A diver ascending to the surface in the correct manner by holding the air tank

3️⃣ Seasickness

Seasickness is common and can lead to vomiting, dizziness, and nausea. This occurs due to the rocking motion of the boat and can severely affect your diving experience.

To help avoid seasickness, it’s recommended to take medication, avoid a heavy meal before diving, and to stay hydrated.

Person holding their stomach in discomfort due to seasickness

4️⃣ Hypothermia

Even in warm locations, scuba diving can cause hypothermia, especially on longer dives. This occurs when the body temperature drops too low, and you feel coldness, shivering, and disorientation. Hypothermia can cause severe medical emergencies if not appropriately addressed.

To avoid hypothermia, it is recommended to wear proper exposure suits, stay hydrated, and plan your dives to ensure appropriate heat retention and energy expenditure.

Divers wearing exposure suits

5️⃣ Oxygen Toxicity

Oxygen toxicity occurs when divers breathe in too much oxygen at a high pressure, causing seizures and convulsions. Symptoms include tunnel vision, twitching, and a metallic taste in the mouth.

To prevent this, follow the guidelines of mixed-gas diving, and keep an eye on your air supplies and descent rates.

A close-up of a scuba diving mask with a diver in the background

With these tips and tricks, you can ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable scuba diving experience without any medical emergencies. Always remember to stay alert of your surroundings and remain cautious. Happy diving!

An aerial view of divers in a clear ocean with a coral reef below