09/17/2026
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As you ascend to altitude, the surrounding atmospheric pressure drops. This reduction in pressure can cause residual nitrogen dissolved in your tissues from diving to form bubbles, increasing the risk of decompression sickness (DCS).
Keep these recommended minimum preflight surface intervals in mind when planning dive travel:
• Single-day, no-decompression dive → 12 hours minimum
• Multiple days of diving or repetitive no-decompression dives → 18 hours minimum
• Dives requiring mandatory decompression stops or using heliox or trimix → 24 hours minimum
Extending your surface interval before flying provides an additional safety margin and may further reduce your risk of DCS.
✈️🔗 For guidelines on flying after diving, visit dan.org/flying-after-diving/.
Note: These recommendations apply to divers who are not experiencing DCS symptoms and who will be flying at typical commercial aircraft cabin altitudes of 2,000–8,000 feet (610–2,438 m). If you experience any signs or symptoms of DCS, avoid flying and seek medical evaluation immediately.
