How long should a diver wait to fly after their last dive?

The recommended waiting period for a diver to fly after their last dive is 24 hours. This guideline is based on the need to allow excess nitrogen absorbed by the body during diving to safely off-gas and reduce the risk of decompression sickness, commonly known as "the bends."

While there are various factors such as the depth and duration of the dives that can influence how quickly nitrogen is eliminated from the body, a general rule of thumb is to wait at least 24 hours. This period provides a buffer to ensure that any residual nitrogen has sufficiently dissipated from the body, significantly lowering the risk of complications when changing pressure by flying.

This recommendation is particularly important after multiple dives or deep dives, where tissue saturation levels can be higher. The 24-hour waiting period serves as a safe margin to help ensure that divers have a reduced risk of developing decompression sickness upon ascent in an airplane, where atmospheric pressure decreases rapidly.