Post-DiveActivities: Making The Most Of Your Surface Intervals

By allowing time for rest and hydration between surface intervals, your body off-gas nitrogen more efficiently, therefore lowering the danger of decompression illness between dives. It also raises your maximal diving times for several dives. You should avoid doing many activities, though, during your surface intervals. Here are some of them: Eating overly salted meals, hot showers, floating or swimming in the sea.

Restlessness and Watering

It's good to unwind under the peaceful sun after a day of seeing the amazing underwater images and aquatic life. Reviewing your dive with a friend is also a fantastic opportunity. This should entail looking at air usage, following your dive plan, and evaluating any possible issues that might arise on your next dive rather than a blow-by-blow repeat of the full dive. Although some modest exercise is OK, you should avoid vigorous activity right once after diving. Too early exercise could cause bubble development, particularly in muscles, raising the risk of decompression illness. Likewise, alcohol should not be drunk since it slows down nitrogen excretion from the body. After every dive and throughout your surface time, you should sip water—ideally with electrolytes added. One of the main causes of DCS, dehydration, is thereby avoided. This is especially crucial as the depth and length of a dive define your necessary surface interval.

Get Walking.

Though it seems contradictory, walking or other physical activity on the surface after diving are really beneficial for you. It lowers your chance of decompression illness and lets nitrogen bubbles flee your blood stream. Still, you should exercise caution regarding when you do these things. You should wait 24 hours before working out following scuba diving; exercise too near to a dive is not advisable. During their surface time, another activity divers might engage in is ground exploration of surrounding attractions. One excellent approach to unwind and learn more about the place you are visiting is by visiting cultural attractions, natural reserves, and other topside locations.

Invest in a long hot shower.

Should you be heading to a tropical location, it could be tempting to leap back in the sea for a snorkel. Still, it is not advised to do. Too early jumping back in the water will not let your body offgas all of its remaining nitrogen. Actually, it can even be deadly. Should inert gases not be offgassed, they can create symptomatic bubbles causing decompression sickness. Following the "no-fly" alert of your dive computer and waiting at least 12 hours following a single no-decompression dive or 18 hours following multiple dives requiring a decompression stop is therefore vital. Using the spa services of a resort is best done during your surface interval when you may unwind by taking a long, hot shower. Just be sure to avoid getting into a Jacuzzi or sauna right after diving; the temperature rise may cause gas solubility to drop and result in increased bubble development.

Consult Your Dive Buddy.

Scuba diving mostly involves operating as a team. You should choose a diving companion who fits your intended dive experiences and degree of safety. Find out whether they share, for example, macro photography or wreck or marine life interests. Agreeing on strategies for grabbing your friend's attention in an emergency can also help you both to be sure you can follow them. Remind your diving friends that touching creatures or coral is off limits; touching marine life is not beneficial for it and can scare them away. Give your friend a mild prod or tap to tell them not to be touching marine life if you find they are disturbing the surroundings. As you are still on the surface, discuss with your friend your dive and what you liked about it. This will enable your thoughts to calm and facilitate your relaxation on your next dive.