| Sport diving is always a function of travel. Very few | | | | time you board the plane. While some people would |
| divers are fortunate enough to live and work within | | | | rather control their input to avoid having to use the |
| 30 minutes of their favorite dive site. So, often we | | | | toilet on the plane, this is a poor choice for your |
| are faced with the transportation issue of getting to | | | | personal health. The bottom line here is to stay |
| our diving locations. If you are diving with all of your | | | | hydrated as much as possibly during your travel to |
| own gear, driving to the dive site or boat dock is | | | | the dive destination. |
| usually the ideal situation. However, often times we | | | | Avoid sitting still for long periods of time. If you are |
| find ourselves booking a dive destination somewhere | | | | unable to get up and walk around, at least flex your |
| that will require you to board an airplane. This means | | | | leg muscles and do some stretches. Wear |
| keeping the dive bag weight under 50 pounds or pay | | | | compression socks during a long flight to help your |
| a premium to check your bag with the airline. | | | | circulation. There is a lot more information about |
| There are other considerations for the diver who is | | | | Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) which might help |
| flying beyond keeping the luggage weight under 50 | | | | describes the condition. Divers need to know how |
| pounds. As a part of planning your trip, the first thing | | | | serious a blood clot could be. A blood clot could be |
| you must always do is have an extensive 'check-list' | | | | more disastrous or even fatal if the clot moved |
| of your gear and other needs for the trip. Be sure | | | | during the effects of pressure causing a pulmonary |
| that the 'check-list' is coordinated with your trip | | | | embolism (lungs). |
| itinerary. Plan each dive before you even pack your | | | | Divers depend upon their ability to equalize the |
| dive gear so that you have an idea of what to | | | | pressure in their middle ear when descending. For this |
| expect. For example, if you are traveling to a remote | | | | reason, make sure that your sinuses are clear during |
| location and not sure what the dive operator will | | | | a flight. If a sudden change in cabin pressure occurs |
| provide, bring along an energy snack and pack your | | | | you could develop an ear disorder. While generally not |
| stainless steel water bottle (empty with lid removed). | | | | a problem, make sure you don't develop an ear |
| Go through your first aid kit to make sure that | | | | infection from sitting on a plane with an air vent |
| everything is still there and ready if needed. Especially | | | | blowing cold air right in your ear. |
| make sure you have some antihistamine, | | | | Flying to the dive destination is very much like any |
| anti-diarrhea, and upset stomach medications included. | | | | travel with some additional considerations. You've |
| Pack as if you might not be able to buy anything | | | | made it there and have enjoyed your well planned |
| immediately at your destination. | | | | diving vacation, now it's time to head home. Now |
| Well in advance of leaving, check with the Center for | | | | what do you need to know? |
| Disease Control if you are going to be going through | | | | Make sure you completely clean and dry your gear |
| or staying in a country where you are unsure of the | | | | as best as you possibly can. Any wet gear will be a |
| current health conditions. Check online at the CDC | | | | two fold problem. First of all it will weigh more than |
| dot gov website for any notices or specific | | | | when it was dry, possibly costing you more to check |
| vaccination requirements. Keep in mind that some | | | | the bag at the airport. Secondly, if it didn't get rinsed |
| shots might need to be ordered by your doctor and | | | | real well before packing it will most likely stink |
| require some time for them to be effective. Other | | | | because of the little living things that died. |
| vaccinations might have a window of effectiveness | | | | A big concern deals with decompression sickness or |
| and require travel within a certain period. Most divers | | | | 'the bends'. Each diver is responsible to know and |
| will have a card with their personal medical history | | | | monitor their dive depths and times in regards to this. |
| and contact information to carry with their dive gear. | | | | Without getting technical, the general rule is that if |
| Be sure to list any allergies and medical history as well | | | | you've made a non-decompression dive you should |
| as your emergency contact information. | | | | have a pre-flight surface time of 12 hours. Keep in |
| Be sure to check with the country of your | | | | mind that the amount of saturated nitrogen in your |
| destination for their requirements on the validity of | | | | bloodstream is really determined by the time you |
| your passport. You might be surprised that some | | | | spent under pressure. If the flight is in the mid |
| very popular diving destinations require that your | | | | morning or early afternoon, it's not likely that you'll be |
| passport not be expiring within 6 months. Don't wait | | | | diving the same day as the flight. Snorkeling is not a |
| till the last minute to renew your passport, have it | | | | concern, so snorkel all you like before flying. |
| ready and renew it before it expires. | | | | Frequent travelers learn tricks along the way from |
| You've done your pre-trip planning and now you're | | | | experience and divers are no different. The more |
| ready to head to the airport. Be sure you stay well | | | | you dive in a variety of destinations, the more you |
| hydrated by drinking plenty of 'steam distilled water' | | | | will know about how to prepare for your trip. Flying |
| before heading to the airport. In the United States, | | | | just requires conforming to the rules of the airlines |
| the Transportation Safety Authority (TSA) does not | | | | and the 'flying public' which generally don't work in the |
| allow you to carry water through their security check | | | | best interest of divers. Not too long ago airlines |
| points. Unfortunately, this means that you'll be | | | | allowed up to three checked bags without a charge. |
| drinking filtered bottled or tap water once you clear | | | | At one time they allowed golfers to check their golf |
| security. The 'steam distilled water' will help eliminate | | | | clubs and divers to check their dive bag for free. So, |
| some of the toxins in your system before the trip. | | | | we change with the rules, but nobody can keep us |
| It's important to continue drinking water up to the | | | | from diving in the most exotic places in the world. |