Specific Medical Contraindications to Diving
Contraindication | Specific Examples or Adverse Effects |
|---|---|
Lung disorders | Active asthma Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) History of spontaneous pneumothorax Lung cysts or bullae Chronic hypercapnia |
Cardiovascular disorders | History of significant ventricular arrhythmias Hemodynamically significant intracardiac shunt or any right-to-left shunt (eg, atrial septal defect, tetralogy of Fallot) |
Psychologic disorders | |
Structural disorder | Unrepaired hernia |
Neurologic disorders | |
Metabolic disorders | Extreme obesity |
Ear, nose, and throat disorders | Upper respiratory infection |
Pregnancy | Possible risk of birth defects and fetal injury due to decompression sickness |
Habitual air-swallowing | Gastrointestinal overinflation during ascent due to swallowing pressurized air at depth |
Poor exercise tolerance | Inadequate physiologic response to adverse diving conditions |
Severe gastroesophageal reflux | Aggravated by loss of gravity effect on the abdomen during submersion |
Children < 10 years | Incomplete understanding of the physics and physiology needed for safe diving |