Medical FAQs
Here's a list compiled over the years of commonly asked questions. The list was created by DAN MDs and represent specific, evidence-based recommendations our member should take into consideration.
I am writing to you to have some information about the compatibility of trombophilia and scuba diving. My partner, who is a diver like me, after running some routine tests, discovered that she has trombophilia (mutation C677T in the gene MTHFR in homozygosity). Provided that she is 41 years old, a non-smoker, leads a healthy life, practices sports, and has never had cardiovascular thrombotic events so far, I would like to know if she will be able to continue performing diving activities from now on.
In order to understand if there is an actual risk or only a potential risk of thromboembolic events connected to the mutation carried by your partner, we advise you to complete a thromboembolic risk evaluation carried out by an hematologist.
Theoretically, your partner may be more susceptible to decompression illness, and therefore, we advise you to reduce any risks by taking appropriate precautionary measures with regard to dive profiles.
The following are the characteristics of dive profiles with the lowest production of bubbles:
- do not plan dives with compulsory decompression stops
- avoid, as much as possible, repetitive dives, or if you wish to dive repetitively, make sure your surface intervals are long enough (not less than 3 hours, and best if longer)
- limit your bottom time to no more than 70% of the No-Deco time indicated by your computer upon reaching maximum depth, or as suggested by your dive tables
- perform your dive by reaching maximum depth right at the start and then “ascending”, and avoid staying at shallow depths and then going deeper again
- if your dive computer allows advanced settings, set the GF Low to less than 30 and the GF High to 70
- if possible, use enriched air mixes and set your computer or use dive tables as if you were diving on air
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