The medical hazards of skin diving

Abstract

This paper was read in the Session on "Medical Aspects of Tourism in the Mediterranean" at the 12th Annual Clinical Meeting of the British Medical Association, in Malta. Skin diving presents particular medical risks whereby specific dangerous situations are outlined: from minor incidents such as a jellyfish sting, to more serious perils; in an instance when the rules of the staging of an ascent are not followed and the diver has to be taken to the nearest compression chamber. The main objective of this paper is to highlight the health risks encountered when practising this sport in specific situations; diving with a nasal congestion, barotrauma, diving after a full meal, when a harpoon goes off accidentally, diving alone and unchecked aqualungs. Furthermore, life-saving techniques are delineated in the case a diver goes unconscious. On an optimistic note, diving accidents are rare and mostly avoidable. So long as the rules are observed it is a safe and exhilarating form of occupational therapy.