From a medical point of view, helium is of little relevance outside of diving. Accordingly, its kinetics have been insufficiently studied in comparison to other inert gases used in medical research and diagnostics, for example as tracers (1). To date, the helium algorithms used in diving medicine are based predominantly on the data set published by Bühlmann. Foto: Karin Aggeler Helium in the Bühlmann model According to Bühlmann, the diffusion rate of helium is 2.65 times high

A 50-year-old diver went diving in a Swiss lake with his closed-circuit rebreather (CCR). The plan was to dive to a depth of around 55 meters with a bottom time of approximately 20 minutes (time until leaving the depth). Compressed air was used as the diluent, at a constant oxygen partial pressure of 1.3 bar. The last decompression stop was at 6 meters. The diver complied with all decompression requirements and ended the dive after a total of 54 minutes. However, about 30 min

An experienced recreational diver conducted a dive to a depth of 30 m in a Swiss lake within the no-decompression limit. During the ascent, he suddenly noticed impaired vision in his right eye. After surfacing, his vision was blurred and foggy in both eyes, whereupon he was given oxygen due to suspicion of a diving accident. After just ten minutes, his vision was completely restored. The diver reported having experienced similar problems with his right eye during previous div

NOAA guidelines for limiting oxygen toxicity in diving date back to the 1970s and 1980s – a time when rebreather technology, digital sensors and today's diving profiles were still a long way off. Nevertheless, these early, deliberately conservative values formed the basis of all safety guidelines for decades. With the current NOAA revision, these limits are now being fundamentally revised for the first time. The new recommendations on CNS oxygen toxicity take into account cur

I was recently asked by a diver whether it makes sense that his diving school requires him to undergo an echocardiography (heart...

Recently, Croatian freediver Vitomir Maričić set a new world record in static apnea: he held his breath for 29 minutes and 3 seconds —a...

In rebreather diving, there is a clear mantra: “If in doubt, bail out.” But how easy is it really to make this decision in a stressful...

You don't always need to dive deep to have an unforgettable experience. Often, the full beauty of the underwater world is revealed just a...

When divers talk about underwater risks, the conversation often centers on decompression sickness or oxygen toxicity. But there’s...

Diving is a fascinating sport that requires physical fitness, mental clarity and healthy lungs. At the same time, smoking is a widespread...

Nitrox makes many aspects of diving more enjoyable: less nitrogen means longer bottom times and a lower risk of nitrogen narcosis or...

Diving with oxygen-enriched air – known as Nitrox or EAN (Enriched Air Nitrox) for short – has become established in recreational diving...

Elite freediving puts the lungs under intense pressure, sometimes leading to pulmonary barotrauma (PBT), or “lung squeeze”—an acute...

The article “Of Bubbles and Dive Profiles - One Diver's Journey into Personalized Decompression” in InDEPTH Magazine describes the...

New recommendations for screening cardiac right-to-left shunts - especially for persistent foramen ovale (PFO) - in divers have recently...

In our diving school, we have recently discussed the topic of compressed air dives to depths of over 40 meters on several occasions. A...

An ideal time to get a medical check-up for diving. A Dutch study shows just how crucial health risk factors can be in connection with...

Diving places special demands on the body, particularly with regard to the pressure conditions in the body cavities. An appropriate...

Ever since I watched the movie “Diving into the Unknown” about the Plura cave disaster, one question has been on my mind: How can it...

Regular physical exercise is essential to meet the demands of diving. However, there is a rumor that doing sports is not compatible with...