Health-related adverse events and associated factors in recreational divers with different certification levels.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of research on diving-related health issues and associated factors. This study aimed to examine the health problems encountered during diving and to ascertain the factors associated with adverse events.

METHODS: The sample of this descriptive study consisted of 132 recreational divers from diving schools in Ankara. The researchers collected the data using a questionnaire developed according to the relevant literature.

RESULTS: Diving-related health issues including barotraumas, nitrogen narcosis, and decompression sickness were mostly dependent on depth. The divers with higher certification levels witnessed diving-related adverse events more frequently and a significant increase in health problems with greater depth attained (p < 0.05). More experienced divers with longer duration of diving (p < 0.05) and greater number of dives reported more health problems associated with diving between 41 and 65 m. Adverse events did not differ according to diving-related educational features (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The finding implies the importance of adherence to the depth limit of 40 m for recreational divers, being a slow ascend diver, and utilization of a buddy system in order to prevent diving-related adverse events. A data recording system related to diving and regulations particularly for tourist divers in the countries attracting tourists is required.