House also said the cause was a combination of flying too soon and
surfacing too rapidly.  Argh.

The main risk with flying while still residual is getting bent.  Ever
check your dive computer when you fly within 24 hours of diving?  Some
will tell you that you are clean on the ground, but will indicate that
you are residual once in the air.

I thought the appearance of symptoms in the other passengers was a bit
- overdone.  I used to like this show.

*

I think he said something to the effect of skimming the waves - sealevel.

SO - the plane was at altittude, the cabin pressure was at say 8,000.
Then, if the plane decended to sealevel, or anything BELOW 8,000 and equalized,
the cabin pressure would be at that actual localized pressure..

What would be the effect of going from 8,000 down to say 3,000 ??
as far as the bends ??

Eddie,

     I personally spoke to a diver who developed a serious DCS case
(the bends) while flying between Thailand and Japan after several days
of diving.

    The person did not follow the guidelines for air travel after
diving.  He developed pain in his limbs and joints, but no vomiting.

    The aircraft - a commercial airliner - had to divert and make an
unscheduled landing so he could be transported to a location with a
chamber.  He eventually recovered.  His vacation, however, was a bust
and his DCS case so severe that physicians back in the US have still
not medically cleared him for diving.

    It is possible to develop an arterial gas embolism (AGE) in
flight caused by bubble formation related to diving when not following
the diver travel guidelines.  I would surmise, though, that given the
mechanism for an AGE to occur, DCS (the beds ) would be a far more
common occurrence.

Regards,

Greg