Professional Diving
Common absolute contraindications to professional diving (not a complete list)
Psychological Problems
Panic attacksClaustrophobia
Psychotic episodes
Manic episodes
Lithium therapy
Bupropion 450 mg/d
Ocular Problems
Glaucoma filtering surgeryIntra-ocular gas postoperatively
Pulmonary Problems
Spontaneous pneumothorax (personal or family)
Asthma induced by cold or exercise
Significant airway sensivity
Significant scarring of the lungs following trauma or infection
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Emphesyma
Significant loss of pulmonary capacity
Smoking tobacco or other
Previous diving pulmonary barotrauma with sequelae
Previous arterial gas emboli with sequelae
Cardiovascular Problems
Stable angina
Significant myocardial damage following myocardial infarction
Prolonged QT syndrome
Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome
Excessive ventricular premature beats
Atrial fibrillation
Defibrillator
Pacemaker with unsustainable rhythm if failure
Significant valve stenosis
Changes in myocardial architecture
Patent foramen ovale with symptoms
Right to left shunts
Anticoagulant therapy
Neurological Problems
Loss of consciousness more than 5 minutesHistory of seizures in the past four years
Transient ischemic attacks (TIA)
Cerebro-vascular accident (CVA)
Neurodegenerative disorder
Head injury with sequelae
Neurological sequelae of decompression sickness
Narcolepsy with cataplexy
Pregnancy and Childbirth
Pregnancy is an absolute contraindication to divingVaginal delivery for the following 4-6 weeks
Cesarian delivery for the following 6-8 weeks
Medication
LithiumTricyclic anti-depressants
Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI)
Bupropion 450 mg/ d
Amphetamin / dextroamphetamine
Methylphenidate
Anticoagulants
Beta-blockers
Ace-inhibitors if cough
Tadalafil (Cialis)
Anti-histamines first generation
Pseudoephedrine
Mefloquine
Varenicline (Chantix)
Anti-emetics
Herbal agents w ephedrine, kava kava valerian st john's wort
Warning: this not a complete list of absolute contraindications to professional diving
