Medical Problems Associated with Underwater Diving

THE underwater environment, with its rapidly changing ambient pressures, presents pathophysiologic challenges that may lead to a variety of unusual diseases for which rapid diagnosis and treatment are critical. In the United States there are more than 5 million people certified as recreational scuba divers — that is, divers who use a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus. Given the popularity of scuba diving the world over and the number of diving accidents,1 every physician should be aware of the specific hazards and medical conditions encountered underwater.The barometric pressure at sea level is 100 kPa (the equivalent of 1 atmosphere absolute, . . .