Scuba diving

[Was1]

Hi everyone, I'm very interested to find out about any people who scuba dive while taking Warfarin or if it is even possible.

[IanredUK]

Hi Was1, I am on Warfarin and requalified as a Padi open water diver 2 years ago.

For PADI and I suspect any other diving organisation you will need to have a medical certificate. This is obtained following a medical examination to syou general health. This medical states that I can only dive if it does NOT include decompression stops. (except the standard precautionary ones).

This is an e-mail I got from the London Diving Chamber which explains further.

Thanks for the email.

Diving with warfarin does pose some risks. Bleeding from any source will be exacerbated if the blood is thinner than normal. Possible bleeding sources include coral cuts, nosebleeds, ruptured blood vessels in the ear (due to forceful or unsuccessful equalising), bruising around the soft tissues of the eyes (as a consequence of mask squeeze), and, in the case of spinal decompression sickness, spinal cord blood vessels.

However I know plenty of divers who have dived perfectly happily on blood thinners (eg. warfarin), and aside from the bleeding hazard there don't seem to be any other issues to worry about. So provided you are cautious, careful to avoid over-exertion and forceful equalising, and keep depths and times conservative, then I don't think you need worry unduly.

Kind regards

Dr Oliver Firth MB BS BSc MRCGP

Hyperbaric Physician

Medical Director

London Diving Chamber

Hospital of St John & St Elizabeth

60 Grove End Road

St John's Wood

London NW8 9NH

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

londondivingchamber.co.uk

The contents of this e-mail are intended for the named addressee only. It contains information which may be confidential and which may also be privileged. Unless you are the named addressee (or authorised to receive for the addressee) you may not copy or use it, or disclose it to anyone else.

[moo196]

Hi,

Interesting question though for myself I wasn't thinking about the warfarin effects as much as the blood clot that persisits .....

I'll give it a miss for now - ...

K