Diving And Decompression Sickness Treatment Practices Among Hawaii's Diving Fishermen

A survey was conducted of 24 diving fishermen who had collectively made over 250,000 dives, with each averaging over 500 dives per year. On an average day they made 5 to 8 dives ranging in depth from 140 to 350 feet. All divers interviewed had experienced at least one incident of decompression sickness (DCS), treated by immediate in-water recompression. Some divers reported DCS symptoms as often as one in three diving days. In-water recompression relieved or cured the disease in all but 65 incidents; follow-up treatment in a recompression chamber was sought 14 times. In the remaining incidents, the divers elected to endure the remaining pain until it disappeared, usually in a day or two. Refinements to in-water recompression on air have been recommended, including the use of the Australian in-water oxygen treatment, or the Hawaiian in-water recompression schedule using a combination of air and oxygen. Grant no. NA81AA-D-00070