Phuket Tourist Alert: How To Avoid The Dreaded DCI When Diving Phuket

decompression sickness, gold HOSTAL, is a serious but relatively rare condition for Phuket divers. However, this is not the case for tourists, and while tour operators in Phuket strongly emphasize safety, as a visitor to the island, there are a few things you should know about DCI:

ICD or related disease, chief information officer (Decompression sickness) occurs, on average, during 1 in 10,000 tourist dives. The symptoms of both are similar. Patients describe a dizzy feeling when getting out of the water and their complexion may turn red; they will feel weak in the knees and may experience a wild mood swing. Also, shortness of breath is common, as is loss of bladder control, and in extreme cases, extreme pain and then complete paralysis can occur.

Other warning signs include intense fatigue and coughing fits, but all of the above can be easily avoided by following these simple safety guidelines:

Always drink large amounts of water to avoid dehydration when diving in Phuket, as Thailand’s environment is one that quickly absorbs fluid from your body, even if you are submerged all day in wet stuff.

Always ascend slowly and use your dive computer just like you use your iPad or other high-tech device, carefully and all the time!

Do not dive beyond the no-decompression limits, no matter how tempting the coral or wreck. Ignoring these limits is the quickest way to become a disaster.

When doing multiple dives in a day, pay even more attention to the above safety instructions, as fatigue will always increase the chance of making mistakes.

And if you have symptoms of DCI or DCS, seek medical attention immediately and don’t wait for the above symptoms to just “go away.” In many cases, things will just get worse.

If you find yourself in a bad situation, the people at HST can help you. In cooperation with the Texas-based Underwater Safety Services International Recompression Chamber Network (SSIRCN), the Hyperbaric Services of Thailand (HST) has decompression facilities that can help you get back into your fins in no time.

The chambers (and there are at least 3 in the area) are depth rated to 50msw to provide mixed gas air recompression or hyperbaric oxygen for multiple patients at any one time.

Medical technicians can assist you on your visit to the chamber from outside the chamber, using the most modern equipment to date. All cameras are certified safe and come equipped with deluge fire systems.

And one last tourist tip about diving in Phuket: travel insurance may or may not cover any accidents during diving or DSI/DCI treatment. Check your policy before leaving home!

For more information on DSI or DCI treatment, and available facilities, please use the following contact information:

If in Koh Samui:
HST Koh Samui at 34/8 Moo 4 Bophut, Koh Samui, 84320 Surat Thani. Telephone: 0810 819555, Fax: 077 427377

If in Phuket:
HST Phuket Town at 44/1 Moo 5, Chalermprakiat Ror 9 Road, Vichit, Muang, 83000 Phuket. Telephone: +66 (0)810 819000, Fax +66 (0)76 612660