After making two dives, how long should a diver typically wait before flying home?

The recommended wait time before flying after diving is primarily to allow for the safe off-gassing of nitrogen absorbed by the body during the dives. Nitrogen builds up in the body while breathing compressed air underwater, and flying too soon can risk decompression sickness. While many divers consider flying at least 24 hours after diving to be a safe practice, diving computers can provide personalized waiting recommendations based on the diver’s profile, such as depth and duration of dives.

Choosing to wait 18 hours or until the dive computer indicates it is safe, aligns with the understanding that different dive profiles can result in varying levels of nitrogen saturation. A dive computer takes into account such individual factors and often employs algorithms to assess when it is safe to fly based on recent dive history. This individualized approach can be more effective than a one-size-fits-all time recommendation, making it the most prudent choice in this scenario for ensuring safety.

In contrast, other time limits tend not to consider the specific dive history or the potential variations in nitrogen loading among divers, which is why those options are generally considered less optimal.