BSAC Diving Information - Pregnancy & Diving
Scientific studies examining the safety of diving in pregnancy are limited. However, to perform a study which would determine the safety with any certainty would require a prospective randomised trial of large proportions if it were to have adequate statistical power. This would be both impractical, and more importantly, unethical.
The BSAC therefore recognises that the only way a pregnant woman, or one who might be pregnant, can avoid any potential risk is to refrain from diving.
We recognise that some women may be unwilling to follow that advice. In these cases, the woman is advised to remain at depths as shallow as possible (20m maximum) and to remain well inside 'no stop' times. This advice is given for two reasons. Firstly, there is anecdotal evidence that decompression sickness (and its treatment in a recompression chamber) my be harmful for the foetus. It should be recognised that even shallow water diving can result in lung damage (pulmonary barotrauma and gas embolism) which might require recompression treatment. Secondly, there is some evidence, albeit poor, from small retrospective trials which suggest that dives to depths greater than 30m may be associated with foetal abnormalities.
Women who have dived when pregnant but prior to becoming aware of their pregnancy may seek advice about the risk of foetal abnormality. The scientific evidence in these cases is not clear-cut. Ultrasound studies and other investigations may be useful, either to allay the fears of the mother, or to help her and her medical advisers decide how the pregnancy should be managed. However, there is no clear evidence that diving, particularly in shallow depths, increases the risk of foetal abnormality.
(BSAC Medical Committee - April 1991)
The BSAC therefore recognises that the only way a pregnant woman, or one who might be pregnant, can avoid any potential risk is to refrain from diving.
We recognise that some women may be unwilling to follow that advice. In these cases, the woman is advised to remain at depths as shallow as possible (20m maximum) and to remain well inside 'no stop' times. This advice is given for two reasons. Firstly, there is anecdotal evidence that decompression sickness (and its treatment in a recompression chamber) my be harmful for the foetus. It should be recognised that even shallow water diving can result in lung damage (pulmonary barotrauma and gas embolism) which might require recompression treatment. Secondly, there is some evidence, albeit poor, from small retrospective trials which suggest that dives to depths greater than 30m may be associated with foetal abnormalities.
Women who have dived when pregnant but prior to becoming aware of their pregnancy may seek advice about the risk of foetal abnormality. The scientific evidence in these cases is not clear-cut. Ultrasound studies and other investigations may be useful, either to allay the fears of the mother, or to help her and her medical advisers decide how the pregnancy should be managed. However, there is no clear evidence that diving, particularly in shallow depths, increases the risk of foetal abnormality.
(BSAC Medical Committee - April 1991)
Page last modified: 2nd Nov 2006 - 09:57:26