Travel Health Guide · Watersport Injuries
Diving Accident in Cabo: Decompression Care and Emergency Transport
Scuba diving in Cabo is world-class, and so is the rare but serious risk of decompression illness (“the bends”) or barotrauma. Here is what divers and dive buddies should know about getting fast, appropriate medical care if something goes wrong.
Signs of decompression illness
Joint pain (especially shoulders, elbows, knees), unusual fatigue after a dive, skin rash, dizziness, tingling or weakness, shortness of breath, confusion. Symptoms can start during ascent, immediately after surfacing, or hours later — sometimes up to 24 hours post-dive.
First steps at the surface
- Get the diver out of the water and lying flat on their back (or recovery position if vomiting).
- Give high-flow oxygen if available.
- Do not let the diver fly or ascend to altitude (which includes driving over mountain passes).
- Call our 24/7 line. We coordinate with the diver alert network (DAN), arrange transport, and route to the nearest hyperbaric facility.
Where the hyperbaric chamber is
Hyperbaric (recompression) chambers in Mexico are not as common as in Florida or the Caribbean. The nearest fully staffed chambers from Los Cabos may require ground or air transport. We help coordinate. Many cases are treated definitively at the partner hospital with oxygen therapy and supportive care, then transported to a chamber if indicated by the dive medicine consultant.
DAN — Divers Alert Network
Every certified diver should have DAN membership ($35/year). DAN provides 24/7 dive medical consultation, evacuation coordination and insurance specifically for diving emergencies. Their hotline: +1-919-684-9111. We work with DAN routinely.
Aftermath: flight restrictions
After decompression illness treatment, divers typically cannot fly for 24–72 hours minimum. The dive medicine consultant determines when flight is safe. Repatriation home is fine after clearance — sometimes via medical escort flight, occasionally air ambulance.
One call covers everything in Cabo.
Our 24/7 bilingual team answers, triages, and dispatches — ground ambulance, hospital escalation, or air ambulance home.
FAQ
Should I always go to a chamber?
Not necessarily. Mild cases respond to oxygen and supportive care. The dive medicine consultant (often via DAN) makes the call.
What does DAN cost?
$35–$100/year depending on coverage tier. Highly recommended for all certified divers.
Can I fly home immediately after a near-miss?
No flying for at least 24 hours after a dive incident — longer if treatment occurred. Flight clearance from dive medicine.
What if the dive shop dismisses my symptoms?
Trust your body. Call us directly. We have an English-speaking physician you can talk to.
Important medical note: This article is general information for travelers and is not medical advice. For an immediate life-threatening emergency in Mexico, call 911 first. For coordination of urgent care, hospital escalation, ground or air ambulance, or medical repatriation home to the USA or Canada, call our 24/7 bilingual line. Cabo Walk-In Clinic is COFEPRIS-licensed in Mexico; hospital and specialist care is delivered by an independent licensed hospital and its physicians. Travel-insurance reimbursement depends on your policy and your insurer’s review.