How long after diving must you account for all dives when using the flying after diving repetitive sheet?

When using the flying after diving repetitive sheet, it's essential to account for all dives for at least 24 hours. This time frame is critical because it allows the body to off-gas nitrogen effectively after diving, reducing the risk of decompression sickness (DCS) when ascending to altitude.

After diving, nitrogen accumulates in the body tissues due to the increased pressure experienced underwater. When a diver ascends, they must allow sufficient time for this nitrogen to be eliminated safely. The 24-hour guideline provides a categorization of time that is recognized in several diving organizations to ensure divers make informed decisions about airborne travel following their dives.

While shorter timeframes such as 12 hours are sometimes mentioned for single non-repetitive dives, they do not adequately account for the cumulative effects of multiple dives and are not as universally applicable as the 24-hour rule. Other longer periods like 36 or 48 hours are more conservative, but they may be excessive for certain conditions, especially if specific dive profiles and safety stops have been adhered to properly. The 24-hour guideline strikes a balance between safety and practicality for divers planning aerial activities.