When should a hyperbaric chamber be on standby at a diving site?

• A. Only after an incident
• B. Never required
• C. For shallow recreational dives
• D. For operations with higher risk of decompression sickness; as per Dive Plan; ensure readiness.

Answer: (D)

Having a hyperbaric chamber on standby is a risk-management measure tied to the Dive Plan. If the plan identifies a higher risk of decompression sickness for the operation—due to dive depth, duration, repetitive profiles, altitude changes, or remote location—the chamber is kept ready so treatment can start immediately if DCS occurs. Quick access to definitive treatment saves critical time and improves outcomes, which is why standby is required for these higher-risk operations.

Waiting to react after an incident would delay care, and saying it’s never required ignores how risk varies with the dive profile and environment. While shallow recreational dives generally pose less risk, the Dive Plan dictates readiness based on the assessed risk, so having the chamber on standby when warranted is the prudent approach.