Is it advisable to ascend to altitude shortly after diving?

Ascending to altitude shortly after diving is generally inadvisable due to the risk of decompression sickness (DCS). After a dive, your body is saturated with nitrogen, which can form bubbles as pressure decreases when ascending to higher altitudes. The primary concern is that as you ascend, the external pressure decreases while the nitrogen dissolved in your tissues tries to come out of solution, potentially leading to painful and dangerous symptoms associated with DCS.

Thus, allowing adequate surface intervals before ascending to higher altitudes is crucial for safety. The safe practice is to wait until your body has had sufficient time to off-gas the excess nitrogen absorbed during the dive. This wait can vary depending on factors such as the depth and duration of your dive, as well as the type of diving activities performed.

Options that suggest ascending under certain conditions might imply a level of risk that goes against standard safety protocols in diving. Therefore, the best practice is to wait at least 24 hours after a dive before ascending to altitude to ensure the highest level of safety is maintained.