Hyperbaric chamber (recompression)

A hyperbaric chamber is a sealed metal tank that increases air pressure. It helps divers recover from decompression sickness or arterial gas embolisms. Doctors use these chambers to shrink nitrogen bubbles inside your body because high pressure forces the gas back into your blood. Most facilities in Thailand, like the one in Koh Tao, operate at pressures exceeding 2.8 ATA during treatment sessions. These sessions often last several hours.

You must know your nearest facility before you dive. I once saw a diver in Cebu scramble for a chamber because his local resort lacked one. Always check if your insurance covers the $3,000 to $5,000 cost of an emergency recompression session. Never delay treatment if you feel joint pain or neurological symptoms after a deep dive. Speed saves lives.