Diving injuries and the Red Sea: when to go to hospital

The Red Sea is one of the most dived coastlines in the world. Most people go home with nothing worse than sore ears. Some do not.

Stop diving and get checked if, during or after a dive, you have any of these:

• Joint or limb pain that starts after surfacing.
• Numbness, tingling, weakness, or difficulty walking.
• Dizziness, confusion, or unusual tiredness.
• Shortness of breath or chest pain.
• A rash or mottled skin.
• Problems with vision, hearing, or speech.

These can appear hours later, sometimes once you are back at the hotel. Do not fly and do not dive again until you have been assessed.

Ear pain that will not clear, ringing or discharge is worth checking too. It is the most common reason divers on this coast see a doctor.

MedPark Health Hub in Hurghada and MedPark Hospital in El Quseir are open 24 hours with diagnostics on site. If you are unsure whether something is serious, call.