What should be done if a diver surfaces and is still symptomatic?

When a diver surfaces and continues to exhibit symptoms of decompression sickness or any diving-related condition, immediate action is crucial. Transporting the diver to a recompression chamber is the most appropriate response because these chambers provide controlled environments that can safely facilitate the recompression process. This treatment is essential for reducing bubble formation in the body and assisting in the safe elimination of nitrogen or other inert gases that may have accumulated during the dive.

Using a recompression chamber allows for the application of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which significantly aids in the treatment of decompression illness. This method addresses not only the symptoms but also the underlying physiological issues caused by the diver's ascent. Monitoring the diver's condition while administering oxygen in the chamber maximizes their chances of recovery.

Other options, such as waiting to see if symptoms subside, can risk the diver's health by delaying critical treatment. Administering oxygen and monitoring without transporting to a chamber, while beneficial, does not address the need for recompression. Returning the diver to depth for treatment is not safe and is not a standard practice in managing diving-related symptoms. Therefore, transporting the diver to a recompression chamber is the most effective and safest course of action when symptoms persist after surfacing.