What action must a patient take before returning to diving after experiencing an AGE or Type 2?

For a patient who has experienced an Arterial Gas Embolism (AGE) or Type 2 decompression sickness, it is crucial to ensure their safety before returning to diving activities. Being cleared by a diving medical officer (DMO) is essential because the DMO is specifically trained to evaluate a diver's fitness to dive after such significant medical incidents.

The DMO will assess the patient's condition holistically, considering both the specific circumstances surrounding the incident and any residual effects that could impact diving safety. This thorough evaluation includes a review of medical history, physical examination, and potentially further tests to ensure that the body's gas exchange mechanisms and cardiovascular systems are back to a functional state that allows for safe diving.

Other choices might involve necessary considerations, such as waiting a certain period or undergoing a general medical examination, but they do not replace the specialized assessment that the DMO provides in the context of diving medicine. The emphasis on being cleared by a DMO reflects the unique risks of diving and the critical importance of specialized knowledge in ensuring the diver can safely return to the water.