Objective:To provide a reference for diving medical doctors on the diagnosis and differentiation of the patients with discomfort symptoms after recreational diving, by analyzing those patients′ clinical data and summarizing the features of clinical symptoms, the first diagnosis and consultation at the clinical visit.Methods:The clinical data of 102 outpatients and inpatients with discomfort after recreational diving admitted in and visited the Department of Hyperbaric Oxygen of the Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from October 2011 to October 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The age, gender and other demographical data of the patients, as well as the diving history, the first diagnosis, the first consulted department, the department that made confirmed diagnosis, and the number of departments that the patients were transferred, were analyzed.Results:Among the 102 patients included in the study, the age of 30-44 years old accounted for the highest proportion (49.0%), dizziness and headache were the most common symptoms (34.3%) among all discomfort symptoms, and the clinical symptoms mainly involved head, heart, lung, and digestive system. The symptoms of digestive system and the vegetative nervous system were more commonly seen in women than those in men. The diving depths which was less than 10 meters accounted for 84.3%. The majority of patients experienced multiple dives within 24 hours (42.2%). The patients who had the discomfort symptoms after arriving at surface accounted for 69.6%. The proportion of decompression sickness in the diagnosis only accounted for 16.7%. The emergency department was the most-visited department (51.9%) within all the first consulted departments. The average number of departments in which the patients were transferred between the first consulted department and the department that made confirmed diagnosis was 2.2±1.7. Multiple dives, diving depth, suspected history of improper decompression, and the time of symptoms appearing were all significantly correlated with the diagnosis of decompression sickness ( P<0.05). Age, sex, the frequency of previous exercise, stress or panic during the diving were significantly correlated with the diagnosis of non-decompression sickness ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Regarding the diagnosis of the patients with discomfort symptoms after recreational diving, diagnosis other than decompression sickness should be considered.