When a diver descends to lower pressure than the ambient, it is called decompression. The diver's body undergoes decompression during the ascent from depth. This can be dangerous, so it is important to do decompression dives correctly. Learn more about decompression and decompression sickness. Also read about decompression sickness penalties and standard treatment. Below are some questions that decompression divers might ask.
Deco dives
To plan a deco diving trip, it is important to first go through the basic program on your V-planner. That way, you can see how much deco is required to achieve the correct visibility and depth. A V-planner is useful if you're diving to 35m. Otherwise, it's best to calculate the deco manually.
A minimum deco represents a slow climb from half the average height. The name of the minimum deco is misleading as it takes much longer than one minute. The average time it takes to ascend 10ft/3m is 30 seconds. After that, you stop for 30 seconds and then recover 30 seconds before starting again. Before ascending, you may need to ensure your tank is fully empty. The best way to do that is to have sufficient air in the tank.
Planned divers
A computer-generated plan can be useful for divers. The computer will generate deco schedules for divers based on their chosen number and decompression model. It also allows them to adjust conservatism settings. Divers can use this software to plan dives that have a certain decompression time and OTU loadings. Using the PC planning tool, divers can avoid silly mathematical mistakes that are common when planning a dive manually.
A decompression break is a series stop during ascent to allow the body's ability to expel helium and nitrogen. To adjust to the pressure of the surrounding environment, a lengthy decompression break is required. The decompression stop length depends on the diver's profile and the depth to which the diver has reached. Consider planning multiple decompression stops in order to get to the deepest depths.
Decompression sickness: Standard treatment
To prevent decompression sickness, a standard treatment is to inhale 100% oxygen through a mask. To reverse blood pressure changes, and to turn nitrogen back into liquid form, intensive treatment is done. This can take several hours. If severe decompression sickness occurs, it is best to avoid diving until the symptoms resolve or a suitable alternative treatment has been found.
In acute cases, supplemental oxygen is given to the diver and should be maintained until help arrives. Decompression sickness may be difficult to diagnose, since symptoms may not be immediately apparent. However, it is important that the diver receives emergency treatment and be kept warm until assistance arrives. You should monitor your diver's condition closely and rule out any neurological signs. These symptoms could indicate an air embolism if they are not visible within a few minutes.
Penalties for decompression diving
Decompression diving may result in loss of consciousness and inadequate air supply to the lung. Fortunately, there are many methods to avoid these consequences and to reduce the risk of decompression illness. Make sure you are familiar with what you are doing when you dive. Diving without the right equipment can lead to decompression sickness. Here are a few common mistakes that you can avoid when diving.
It is important not to underestimate the time it takes to decompress. The NDLs and depth limits in recreational diving are mostly concerned with fast tissues. Maximum ascent rates are designed to allow the direct ascent to the surface. It doesn't matter what type of tank it is, decompression diving involves more complex calculations. The Buhlmann ZH-L16 algorithm fixes nitrogen halftimes at 2.65 times longer than helium's, and it adds an increasing time for decompression if the helium fraction is higher than expected.