The process of decompression occurs when a diver descends to a lower pressure than the ambient one. During the ascent from depth, the diver's body experiences decompression. If decompression diving is done correctly, this can cause serious injuries. Decompression diving and decompression illness are discussed in more detail. Read also about decompression-sickness penalties and standard treatments. Here are some common questions decompression divers may have.
Deco dives
Before you start planning your deco dive, make sure to review the basics of your V-planner. This will allow you to see the amount of deco required to reach the desired visibility and depth. You can use a V planner if you want to do a dive below 35m. If not, you can calculate deco manually.
Minimum deco refers to a slow ascent at half the average depth. This is why it's called minimum deco. It takes longer than a minute. In most cases, you will climb 10ft/3m in 30 second increments. Then, stop and rest for 30 seconds before continuing the process. Before ascending, you may need to ensure your tank is fully empty. To do this, ensure you have enough oxygen in your tank.
Planned divers
A computer-generated plan for decompression diving can be a valuable tool 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 create dive plans using this software. They can choose a decompression period, OTU and CNS loadings, and the gas requirements for each depth. Divers can save themselves from making silly mistakes when planning a dive by using the PC planning tool.
A decompression break is a series stop during ascent to allow the body's ability to expel helium and nitrogen. A long decompression stop is needed to adjust to the pressure of the environment. The depth attained and the profile of a diver determine the duration of decompression stops. Consider planning multiple decompression stops in order to get to the deepest depths.
Standard treatment for decompression sick
To prevent decompression sickness, a standard treatment is to inhale 100% oxygen through a mask. Intensive treatment consists of using a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to reverse the changes in blood pressure and drive nitrogen back into liquid form, which the body can clear over hours. If decompression sickness is severe, you should avoid diving until the symptoms subside.
In acute cases, supplemental oxygen is given to the diver and should be maintained until help arrives. Sometimes, decompression sickness can be hard to diagnose because symptoms may not appear immediately. However, it is important that the diver receives emergency treatment and be kept warm until assistance arrives. The diver's condition should be carefully monitored and any neurological signs must be ruled out. If symptoms don't appear after a few moments, it could indicate air embolism.
Penalties for decompression diving
Decompression diving penalties can lead to loss of consciousness or insufficient air supply to your lungs. There are many options to prevent these issues and minimize the risk of suffering from decompression. Know what you are doing while diving. Diving without the right equipment can lead to decompression sickness. Here are a few common mistakes that you can avoid when diving.
Avoiding the mistake of underestimating the decompression is the first. The NDLs and depth limits in recreational diving are mostly concerned with fast tissues. Maximum ascent rates are set to allow for the direct ascent from the surface. No matter what tank you have, decompression diving requires complex calculations. Buhlmann ZH-16 algorithm fixes nitrogen halftimes at 2.65x longer than helium's. It also adds an increasing amount of time for decompression when the helium fraction exceeds expectations.