When a diver descends to lower pressure than the ambient, it is called decompression. During ascent, the body of a diver is subject to decompression. This process can be dangerous but should be avoided if decompression diving done properly. You can read more about decompression diving or decompression syndrome. Learn more about decompression illness penalties and standard treatment. Below are some of the common questions that a decompression diver may have.
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. You can use a V planner if you want to do a dive below 35m. Otherwise, deco will have to be calculated manually if you are able.
A minimum deco is a slow ascent from half the average depth. Its name is misleading, as it takes far longer than a minute. Usually, you'll ascend 10ft/3m in 30 seconds, stopping and recovering for 30 seconds before repeating the process. It is important to be fully decompressed before you try to ascend. The best way is to make sure you have enough gas in the tank.
Planned diving
A computer-generated plan that allows for decompression diving is a great tool for divers. The computer generates deco plans according to divers' choice of decompression models and gases. This software allows divers to plan dives according to a specific decompression time, OTU and CNS loadings, as well as gas requirements at each depth. Divers can use the PC planning software to avoid common mistakes made when planning a dive manually.
A decompression stop is a series of stops during an ascent in order to allow the body to expel nitrogen and helium. To adjust to the environment's pressure, a long decompression stop will be necessary. 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 illness
Standard treatment for decompression sick involves inhaling 100% oxygen through an oxygen mask, maintaining blood pressure, administering fluids to stop oxygen loss, and keeping the blood pressure constant. A hyperbaric oxygen chamber is used to reverse blood pressure changes and turn nitrogen into liquid. The body can then clear the matter in a matter of hours. Avoid diving if you feel decompression sickness.
For acute cases, the diver should receive supplemental oxygen until assistance arrives. Sometimes, decompression sickness can be hard to diagnose because symptoms may not appear immediately. Nonetheless, the diver should receive emergency care and be kept warm until help arrives. The diver's condition should be carefully monitored and any neurological signs must be ruled out. These symptoms could indicate an air embolism if they are not visible within a few minutes.
Penalties for decompression diving
Penalties for decompression diving can result in the loss of consciousness and insufficient air supply to the lungs. There are several ways to avoid these problems and reduce your risk of developing decompression sickness. Make sure you are familiar with what you are doing when you dive. Decompression sickness can result from diving without the proper equipment. These are the most common diving mistakes.
Underestimating the decompression time is the first mistake you should avoid. Recreational diving, NDLs (and depth limits) are mostly concerned about fast tissues. Maximum ascent rates should allow for direct ascent to surface. No matter what tank you have, decompression diving requires complex calculations. Buhlmann ZH-16 algorithms fixes nitrogen at halftimes 2.65 times longer that helium's. If the helium fractions are higher than expected, it will add an increasing time to decompression.