The process of decompression occurs when a diver descends to a lower pressure than the ambient one. During ascent from depth, the diver’s body is compressed. This process can be dangerous but should be avoided if decompression diving done properly. For more information, read about decompression diving and decompression sickness. Also read about decompression sickness penalties and standard treatment. These are some of common questions that decompression divers may encounter.
Deco dives
Before you start planning your deco dive, make sure to review the basics of your V-planner. That way, you can see how much deco is required to achieve the correct visibility and depth. To ensure you are familiar with the settings, if you plan to dive to 35m you can use a Vplanner. Otherwise, you'll need to calculate deco manually, if possible.
Minimum deco refers to a slow ascent at half the average depth. The name is misleading because it takes more 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. It is important to be fully decompressed before you try to ascend. You can do this by making sure that there is enough air in your tank.
Planned dives
A computer-generated plan that allows for decompression diving is a great 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. 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 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 illness
Decompression sickness is treated by inhaling 100% oxygen through a mask and maintaining blood pressure. Fluids are administered to prevent oxygen loss. 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 severe decompression sickness occurs, it is best to avoid diving until the symptoms resolve or a suitable alternative treatment has been found.
In severe cases, oxygen supplementation is administered to the diver. It should be maintained until help arrives. It is possible to diagnose decompression illness, but symptoms may not be apparent 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. These symptoms could indicate an air embolism if they are not visible within a few minutes.
Penalties for decompression diving
Penalties can be imposed for decompression diving. This could lead to consciousness loss and insufficient oxygen supply to the lungs. These consequences can be avoided and decompression illnesses reduced by using a variety of methods. Know what you are doing while diving. Decompression sickness can result from diving without the proper equipment. Here are a few common mistakes that you can avoid when diving.
The first mistake to avoid is to underestimate the decompression time. Recreational diving's NDLs or depth limits are more concerned with fast tissues. Maximum ascent rates allow direct ascent to the surface. Decompression diving is more complicated than any other tank. 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.