Decompression happens when a diver descends at a lower pressure that the ambient. During the ascent from depth, the diver's body experiences 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. These are some of common questions that decompression divers may encounter.
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 can be used to plan a dive up to 35m. Otherwise, you'll need to calculate deco manually, if possible.
The minimum deco is half of the average depth and a slow ascent. This is why it's called minimum deco. It takes longer than a minute. Usually, you'll ascend 10ft/3m in 30 seconds, stopping and recovering for 30 seconds before repeating the process. Before you attempt to climb, it is a good idea to ensure that your body has fully decompressed. You can do this by making sure that there is enough air in your tank.
Planned dives
A computer-generated decompression plan can be a useful tool for divers. The computer generates deco plans according to divers' choice of decompression models and gases. 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 stop is a series of stops during an ascent in order to allow the body to expel nitrogen and helium. It is important to adjust the environment to the pressure. The length of the decompression stops depends on the profile of the diver and the maximum depth reached. If you want to go to the deepest depths, plan several decompression stops.
Decompression sickness: Standard treatment
The standard treatment for decompression illness is to breathe 100% oxygen through the mask, maintain blood pressure and administer fluids to prevent oxygen from being lost. 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. Nonetheless, the diver should receive emergency care and be kept warm until help arrives. The condition of the diver must be monitored closely. Any neurological signs should 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 many options to prevent these issues and minimize the risk of suffering from decompression. While diving, make sure you know what you're doing. The wrong equipment could cause you to get decompression sick. Avoid these common mistakes when diving.
It is important not to underestimate the time it takes to decompress. Recreational diving, NDLs (and depth limits) are mostly concerned about 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. Buhlmann ZH–L16 fixes nitrogen half-times at 2.65x more than helium. In addition, it adds a longer time for decompression if helium is higher than anticipated.