× Scuba Classes
Terms of use Privacy Policy

101: Compression Diving



diving gears

A diver's body experiences decompression when it descends to a pressure lower than the ambient. During the ascent from depth, the diver's body experiences decompression. This can be dangerous, so it is important to do decompression dives correctly. Learn more about decompression and decompression sickness. Learn more about decompression illness penalties and standard treatment. These are some of the most common questions a decompression diver might have.

Deco dives

To plan a deco diving trip, it is important to first go through the basic program on your V-planner. By doing so, you'll be able see how much is necessary to achieve the correct visibility. You can use a V planner if you want to do a dive below 35m. If not, you can calculate deco manually.

A minimum deco represents a slow climb from half the average height. 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. It is important to be fully decompressed before you try to ascend. It is important to ensure that you have enough air in the tank.


scuba diving in goa

Planned dives

A computer-generated plan for decompression diving can be a valuable tool for divers. The computer generates deco schedules according to a diver's chosen number of gases, decompression models, and conservatism settings. The software can be used to plan dives for specific decompression times, OTU loadings and gas requirements for each level. The PC planning tool allows divers to avoid making the same mistakes as when manually planning a dive.


A decompression break is a series stop during ascent to allow the body's ability to expel helium and nitrogen. It is necessary to adjust to pressure in the environment. The depth attained and the profile of a diver determine the duration of decompression stops. If you want to go to the deepest depths, plan several decompression stops.

Standard treatment for decompression sick

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. 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 the decompression sickness is severe, diving should be avoided until the symptoms subside or a suitable alternative treatment has been identified.

In severe cases, oxygen supplementation is administered to the diver. It should be maintained until help arrives. Because symptoms of decompression sickness are not always obvious, it may be difficult for a diver to diagnose. However, emergency care should be given to the diver and they should be kept warm until help arrives. You should monitor your diver's condition closely and rule out any neurological signs. They could be signs of an air embolism, if symptoms do not appear within a few seconds.


scuba diving suit

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 ways to avoid these complications and decrease the chance of getting decompression illness. You should always be able to recognize what you're doing when you dive. The wrong equipment could cause you to get decompression sick. Here are some common mistakes to 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. Regardless of the type of tank, decompression diving requires more complex calculations. The Buhlmann ZH-16 algorithm fixes nitrogen for 2.65 times longer as helium. Additionally, it increases the time required to decompress helium if it is higher than expected.



 



101: Compression Diving