When a diver descends to lower pressure than the ambient, it is called decompression. During ascent from deep, the body of the diver undergoes decompression. This can be dangerous and should not be done if decompression diving has been done correctly. For more information, read about decompression diving and decompression sickness. Also read about decompression sickness penalties and standard treatment. Below are some questions that decompression divers might ask.
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. If you're planning a dive to 35m, you can use a V-planner to make sure you know how to use the settings. If not, you can calculate deco manually.
The minimum deco is half of the average depth and a slow ascent. Its name is misleading, as it takes far longer than a minute. The average time it takes to ascend 10ft/3m is 30 seconds. After that, you stop for 30 seconds and then recover 30 seconds before starting again. Before ascending, you may need to ensure your tank is fully empty. The best way to do that is to have sufficient air in the tank.
Planned diving
A computer-generated plan that allows for decompression diving is a great tool for divers. The computer generates deco lists according to the diver's choice of gases, decompression methods, and conservatism settings. With this software, divers can plan dives for a particular decompression time, CNS and OTU loadings, and gas requirements for each level of depth. Divers will be able to avoid the common mathematical errors that can occur when planning a diving trip manually by using the PC planner tool.
A decompression break is a series stop during ascent to allow the body's ability to expel helium and nitrogen. To adjust to the pressure of the surrounding environment, a lengthy decompression break is required. The maximum depth and profile of the diver will determine the length of the stop. Consider planning multiple decompression stops in order to get to the deepest depths.
Treatment for decompression sickness
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. 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.
Supplemental oxygen should be given to the diver in acute cases. Decompression sickness may be difficult to diagnose, since symptoms may not be immediately apparent. However, it is important that the diver receives emergency treatment and be kept warm until assistance arrives. Any neurological signs or symptoms should be checked out and the condition of the diver should be closely monitored. These symptoms could indicate an air embolism if they are not visible within a few minutes.
Penalties for decompression diving
Decompression diving penalties can lead to loss of consciousness or insufficient air supply to your lungs. There are many ways to avoid these complications and decrease the chance of getting decompression illness. Make sure you are familiar with what you are doing when you dive. The wrong equipment could cause you to get decompression sick. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when diving.
Underestimating the decompression time is the first mistake you should avoid. Recreational diving's NDLs or depth limits are more 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 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.