Decompression (diving)

Decompression (diving)
Divers decompressing in the water at the end of a dive

Decompression in the context of diving derives from the reduction in ambient pressure experienced by the diver during the ascent at the end of a dive or hyperbaric exposure and refers to both the reduction in pressure and the process of allowing dissolved inert gases to be eliminated from the tissues during decompression. These gases can form bubbles in the tissues of the diver if the concentration gets too high and the bubbles can cause damage to tissues known as decompression sickness or the bends. The immediate goal of planned decompression is to avoid presentation of symptoms of bubble formation in the tissues of the diver and the long term goal is to also avoid complications due to sub-clinical decompression injury.

The symptoms of decompression sickness are known to be caused by damage resulting from the formation and growth of bubbles of inert gas within the tissues and by blockage of arterial blood supply to tissues by gas bubbles and other emboli consequential to bubble damage.

The precise mechanisms of bubble formation and the damage they cause has been the subject of medical research for a considerable time and several hypotheses have been advanced and tested. Tables and algorithms for predicting the outcome of hyperbaric exposures have been proposed, tested and used, and usually found to be of some use but not entirely reliable. Decompression remains a procedure with some risk, but this has been reduced and is generally considered to be acceptable for dives within the well tested range of recreational diving.

Divers breathing gas at high pressure may need to do decompression stops. A diver who breathes gas at atmospheric pressure such as in free-diving, snorkeling or when using an atmospheric diving suit does not usually need to do decompression stops. However, it is possible to get taravana from repetitive deep free-diving with short surface intervals.[1]

During a decompression stop, the venous microbubbles present after most dives leave the diver's body safely through the lungs. If they are not given enough time to leave safely or more bubbles are created than can be eliminated naturally, the bubbles grow in size and number causing the symptoms and injuries of decompression sickness.[2]

When diving with nitrogen-based breathing gases, decompression stops are typically carried out in the 3 to 20 metres (10 to 70 ft) depth range. With helium-based breathing gases the stop depths may be between 20 and 40 metres (70 and 130 ft).

The length of "surface interval" between dives is also very important for decompression. It typically takes from 16 to 24 hours for the body to return to its normal atmospheric levels of inert gas saturation after a dive. The surface interval can be thought of as the last decompression stop of a dive.[3]


Physics and physiology of decompression

Decompression involves a complex interaction of gas solubility, partial pressures and concentration gradients, bulk transport and bubble mechanics in living tissues. Some of the factors influencing inert gas uptake and elimination in living tissues are:


Solubility is the property of a gas, liquid or solid substance (the solute) to be held homogeneously dispersed as molecules or ions in a liquid or solid medium (the solvent).

In decompression theory the solubility of gases in liquids is of primary importance.

Solubility of gases in liquids is influenced by three main factors:

  • The nature of the solvent liquid and the solute gas
  • Temperature (gases are less soluble in water at higher temperatures, but may be more soluble in organic solvents)
  • Pressure (solubility of a gas in a liquid is proportional to the partial pressure of the gas on the liquid - Henry's Law)
  • Presence of other solutes in the solvent


Diffusion is the movement of molecules or ions in a medium when there is no gross mass flow of the medium. Diffusion can occur in gases, liquids or solids, or any combination.

Diffusion is driven by the kinetic energy of the diffusing molecules - it is faster in gases and slower in solids when compared with liquids due to the variation in distance between collisions and diffusion is faster when the temperature is higher as the average energy of the molecules is greater. Diffusion is also faster in smaller, lighter molecules of which helium is the extreme example.

In decompression theory the diffusion of gases, particularly when dissolved in liquids, is of primary importance.

Partial pressure gradient

Also known as concentration gradient, this can be used as a model for the driving mechanism of diffusion. The partial pressure gradient is the variation of partial pressure (or more accurately, the concentration) of the solute (dissolved gas) from one point to another in the solvent. The solute molecules will randomly collide with the other molecules present, and tend over time to spread out until the distribution is statistically uniform. This has the effect that molecules will diffuse from regions of higher concentration (partial pressure) to regions of lower concentration, and the rate of diffusion is proportional to the rate of change of the concentration. Molecules of solute will also tend to aggregate in areas of greater solubility in a non-homogenous solvent medium.

Inert gas uptake

In this context, inert gas refers to a gas which is not metabolically active. Atmospheric nitrogen (N2) is the most common example. Helium (He) is the other inert gas commonly used in breathing mixtures for divers. Atmospheric nitrogen has a partial pressure of approximately 0.78bar. Air in the alveoli is diluted by saturated water vapour (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2), given off by the blood as a metabolic product and contains less oxygen (O2) as some of it is taken up by the blood for metabolic use and the resulting partial pressure of nitrogen is about 0,758bar [4] At atmospheric pressure the body tissues are therefore normally saturated with nitrogen at 0.758bar (569mmHg). At depth a diver’s lungs are filled with breathing gas at increased pressure. The inert gases from the breathing gas in the lungs diffuses into blood in the alveolar capillaries ("moves down the pressure gradient") and is distributed around the body by the systemic circulation.

For example: At 10 meters sea water (msw) the partial pressure of nitrogen in air will be 1.58bar.


Perfusion is the mass flow of blood through the tissues. Dissolved materials are transported in the blood much faster than they would be distributed by diffusion alone (order of minutes compared to hours). The dissolved gas in the alveolar blood is transported to the body tissues by the blood circulation. There it diffuses through the cell walls into the tissues, where it will eventually reach equilibrium. The better the blood supply to a tissue the faster it will become saturated with gas at the new partial pressure.

Saturation and supersaturation

If the supply of gas to a solvent is unlimited, the gas will diffuse into the solvent until there is so much dissolved that the amount diffusing back out is equal to the amount diffusing in. This is called saturation. If the external partial pressure of the gas (in the lungs) is then reduced, more gas will diffuse out than in. This is a condition known as supersaturation. The gas will not necessarily form bubbles in the solvent at this stage.

Tissue compartments

Buhlmann ZH16a Nitrogen compartment half times.png

Most decompression models work with slow and fast tissue compartments. These are imaginary tissues which are designated as fast and slow to describe the rate of saturation. Real tissues will also take more or less time to saturate, but the models do not need to use actual tissue values to produce a useful result. Models with from one to 16 tissue compartments with half times from 4 minutes to 635 minutes or more have been used to generate decompression tables.[5]

For example: Tissues with a high lipid content take up a larger amount of nitrogen, but often have a poor blood supply. These will take longer to reach equilibrium, and are described as slow, than tissues with a good blood supply and less capacity for dissolved gas, which are described as fast.

Tissue half times

File:Tissue half times.png
Graph of tissue saturation over time

Half time of a tissue is the time it takes for the tissue to become 50% saturated at a new partial pressure. For each consecutive half time the tissue will become half again saturated in the sequence ½, ¾, 7/8, 15/16 etc. A 5 minute tissue will be 50% saturated in 5 minutes, 75% in 10 minutes, 87.5% in 15 minutes and for practical purposes, saturated in about 30 minutes (6 half times =>63/64 saturated) Tissue compartment half times range from 5 minutes to about 750 minutes in current decompression models

Saturated tissues

Gas remains in the tissue in dissolved form until the partial pressure of that gas in the lungs is reduced. A lower partial pressure in the lungs will result in more gas diffusing out into the lungs and less into the blood. As the pressure reduces, the diffusion will reach a state where more gas diffuses into the lungs than into the blood.

Inherent unsaturation

There is a metabolic reduction of total gas pressure in the tissues[6]

The sum of partial pressures of the air that the diver breathes must necessarily balance with the sum of partial pressures in the lung gas. In the alvoeli the gas has been humidified by a partial pressure of approximately 63mbar (47mmHg) and has also gained about 55mbar (41mmHg) carbon dioxide from the venous blood. Oxygen has also diffused into the arterial blood, reducing the partial pressure of oxygen in the alveoli by about 67mbar(50mmHg) As the total pressure in the alveoli must balance with the ambient pressure, this dilution results in an effective partial pressure of nitrogen of about 758mb (569mmHg) (surface values).

At a steady state, when the tissues have been saturated by the inert gases of the breathing mixture, metabolic processes reduce the partial pressure of the less soluble oxygen and replace it with carbon dioxide, which is considerably more soluble in water. In the cells of a typical tissue, the partial pressure of oxygen will drop to around 13mbar (10mmHg), while the partial pressure of carbon dioxide will be about 65mbar (49mmHg). The sum of these partial pressures (water, oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen) comes to roughly 900mbar (675mmHg), which is some 113mbar (85mmHg) less than the total pressure of the respiratory gas. This is a significant saturation deficit, and it provides a buffer against supersaturation and a driving force for dissolving bubbles.[6]

This saturation deficit is also referred to as the "Oxygen window".[7]

Supersaturated tissues

When the gas in a tissue is at a concentration where more diffuses out then in it is called supersaturated and starts degassing: dissolved gas diffuses into the bloodstream and out of the system via the lungs. If the ambient pressure is too low, bubbles may form in the tissues.


For optimised decompression the driving force for tissue desaturation should be kept at a maximum, provided that this does not cause symptomatic tissue injury due to bubble formation and growth (symptomatic decompression sickness).

There are two fundamentally different ways this has been approached. The first is based on an assumption that there is a level of supersaturation which does not produce symptomatic bubble formation and is based on empirical observations of the maximum decompression which does not result in an unacceptable rate of symptoms. This approach seeks to maximise the concentration gradient providing there are no symptoms. The second assumes that bubbles will form at any level of supersaturation where the total gas tension in the tissue is greater than the ambient pressure and that bubbles are eliminated more slowly than dissolved gas.

The critical supersaturation approach

Critical ratio model

J.S. Haldane originally used a pressure ratio of 2 to 1 for decompression on the principle that the saturation of the body should at no time be allowed to exceed about double the air pressure.[8] This principle was applied as a pressure ratio of total ambient pressure and did not take into account the partial pressures of the component gases of the breathing air. His experimental work on goats and observations of human divers appeared to support this assumption. However, in time, this was found to be inconsistent with incidence of decompression sickness and changes were made to the initial assumptions. This was later changed to a 1.58:1 ratio of nitrogen partial pressures.

Critical difference models

Further research by people such as Robert Workman suggested that the criteria was not the ratio of pressures, but the actual pressure differentials. Applied to Haldane's work, this would suggest that the limit is not determined by the 1.58:1 ratio but rather by the difference of 0.58 atmospheres between tissue pressure and ambient pressure. Most tables today, including the Buhlmann tables, are based on the critical difference model.[9]


At a given ambient pressure, the M-value is the maximum value of absolute inert gas pressure that a tissue compartment can take without presenting symptoms of decompression sickness. M-values are limits for the tolerated gradient between inert gas pressure and ambient pressure in each compartment. Alternative terminology for M-values include "supersaturation limits", "limits for tolerated overpressure", and "critical tensions".[10][11]

The no-supersaturation approach

According to the thermodynamic model of LeMessurier and Hills,[12] this condition of optimum driving force for outgassing is satisfied when the hydrostatic pressure is just sufficient to prevent phase separation (bubble formation).

The fundamental difference of this approach is equating absolute ambient pressure with the total of the partial gas tensions in the tissue for each gas after decompression as the limiting point beyond which bubble formation is expected.

The model assumes that the natural unsaturation in the tissues due to metabolic reduction in oxygen partial pressure provides the buffer against bubble formation, and that the tissue may be safely decompressed provided that the reduction in ambient pressure does not exceed this unsaturation value. Clearly any method which increases the unsaturation would allow faster decompression, as the concentration gradient would be greater without risk of bubble formation.

The natural unsaturation increases with depth, so a larger ambient pressure differential is possible at greater depth, and reduces as the diver surfaces. This model leads to slower ascent rates and deeper first stops, but shorter shallow stops, as there is less (none?) bubble phase gas to be eliminated.

Bubble formation and growth

Bubble mechanics

Equilibrium of forces on the surface is required for a bubble to exist. These are:

  • Ambient pressure, exerted on the outside of the surface, acting inwards
  • Pressure due to tissue distortion, also on the outside and acting inwards
  • Surface tension of the liquid at the interface between the bubble and the surroundings. This is along the surface of the bubble, so the resultant acts towards the centre of curvature. This will tend to squeeze the bubble, and is more severe for small bubbles as it is an inverse function of the radius.
  • The resulting forces must be balanced by the pressure on the inside of the bubble. This is the sum of the partial pressures of the gases inside due to the net diffusion of gas to and from the bubble.

If the solvent outside the bubble is saturated or unsaturated, the partial pressure will be less than in the bubble, and the surface tension will be squeezing the gas out of the bubble, and the smaller the bubble the faster it will get squeezed out. A gas bubble can only grow at constant pressure if the surrounding solvent is sufficiently supersaturated to overcome the surface tension.

Bubbles that are sufficiently small will collapse due to surface tension if the supersaturation is low.

Bubble nucleation

Bubble formation occurs in the blood or other tissues, possibly in crevices in macromolecules.[13]

A solvent can carry a supersaturated load of gas in solution. Whether it will come out of solution in the bulk of the solvent will depend on a number of factors. Something which reduces surface tension, or adsorbs gas molecules, or locally reduces solubility of the gas or causes a local reduction in static pressure in a fluid may result in a bubble nucleation or growth. This may include velocity changes and turbulence in fluids and local tensile loads in solids and semi-solids. Lipids and other hydrophobic surfaces may reduce surface tension (blood vessel walls may have this effect) Dehydration may reduce gas solubility in a tissue due to higher concentration of other solutes, and less solvent to hold the gas.

Bubble growth

Once a micro bubble forms it may continue to grow if the tissues are still supersaturated. As the bubble grows it may distort the surrounding tissue and cause damage to cells and pressure on nerves resulting in pain.

If a bubble or an object exists which collects gas molecules this may reach a size where the internal pressure exceeds the combined surface tension and external pressure and the bubble will grow.

If the solvent is sufficiently supersaturated, the diffusion of gas into the bubble will exceed the rate at which it diffuses back into solution. If this excess pressure is greater than the pressure due to surface tension the bubble will grow. When a bubble grows, the surface tension decreases, and the interior pressure drops, allowing gas to diffuse in faster, and diffuse out slower, so the bubble grows or shrinks in a positive feedback situation. The growth rate is reduced as the bubble grows by the fact that the surface area increases as the square of the radius, while the volume increases as the cube of the radius.

If the external pressure is reduced (due to reduced hydrostatic pressure during ascent, for example) the bubble will also grow.

Silent bubbles

Decompression bubbles appear to form mostly in the capillaries where the gas concentration is highest, often those feeding the veins draining the active limbs. They do not generally form in the arteries, as arterial blood has recently had the opportunity to release excess gas into the lungs. Bubbles which are carried back to the heart in the veins will normally find their way to the right side of the heart, and from there they will normally enter the pulmonary circulation and eventually pass through or be trapped in the capillaries of the lungs, which are around the alveoli and very near to the respiratory gas, where they will diffuse from the bubbles though the capillary and alveolar walls into the gas in the lung. The bubbles which are small enough to pass through the lung capillaries are generally small enough to be dissolved again due to a combination of surface tension and diffusion to a lowered concentration in the surrounding blood.

If the number of lung capillaries blocked by these bubbles is relatively small, the diver will not display symptoms, and no tissue will be damaged (lung tissues are adequately oxygenated by diffusion).

Bubbles which cause no noticeable effects are known as silent bubbles.

Decompression illness and injuries

Problems due to vascular decompression bubbles



Extravascular bubbles

Bubbles form within other tissues as well as the blood vessels. Nitrogen can diffuse into bubble nuclei between tissues. In this case, the bubbles can distort and permanently damage the tissue. As they grow, the bubbles may also compress nerves as they grow causing pain.

Extravascular bubbles usually form in slow tissues such as joints, tendons and muscle sheaths. Direct expansion causes tissue damage, with the release of histamines and their associated affects.[citation needed]

Planning and monitoring decompression

Decompression models

A fundamental problem in the design of decompression tables is that the rules that govern a single dive and ascent do not apply when some tissue bubbles already exist, as these will delay inert gas elimination and equivalent decompression may result in decompression sickness.[15]

A solution was the development of multi-tissue models, which assumed that different parts of the body absorbed gas at different rates. Each tissue, or compartment, has a different half-life. Fast tissues absorb gas relatively quickly, but will release it quickly during ascent. A fast tissue may become saturated in the course of a normal sports dive, while a slow tissue may hardly have absorbed any gas. By calculating the levels in each compartment separately, researchers are able to construct better tables. In addition, each compartment may be able to tolerate more or less supersaturation than others. The final form is a complicated model, but one that allows for the construction of tables suited to a wide variety of diving. A typical dive computer has a 8-12 tissue model, with half times varying from 5 minutes to 400 minutes. The Bühlmann tables have 16 tissues, with half times varying from 4 minutes to 640 minutes.

Validation of models

It is important that any theory be validated by carefully controlled testing procedures. As testing procedures and equipment become more sophisticated, researchers learn more about the effects of decompression on the body. Initial research focused on producing dives that were free of recognizable symptoms decompression illness (DCI). With the later use of Doppler ultrasound testing, it was realized that bubbles were forming within the body even on dives where no DCI signs or symptoms were encountered. This phenomenon has become known as "silent bubbles". The US Navy tables were based on limits determined by external DCS signs and symptoms. Later researchers were able to improve on this work by adjusting the limitations based on Doppler testing.

Since the testing procedures are lengthy and costly, it is common practice for researchers to make initial validations of new models based on experimental results from earlier trials. This has some implications when comparing models.

Residual inert gas

Gas bubble formation has been experimentally shown to significantly inhibit inert gas elimination.[4][16]

The ideal decompression profile creates the greatest possible gradient for inert gas elimination from a tissue without causing bubbles to form.[17]

Repetitive diving, multiples ascents within a single dive, and surface decompression procedures are significant risk factors for DCS.[17]

A considerable amount of inert gas will remain dissolved in the tissues after a diver has surfaced. This residual gas will continue to outgas while the diver remains at the surface. If a repetitive dive is made, the tissues are preloaded with this residual gas which will make them saturate faster.

In repetitive diving, the slower tissues can accumulate gas day after day. This can be a problem for multi-day multi-dive situations. Multiple decompressions per day over multiple days can increase the risk of decompression sickness because of the build up of asymptomatic bubbles, which reduce the rate of off-gassing and are not accounted for in most decompression algorithms.[18] Consequently, some diver training organisations make extra recommendations such as taking "the seventh day off".[19]

Critical ratio hypothesis

John Scott Haldane

Haldane introduced the concept of half times to model the uptake and release of nitrogen into the blood. The half time is the time required for a particular tissue to become half saturated with a gas. He suggested 5 tissue compartments with half times of 5, 10, 20, 40 and 75 minutes.

In this early hypothesis (Haldane 1908)[8] it was predicted that:

If the ascent rate does not allow the inert gas partial pressure in each of the hypothetical tissues to exceed the environmental pressure by more than 2:1 bubbles will not form.

To ensure this a number of decompression stops were incorporated into the ascent schedules.

Basically this meant that one could ascend from 30 m (4 bar) to 10 m (2 bar), or from 10 m (2 bar) to the surface when saturated, without a decompression problem.

This 2:1 ratio was found to be too conservative for fast tissues (short dives) and not conservative enough for slow tissues (long dives). The ratio also seemed to vary with depth.

The ascent rate and the fastest tissue in the model determine the time and depth of the first stop. Thereafter the slower tissues determine when it is safe to ascend further. The ascent rates used on older tables were 18 m/min, but newer tables use 9 m/min.


Haldane's approach to decompression modeling was used from 1908 to the 1960s with minor modifications, primarily changes to the number of compartments and half times used. The 1937 US Navy tables were based on research by O. D. Yarbrough and used 3 compartments. The 5 and 10 min compartments were dropped. In the 1950’s the tab;ed were revised and the 5 and 10 minute compartments restored, and a 120 minute compartment added. In the 1960s Robert D. Workman of the U.S. Navy Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU) undertook a review of the basis of the model and subsequent research performed by the US Navy. Tables based on Haldane’s work and subsequent refinements were observed to still be inadequate for longer and deeper dives.

Workman revised Haldane’s model to allow each tissue compartment to tolerate a different amount of supersaturation which varies with depth. He introduced the term "M-value" to indicate the amount of supersaturation each compartment could tolerate at a given depth and added three additional compartments with 160, 200 and 240 minute half times.

Workman presented his findings as an equation which could be used to calculate the results for any depth and stated that a linear projection of M-values would be useful for computer programming.


A large part of Bühlmann’s research was to determine the longest half time compartments for Nitrogen and Helium, and he increased the number of compartments to 16. He investigated the implications of decompression after diving at altitude and published decompression tables that could be used at a range of altitudes. Bühlmann used a method for decompression calculation similar to that proposed by Workman, which included M-values expressing a linear relationship between maximum inert gas pressure in the tissue compartments and ambient pressure, but based on absolute pressure, which made them more easily adapted for altitude diving.

Bühlmann’s algorithm was used to generate the standard decompression tables for a number of sports diving associations, and are used in several personal decompression computers, sometimes in a modified form.

Thermodynamic model and deep stops

Torres straits pearl divers

B.A. Hills and D.H. LeMessurier studied the empirical decompression practices of Okinawan pearl divers in the Torres straits and observed that they made deeper stops but reduced the total decompression time compared with the generally used tables of the time. Their analysis strongly suggested that bubble presence limits gas elimination rates, and emphasised the importance of inherent unsaturation of tissues due to metabolic processing of oxygen.[12]

Pyle stops

A "Pyle stop" is an additional brief deep-water stop, which is increasingly used in deep diving (named after Richard Pyle, an early advocate of deep stops).[20] Typically, a Pyle stop is 2 minutes long and at the depth where the pressure change halves on an ascent between the bottom and the first conventional decompression stop.

For example, a diver ascends from a maximum depth of 60 metres (200 ft), where the ambient pressure is 7 bars (100 psi), to a decompression stop at 20 metres (66 ft), where the pressure is 3 bars (40 psi). The Pyle stop would take place at the halfway pressure, which is 5 bars (70 psi) corresponding to a depth of 40 metres (130 ft).[21][22]

Pyle found that on dives where he stopped periodically to vent the swim-bladders of his fish specimens, he felt better after the dive, and based the deep stop procedure on the depths and duration of these pauses. The hypothesis is that these stops provide an opportunity to eliminate gas while still dissolved, or at least while the bubbles are still small enough to be easily eliminated, and the result is that there will be considerably fewer or smaller venous bubbles to eliminate at the shallower stops as predicted by the thermodynamic model of Hills.

Decompression algorithms

Inert gas tension in the tissue compartments during a decompression dive with gas switching to accelerate decompression, as predicted by a decompression algorithm

A decompression algorithm is used to calculate the decompression stops needed for a particular dive profile to reduce the risk of decompression sickness occurring after surfacing at the end of a dive. The algorithm can be used to generate decompression schedules for a particular dive profile, decompression tables for more general use, or be implemented in dive computer software.

Deterministic models

Deterministic decompression models are a rule based approach to calculating decompression. These models work from the idea that "excessive" supersaturation in various tissues is "unsafe" (resulting in decompression sickness). They usually contain multiple depth and tissue dependent rules. These rules are revised by qualitative judgment. There is no objective mathematical way of evaluating the rules or overall risk.

Probabilistic models

Probabilistic decompression models are designed to calculate the risk (or probability) of decompression sickness (DCS) occurring on a given decompression profile. These models can vary the decompression stop depths and times to arrive at a final decompression schedule that assumes a specified probability of DCS occurring. The model does this while minimizing the total decompression time. This process can also work in reverse allowing one to calculate the probability of DCS for any decompression schedule.

Bubble models

Bubble decompression models are a rule based approach to calculating decompression. These models work from the idea that microscopic bubble nuclei always exist in water and tissues that contain water and that by predicting/ controlling the bubble growth, one can avoid decompression sickness.

No decompression limit

The no decompression limit (NDL) or no stop time, is the interval that a diver may theoretically spend at a given depth without having to perform decompression stops.[23] The NDL helps divers plan dives so that they can stay at a given depth and ascend without stopping while avoiding significant risk of decompression sickness.

The NDL is a theoretical time obtained by calculating inert gas uptake and release in the body, using a model such as the Bühlmann decompression algorithm.[23] Although the science of calculating these limits has been refined over the last century, there is still much that is unknown about how inert gas enter and leave the human body. In addition, every individual's body is unique and may absorb and release inert gases at different rates. For this reason, dive tables typically have a degree of safety built into their recommendations. Divers can and do suffer decompression sickness while remaining inside NDLs.[23]

Each NDL for a range of depths is printed on dive tables in a grid that can be used to plan dives.[23] There are many different tables available as well as software programs and calculators, which will calculate no decompression limits. Most personal decompression computers (dive computers) will indicate a remaining no decompression limit at the current depth during a dive. The displayed interval is continuously revised to take into account changes of depth as well as elapsed time.

Surface interval

The surface interval (SI) or surface interval time (SIT) is the time spent by a diver at surface pressure after a dive during which inert gas which was still present at the end of the dive is further eliminated from the tissues. This continues until the tissues are at equilibrium with the surface pressures. This may take several hours. In the case of the US Navy Air tables, it is considered complete after 12 hours,[24] but other algorithms may require more than 24 hours to assume full equilibrium.

Repetitive dives

Any dive which is done while the tissues retain residual inert gas is considered a repetitive dive. This means that the decompression required for the dive is influenced by the divers decompression history. Allowance must be made for inert gas preloading of the tissues which will result in them containing more dissolved gas than would have been the case if the diver has fully equalized before the dive. The diver will need to decompress longer to eliminate this increased gas loading.

Residual nitrogen time

For the planned depth of the repetitive dive, a bottom time can be calculated using the relevant algorithm which will provide an equivalent gas loading to the residual gas after the surface interval. This is called "residual nitrogen time" (RNT) when the gas is nitrogen. The RNT is added to the planned "actual bottom time" (ABT) to give an equivalent "total bottom time" (TBT) which is used to derive the required decompression schedule for the planned dive.

Equivalent residual times can be derived for other inert gases. These calculations are done automatically in personal diving computers, which is the reason why they should not be shared by divers, and why a diver should not switch computers without a sufficient surface interval (about 24 hours in most cases).

Diving at altitude

The atmospheric pressure decreases with altitude, and this has an effect on the absolute pressure of the diving environment. The most important effect is that the diver must decompress to a lower surface pressure, and this requires longer decompression for the same dive profile. A second effect is that a diver ascending to altitude, will be decompressing en route, and will have residual nitrogen until all tissues have equalized to the local pressures. This means that the diver should consider any dive done before equilibration as a repetitive dive, even if it is the first dive in several days. The decompression algorithms can be adjusted to compensate for altitude. This was first done by Bühlmann, and is now common on diving computers, where an altitude setting can be selected.

Decompression tables

BSAC nitrox decompression tables

Dive tables or decompression tables are printed cards or booklets that allow divers to determine for a decompression schedule for a particular dive profile and breathing gas.

With dive tables, it is assumed that the dive profile is a square dive, meaning that the diver descends to maximum depth immediately and stays at the same depth until resurfacing (approximating a rectangular line when drawn in a coordinate system where one axis is depth and the other is duration). Some dive tables also assume physical condition or qualifications of the diver, e.g., Navy dive tables should not be used by recreational divers unless they are in similar physical condition and willing to take similar risks to the navy divers the tables were designed for.

Some recreational tables only provide for no-stop dives at sea level sites, but the more complete tables can take into account staged decompression dives and dives performed at altitude.

Commonly used decompression tables

Haldane's tables

The original 1908 decompression table theory was based on the assumptions:

  • uptake and elimination of inert gases take place at the same rate
  • these processes are primarily influenced by perfusion and the solubility of the inert gas in that tissue
  • gas bubbles do not form in tissues until a critical super-saturation of tissue inert gas was reached.[8]

US Navy tables

Some basic assumptions used in compiling the older versions of the US tables.[citation needed]

  • Only nitrogen partial pressure would be taken into account when calculating tables.
  • The gas tensions in the tissues may be as much as twice the ambient gas pressure, without bubbles being formed.
  • Gas uptake rate was assumed to be equal to gas elimination rate; this depends on depth, time, blood flow, gas solubility and gradients.
  • Gas exchange is limited by perfusion barriers.
  • The body may be represented by a number of theoretical tissues or compartments of varying half life. 6 tissues with half lives of 5, 10, 20, 40, 80 and 120 minutes were used.
  • An ascent rate of 18 m/minute was used

With deeper dives the tables were found to unreliable. The solution was to add more tissues and increase the half life of the slow tissues in the model. These tables were and updated with new research.

Royal Navy tables

Some basic assumptions used in compiling the RN tables[citation needed]

  • The human body is represented by one tissue with a half life of 87 minutes.
  • Gas exchange is limited by perfusion barriers.
  • Rate of gas uptake is greater than the rate of elimination. This is because bubbles form in tissue and interfere with the optimal gas elimination, even in symptom free dives.
  • Bubbles are produced on virtually every dive.
  • The body can cope with a certain number of bubbles (volume) without developing symptoms of decompression sickness (critical volume hypothesis).

The tables work on the principle that bubbles are formed on their way to the first decompression where they are reabsorbed during stage decompression.

Bühlmann tables

The weakness of the critical difference model is that it assumes that the allowable supersatuation will be constant with depth. The models developed by Bühlmann were based on the Workman models, but included factors to account for the concept that the maximum allowable tissue overpressure varied with depth.[9]

Recreational Dive Planner

The PADI recreational dive planner, in "Wheel" format.

The Recreational Dive Planner (or RDP) is a decompression table in which no-stop time underwater is calculated.[31] The RDP was developed by DSAT and was the first dive table developed exclusively for recreational, no stop diving.[29] There are four types of RDPs: the original table version first introduced in 1988, The Wheel version, the original electronic version or eRDP introduced in 2005 and the latest electronic multi-level version or eRDPML introduced in 2008.

The low price and convenience of many modern dive computers mean that many recreational divers only use tables such as the RDP for a short time during training before moving on to use a diving computer.

Decompression software

Decompression software such as Departure, DecoPlanner, Ultimate Planner, Z-Planner, V-Planner and GAP are available, which simulate the decompression requirements of different dive profiles with different gas mixtures using decompression algorithms.[32][33][34] [35]

Bespoke tables or schedules generated by decompression software represent a diver's specific dive plan and breathing gas mixtures. It is usual to generate a schedule for the planned profile and for the most likely contingency profiles.

Personal decompression computers

The personal dive computer is a small computer with pressure sensor which is mounted in a waterproof and pressure resistant housing and has been programmed to model the inert gas loading of the diver's tissues in real time during a dive. Most are wrist mounted, but a few are mounted in a console with the submersible pressure gauge and possibly other instruments. A display allows the diver to see critical data during the dive, including the maximum and current depth, duration of the dive, and decompression data. Other data such as water temperature and cylinder pressure are also sometimes displayed. The dive computer has the advantages of monitoring the actual dive, as opposed to the planned dive, and does not work on a "square profile" - it dynamically calculates the real profile of pressure exposure in real time, and keeps track of residual gas loading for each tissue used in the algorithm.

Decompression procedures

Bottom time

Bottom time is the time spent at depth before starting the ascent. Bottom time used for decompression planning may be defined differently depending on the tables or algorithm used. It may include descent time, but not in all cases. It is important to check what bottom time is defined for the tables before they are used.

Continuous decompression

Continuous decompression is decompression without stops. Instead of a fairly rapid ascent rate to the first stop, followed by a period at static depth during the stop, the ascent is slower, but without officially stopping. In theory this is the optimum decompression profile. In practice this is very difficult to do manually, and it may be necessary to stop the ascent occasionally to get back on schedule, but these stops are not part of the schedule, they are corrections. To further complicate the practice, the ascent rate may vary with the depth, and is typically faster at greater depth and reduces as the depth gets shallower. In practice a continuous decompression profile may be approximated by ascent in steps as small as the chamber pressure gauge will resolve, and timed to followthe theoretical profile as closely as conveniently practicable.

For example, continuous decompression is used in USN treatment table 7. This table uses an ascent rate of 3 fsw per hour from 60 fsw to 40 fsw, followed by 2 fsw per hour from 40 fsw to 20 fsw and 1 fsw per hour from 20 fsw to 4 fsw.[24]

No decompression dives, ascent rate and safety stops

A "no stop" dive is a dive that needs no decompression stops during the ascent[23] and relies on a controlled ascent rate for the elimination of excess inert gases. In effect, the diver is doing continuous decompression during the ascent.

Dive computers

Dive computers are designed to be worn by a diver during a dive.[36] These computers contain, at a minimum, a pressure sensor and an electronic timer. They use a decompression algorithm to calculate the inert gas loading on one or more tissue compartments and display the remaining no decompression limit calculated in real time for the diver throughout the dive. When planning a dive using dive tables, divers assume that the entire dive is spent at whatever the maximum depth will be. Using a computer, the diver is credited for the time they spend at lesser depths during a multi-level dive.

Dive computers also provide a measure of safety for divers that accidentally dive a different profile to that originally planned. If the diver exceeds a no decompression limit, decompression additional to the ascent rate will be necessary. Many dive computers will provide required decompression information in the event that the no decompression limits are exceeded.

Ascent rate

In addition to stops, the diver must not exceed a safe ascent rate during the whole of the ascent from depth. Normally the time to ascend from the shallowest stop to the surface will take at least 1 minute. Typically with tables, the maximum ascent rate is 10 metres (33 ft) per minute when deeper than 6 metres (20 ft). Some dive computers have variable maximum ascent rates, depending on depth.

Safety stop

As a precaution against any unnoticed dive computer malfunction, diver error or physiological predisposition to decompression sickness, many divers do an extra "safety stop" in addition to those ordered by their dive computer or tables.[37] A safety stop is typically 1 to 5 minutes at 3 to 6 metres (10 to 20 ft). They are usually done during no-stop dives and may be added to the obligatory decompression on staged dives.

Staged decompression and decompression stops

Technical diver at a decompression stop.

A decompression stop is a period of time a diver must spend at a constant depth in shallow water at the end of a dive to safely eliminate absorbed inert gases from the diver's body to avoid decompression sickness.[23] The practice of making decompression stops is called staged decompression,[38][5] as opposed to continuous decompression.[39][40]

A decompression schedule is a series of increasingly shallower decompression stops—often for increasing amounts of time—that a diver uses to outgas inert gases from their body during ascent to the surface to reduce the risk of decompression sickness. In a decompression dive, the decompression phase may make up a large part of the time spent underwater (in many cases it is longer than the actual time spent at depth).

The depth and duration of each stop is dependent on many factors, primarily the profile of depth and time of the dive, but also the breathing gas mix, the interval since the previous dive and the altitude of the dive site. The diver obtains the depth and duration of each stop from a dive computer, decompression tables or dive planning computer software. A deco diver will typically prepare more than one decompression schedule to plan for contingencies such as going deeper than planned or spending longer at depth than planned.

Doing a decompression stop

Decompression stop sample profile.PNG

The diver uses decompression tables[25], software planning tools or dive computers to find, for his planned dive profile and breathing gas, if decompression stops are needed, and if so, the depths and durations of the stops.

Shorter and shallower decompression dives may only need one single short shallow decompression stop, for example 5 minutes at 3 metres (10 ft). Longer and deeper dives often need a series of decompression stops, each stop being longer but shallower than the previous stop.

After the bottom sector of the dive, the ascent is made at the recommended rate until the diver reaches the depth of the first stop. The diver then maintains the specified stop depth for the specified period, before ascending to the next stop depth at the recommended rate, and follows the same procedure again. This is repeated until all required decompression has been completed and the diver reaches the surface.

Once on the surface the diver will continue to eliminate inert gas until the concentrations have returned to normal surface saturation, which can take several hours, and is considered by some tables to be effectively compete after 12 hours[24], and by others to take up to, or even more than 24 hours.

Missed stops

A diver missing a required decompression stop risks developing decompression sickness. The risk is related to the depth and duration of the missed stops. The usual causes for missing stops are: not having enough breathing gas to complete the stops, or accidentally losing control of buoyancy. An aim of most basic diver training is to prevent these two faults. There are less predictable causes of missing decompression stops. Diving suit failure in cold water forces the diver to choose between hypothermia and decompression sickness. Diver injury or marine animal attack may also limit the duration of stops the diver is willing to carry out.

Technical diving education organizations define special procedures to be done if decompression stops are missed. These procedures may need repeating one or several stops.

A procedure for dealing with omitted decompression stops is described in the US Navy Diving Manual[24] In principle the procedure allows a diver who is not yet presenting symptoms of decompression sickness, to go back down and complete the omitted decompression, with some extra added to deal with the bubbles which are assumed to have formed during the period where the decompression ceiling was violated. Divers who become symptomatic before they can be returned to depth are treated for decompression sickness, and do not attempt the omitted decompression procedure as the risk is considered unacceptable under normal operational circumstances.

Accelerated decompression

Decompression can be accelerated by the use of breathing gases during ascent with lowered inert gas fractions (as a result of increased oxygen fraction). This will result in a greater diffusion gradient for a given ambient pressure, and consequently accelerated decompression for a relatively low risk of bubble formation. Nitrox mixtures and oxygen are the most commonly used gases for this purpose, but oxygen rich Trimix blends can also be used after a Trimix dive, and may reduce risk of counterdiffusion complications.[citation needed]

Ratio decompression

Ratio decompression (usually referred to in abbreviated form as ratio deco) is a technique for calculating decompression schedules for scuba divers engaged in deep diving without using dive tables, decompression software or a dive computer. It is generally taught as part of the "DIR" philosophy of diving promoted by organisations such Global Underwater Explorers (GUE) and Unified Team Diving (UTD) at the advanced technical diving level. It is designed for decompression diving executed deeper than standard recreational diving depth limits using trimix as a "bottom mix" breathing gas.[41]

It is largely an empirical procedure, and has a reasonable safety record within the scope of its intended application. Advantages are reduced overall decompression time and easy estimation of decompression by the use of a simple rule-based procedure which can be done underwater by the diver. It requires the use of specific gas mixtures for given depth ranges.

Surface decompression

Surface decompression is a procedure in which some or all of the staged decompression obligation is done in a decompression chamber instead of in the water. This reduces the time that the diver spends in the water, exposed to environmental hazards such as cold water or currents, which will enhance diver safety. The decompression in the chamber is more controlled, in a more comfortable environment, and oxygen can be used at greater partial pressure as there in no risk of drowning and a lower risk of oxygen toxicity convulsions. A further operational advantage is that once the divers are in the chamber, new divers can be supplied from the diving panel, and the operations can continue with less delay.

A typical surface decompression procedure is described in the US Navy Diving Manual. If there is no in-water 40ft stop required the diver is surfaced directly. All required decompression up to and including the 40 ft (12 m) stop is completed in-water. The diver is then surfaced and pressurised in a chamber to 50 fsw within 5 minutes of leaving 40 ft depth in the water. If this "surface interval" from 40 ft in the water to 50 fsw in the chamber exceeds 5 minutes, a penalty is incurred, as this indicates a higher risk of DCS symptoms developing, so longer decompression is required.

In the case where the diver is successfully recompressed within the nominal interval, he will be decompressed according to the schedule in the air decompression tables for surface decompression, preferably on oxygen, which is used from 40 fsw (12 msw), a partial pressure of 2.2 bar. Stops are also done at 30 fsw and 20 fsw, for times according to the schedule. Air breaks of 5 minutes are taken at the end of each 30 minutes of oxygen breathing. [24]

Surface decompression procedures have been described as "semi-controlled accidents”.[15]

Dry bell decompression

"Dry", or "Closed" diving bells are pressure vessels for human occupation which can be deployed from the surface to transport divers to the underwater workplace at pressures greater than ambient. They are equalized to ambient pressure at the depth where the divers will get out and back in after the dive, and are then re-sealed for transport back to the surface, which also generally takes place with controlled internal pressure greater than ambient. During and/or after the recovery from depth, the divers may be decompressed in the same way as if they were in a decompression chamber, so in effect, the dry bell is a mobile decompression chamber. Another option, used in saturation diving, is to decompress to storage pressure (pressure in the habitat part of the saturation spread) and then transfer the divers to the saturation habitat under pressure (transfer under pressure - TUP), where they will stay until the next shift, or until decompressed at the end of the saturation period.

Saturation decompression

Once all the tissue compartments have reached saturation for a given pressure and breathing mixture, continued exposure will not increase the gas loading of the tissues. From this point onwards the required decompression remains the same. If divers work and live at pressure for a long period, and are decompressed only at the end of the period, the risks associated with decompression are limited to this single exposure. This principle has led to the practice of saturation diving, and as there is only one decompression, and it is done in the relative safety and comfort of a saturation habitat, the decompression is done on a very conservative profile, minimising the risk of bubble formation, growth and the consequent injury to tissues. A consequence of these procedures is that saturation divers are more likely to suffer decompression sickness symptoms in the slowest tissues, whereas bounce divers are more likely to develop bubbles in faster tissues.

Therapeutic decompression

Therapeutic decompression is a procedure for treating decompression sickness by recompressing the diver, thus reducing bubble size, and allowing the gas bubbles to re-dissolve, then decompressing slowly enough to avoid further formation or growth of bubbles, or eliminating the inert gases by breathing oxygen under pressure.

Therapeutic decompression on air

Historically, therapeutic decompression was done by recompressing the diver to the depth of relief of pain, or a bit deeper, maintaining that pressure for a while, so that bubbles could be re-dissolved, and performing a slow decompression back to the surface pressure. Later air tables were standardised to specific depths, followed by slow decompression. This procedure has been superseded almost entirely by hyperbaric oxygen treatment.[42][43][25][44] Recompression on atmospheric air was shown to be an effective treatment for minor DCS symptoms by Keays in 1909.[45]

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy

US Navy Treatment Table 6

Evidence of the effectiveness of recompression therapy utilizing oxygen was first shown by Yarbrough and Behnke,[44] and has since become the standard of care for treatment of DCS.[46]

A typical hyperbaric oxygen treatment schedule is the US Navy Table 6, which provides for a standard treatment of 3 to 5 periods of 20 minutes of oxygen breathing at 60 fsw (18msw) followed by 2 to 4 periods of 60 minutes at 30 fsw (9 msw) before surfacing. Air breaks are taken between oxygen breathing to reduce the risk of oxygen toxicity.[24]

In water recompression

There are several published IWR tables, this one is from the Royal Australian Navy

If a chamber is not available for recompression within a reasonable period, a riskier alternative is in-water recompression at the dive site.[47][48][49] In-water recompression (IWR) is the emergency treatment of decompression sickness (DCS) by sending the diver back underwater to allow the gas bubbles in the tissues, which are causing the symptoms, to resolve. It is a risky procedure that should only be used when it is not practicable to travel to the nearest recompression chamber in time to save the victim's life.[49][48]

The procedure is high risk as a diver suffering from DCS may become paralysed, unconscious or stop breathing whilst under water. Any one of these events may result in the diver drowning or further injury to the diver during a subsequent rescue to the surface. These risks can be mitigated to some extent by using a helmet or full-face mask with voice communications on the diver, and suspending the diver from the surface so that depth is positively controlled, and by having an in-water standby diver attend the diver undergoing the treatment at all times.

The principle behind in water recompression treatment is the same as that behind the treatment of DCS in a recompression chamber[49][48]

Although in-water recompression is regarded as risky, and to be avoided, there is increasing evidence that technical divers who surface and demonstrate mild DCS symptoms may often get back into the water and breathe pure oxygen at a depth 20 feet/6 meters for a period of time to seek to alleviate the symptoms. This trend is noted in paragraph 3.6.5 of DAN's 2008 accident report.[50] The report also notes that whilst the reported incidents showed very little success, "[w]e must recognize that these calls were mostly because the attempted IWR failed. In case the IWR were successful, [the] diver would not have called to report the event. Thus we do not know how often IWR may have been used successfully."[50]

Historically, in-water recompression was the usual method of treating decompression sickness in remote areas. Procedures were often informal and based on operator experience, and used air as the breathing gas as it was all that was available. The divers generally used standard diving gear, which was relatively safe for this procedure, as the diver was at low risk of drowning if he lost consciousness.[12]

Decompression equipment

There are several types of equipment used to help divers carry out decompression. Some are used to mark the underwater position of the diver and act as a buoyancy control aid and position reference in low visibility or currents.

Decompression may be shortened (or accelerated) by breathing an oxygen-rich "deco gas" such as a nitrox with 50% or more oxygen. The high partial pressure of oxygen in such decompression mixes create the effect of the oxygen window. This decompression gas is often carried in side-slung cylinders.

Controlling depth and ascent rate

A critical aspect of sucessful decompression is that the depth and ascent rate of the diver must be monitored and sufficiently accurately controlled. Practical in-water decompression requires a reasonable tolerance for variation in depth and rate of ascent, but unless the decompression is being monitored in real time by a decompression computer, any deviations from the nominal profile will affect the risk. Several items of equipment are used to assist in facilitating accurate adherence to the planned profile, by allowing the diver to more easily control depth and ascent rate, or to transfer this control to specialist personnel at the surface.

Shot lines

File:Diver ascending a shotline
Divers ascending a shotline

A shot line is a rope between a float at the surface, and a sufficiently heavy weight holding the rope approximately vertical. The shot line float should be sufficiently buoyant to support the weight of all divers that are likely to be using it at the same time. As divers are seldom weighted to be very negatively buoyant, a positive buoyancy of 50kg is considered adequate by some authorities for general commercial use.[51] Recreational divers are free to choose lesser bouyancy ay their own risk. The shot weight should be sufficient to prevent a diver from lifting it from the bottom by over-inflation of the buoyancy compensator or dry suit, but not sufficient to sink the float if the slack on the line is all taken up. Various configurations of shot line are used to control the amount of slack.

The diver ascends along the shotline, and may use it purely as a visual reference, or can hold on to it to positively control depth, or can climb up it hand over hand. A Jonline may be used to fasten a diver to an anchor line or rope during a decompression stop.

An adequate shotline can significntly contribute to diver safety, but insufficient buoyancy has led to accidents, in some cases fatal, when the buoy submerged under the load of divers hanging on the line, and a diver decompressing on oxygen did not notice and lost consciousness due to oxygen toxicity and drowned,[citation needed]

Shot line configurations:

  • Basic shot line
  • Lazy shot line
  • Self tensioning arrangements
  • Running weight
  • Running float

Surface marker buoy and delayed surface marker buoy

Diver deploying a DSMB

A surface marker buoy (SMB) with a reel and line is often used by a dive leader to allow the boat to monitor progress of the dive. This can provide the operator with a positve control of depth, by remaining slightly negative and using the buoyancy of the float to support this slight overweigting. This allows the line to be kept under slight tension which reduces the risk of entanglement. The reel or spool used to store and roll up the line is usually slightly negative, so that if released it will hang down and not float away.

A delayed or deployable surface marker buoy (DSMB) is a soft inflatable tube which is attached to a reel or spool line at one end, and is inflated by the diver under water and released to float to the surface, deploying the line as it ascends. This provides information to the surface that the diver is about to ascend, and where he is. This equipment is commonly used by recreational and technical divers, and requires a certain level of skill to operate safely. Once deployed, the use is identical to that for the standard surface marker and reel.

Diving stages and wet bells

A diving stage, sometimes known as the basket, is a platform on which a diver stands which is hoisted into the water, lowered to the workplace ot the bottom, and then hoisted up again to return the diver to the surface and lift him out of the water. This equipment is almost exclusively used by surface supplied professional divers, as it requires fairly complex lifting equipment. A diving stage allows the surface team to conveniently manage a diver's decompression as it can be hoisted at a controlled rate and stopped at the correct depth for decompression stops, and allows the divers to rest during the ascent. It also allows the divers to be safely and conveniently lifted out of the water and returned to the deck or quayside.

A wet bell, or open bell, is similar to a diving stage in concept, but has an air space, open to the water at the bottom in which the divers, or at least their heads, can shelter during ascent and descent.

Decompression trapezes

A decompression trapeze is a device used in recreational diving and technical diving to make decompression stops more comfortable and more secure and provide the divers' surface cover with a visual reference for the divers' position.

It consists of a horizontal bar or bars suspended at the depth of intended decompression stops by buoys. The bars are of sufficient weight and the buoys of sufficient buoyancy that the trapeze will not easily change depth in turbulent water or if the divers experience buoyancy control problems.[52]

Trapezes are often used with diving shots. When diving in tidal waters at the end of slack water, the trapeze may be released from the diving shot to drift in the current as the divers make their decompression stops.

Providing gases to accelerate decompression

Technical divers preparing for a mixed-gas decompression dive in Bohol, Philippines. Note the backplate and wing setup with sidemounted stage tanks containing EAN50 (left side) and pure oxygen (right side).

Reducing the partial pressure of the inert gas component of the breathing mixture will accelerate decompression as the concentration gradient will be greater for a given depth. This is usually achieved by increasing the partial pressure of oxygen in the breathing gas, as substituting a different inert gas may have counterdiffusion complications due to differing rates of diffusion, which can lead to a net gain in total dissolved gas tension in a tissue. This can lead to bubble formation and growth, with decompression sickness as a consequence. Partial pressure of oxygen is usually limited to 1.6 bar during in water decompression, but can be up to 2.2 bar when using the US Navy tables for surface decompression.

Stage cylinders

Open circuit scuba divers by definition are independant of surface supply, and must take any gas mixture with them that is to be used on a dive. However if they are confident of returning by a specific route, the decompression gas may be stored at appropriate places on that route. The cylinders used for this purpose are called stage cylinders, and they are usually provided with a standard regulator and a submersible pressure gauge, and are usually left at the stop with the regulator pressurised, but the cylinder valve turned off to minimise the risk of gas loss. Similar cylinders are carried by the divers when the route back is not secure. They are commonly mounted as sling cylinders, clipped to D-rings at the sides of the diver's harness.

Divers take great care to avoid breathing oxygen enriched "deco gas" at great depths because of the high risk of oxygen toxicity. To prevent this happening, cylinders containing oxygen-rich gases must always be positively identifiable. One way of doing this is by marking them with their maximum operating depth as clearly as possible.[53] Other safety precautions may include using different coloured regulator housing, flavoured mouthpieces, or simply placing a rubber band vertically across the mouthpiece as an alert.[54]

Surface panel gas switching

Surface supplied divers may be supplied with a gas mixture suitable for accelerated decompression by connecting a supply to the surface gas panel and connecting it through the valve system to the divers. This allows accelerated decompression, usually on oxygen, which can be used to a maximum depth of 6 m in water[24] Surface supplied heliox bounce divers will be provided with mixtures suitable for their current depth, and the mixture may be changed several times during descent and ascent from great depths.[citation needed]

Continuously variable mixture in closed circuit rebreathers

Rebreather diver with bailout and decompression cylinders

Closed circuit rebreathers are usually controlled to provide a fairly constant partial pressre of oxygen during the dive (set point), and may be reset to a richer mix for decompression. The effect is to keep the partial pressure of inert gases as low as safely practicable throughout the dive. This minimises the absorption of inert gas in the first place, and accelerates the elinimation of the inert gases during ascent.

Deck decompression chambers

A basic deck decompression chamber

Deck decompression chambers are used for surface decompression, described in a previous section.

A deck decompression chamber (DDC) is a two compartment pressure vessel for human occupation which has sufficient space in the main chamber for two or more occupants, and a forechamber which can allow a person to be pressurised or decompressed while the main chamber remains under constant pressure. This allows an attendant to be locked in or out during treatment of the occupant(s) of the main chamber. There is usually also a medical lock, which serves a similar function but is much smaller. This is used to transfer medical material, food and specimens into and out of the main chamber while it is under pressure. Most deck decompression chambers are fitted with built in breathing systems (BIBS), which supply an alternative breathig gas to the occupants (usually oxygen), and discharge the exhaled gas outside the chamber, so the chamber gas is not excessively enriched by oxygen, which would cause an unacceptable fire hazard, and require frequent flushing with chamber gas (usually air).

A deck decompression chamber is intended for surface decompression and emergency hyperbaric treatment of divers, but can be used for other hyperbaric treatment under the appropriate supervision of hyperbaric medical personnel.

Portable or mobile one and two occupant single compartment chambers are not generally intended for routine surface decompression, but may be used in an emergency.

Dry bells and Saturation spreads

Modern dry diving bell.
Personnel Transfer Capsule.

A "Saturation System" or "Saturation spread" typically comprises a living chamber, transfer chamber and submersible decompression chamber, which is commonly referred to in commercial diving and military diving as the diving bell,[55] PTC (Personnel Transfer Capsule) or SDC (Submersible Decompression Chamber).[25] The system can be permanently placed on a ship or ocean platform, but is more commonly capable of being moved from one vessel to another by crane. The entire system is managed from a control room (van), where depth, chamber atmosphere and other system parameters are monitored and controlled. The diving bell is the elevator or lift that transfers divers from the system to the work site. Typically, it is mated to the system utilizing a removable clamp and is separated from the system tankage bulkhead by a trunking space, a kind of tunnel, through which the divers transfer to and from the bell. At the completion of work or a mission, the saturation diving team is decompressed gradually back to atmospheric pressure by the slow venting of system pressure, at an average of 15 metres (49 ft) per day, at 24 hours a day (schedules vary). Thus the process involves only one ascent, thereby mitigating the time-consuming and comparatively risky process of multiple decompressions normally associated with non-saturation ("bounce diving") operations.[56]

The divers use surface supplied umbilical diving equipment, utilizing deep diving breathing gas, such as helium and oxygen mixtures, stored in large capacity, high pressure cylinders.[56] The gas supplies are plumbed to the control room, where they are routed to supply the system components. The bell is fed via a large, multi-part umbilical that supplies breathing gas, electricity, communications and hot water. The bell also is fitted with exterior mounted breathing gas cylinders for emergency use. The divers are supplied from the bell through umbilicals.

A hyperbaric lifeboat may be provided for emergency evacuation of saturation divers from a saturation system. This would be used if the platform is at immediate risk due to fire or sinking, and allows the divers under saturation to get clear of the immediate danger. A hyperbaric lifeboat is self-contained and can be operated from the inside by the occupants while under pressure. It must be self-sufficient for several days at sea, in case of a delay in rescue due to sea conditions. The occupants would normally start decompression immediately after launching.

A dry bell may also be used for bounce dives to great depths, and then used as the decompression chamber during the ascent and later on board the support vessel. In this case it is not always necessary to transfer into a deck chamber, as the bell is quite capable of performing this function, though it would be relatively cramped, as a bell is usually as small as conveniently possible to minimise weight for deployment.

History of decompression research and developments


  • 1670 - Sir Robert Boyle performed an experiment on the effects of reduced pressure on a viper. A bubble was observed in its eye and it displayed signs of extreme discomfort.[citation needed]
  • 1841 – The first cases of decompression sickness in humans were noted in workers involved in pressurised caisson construction and coal miners in pressurised shafts.[citation needed]
  • 1854 - Decompression sickness was first described in caisson workers by Pol and Watelle [57]
  • 1868 – Alfred Le Roy de Méricourt – Decompression sickness described as a sponge divers occupational illness[57]
  • 1878 – Paul Bert – Decompression sickness is caused by gas bubbles.[39]
  • 1894 – A. H. Smith – nickname "the bends" after workers emerging from pressurized construction on the Brooklyn Bridge adopted a posture similar to fashionable ladies of the period “the Grecian Bend".[citation needed]
  • 1897 – Nathan Zuntz – bubbles grow[citation needed]
  • 1908 - John Scott Haldane - the first recognised decompression table was prepared for the British Admiralty.[8] This table was based on experiments performed on goats using an end point of symptomatic DCS. [58][38]
  • 1912 - Chief Gunner George D. Stillson of the United States Navy created a program to test and refine Haldane's tables.[59] This program ultimately led to the first publication of the United States Navy Diving Manual and the establishment of a Navy Diving School in Newport, Rhode Island. Diver training programs were later cut at the end of World War I.
  • 1912 – Leonard Erskine Hill – continuous uniform decompression[58][57]
  • 1927 - Naval School, Diving and Salvage was re-established at the Washington Navy Yard. At this time the United States moved their Navy Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU) to the same naval yard. In the following years, the Experimental Diving Unit developed the US Navy Air Decompression Tables which became the accepted world standard for diving with compressed air.[60]
  • 1965 - LeMessurier and Hills paper on A thermodynamic approach arising from a study on Torres Strait diving techniques which suggests that decompression by conventional models results in bubble formation which is then eliminated by re-dissolving at the decompression stops, which is slower than elimination while still in solution, thus indicating the importance of minimising bubble phase for efficient gas elimination.[12]
  • 1965 - Goodman and Workman et al. - Introduction of hyperbaric oxygen to accelerate elimination of inert gas during recompression [61]
  • 1976 - The sensitivity of decompression testing increased by the use of ultrasonic methods which can detect mobile venous bubbles before symptoms of DCS emerge.[62]
  • 1983/4 - Albert A. Bühlmann publishes Decompression-Decompression sickness.[5] Bühlmann recognized the problems associated with altitude diving, and proposed a method which calculated maximum nitrogen loading in the tissues at a particular ambient pressure.

Edward D. Thalmann

Bruce Wienke

Richard Pyle


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Further reading


External links

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