1 – Definitions of Terms
1.1 – DEPTH – refers to the maximum depth, measured in meters, reached by the diver during the dive.
1.2 – BOTTOM TIME – is the total elapsed time from the start of the dive, when the surface is left, until the beginning of the ascent, marking the end of the dive, measured in minutes.
1.3 – TIME TO FIRST STOP – is the elapsed time from when the diver leaves the maximum depth until reaching the depth of the first stop, considering an ascent rate of 18 (eighteen) meters per minute.
1.4 – DECOMPRESSION STOP – is the specific depth at which the diver must remain for a determined time to eliminate inert gases from the tissues of their body.
1.5 – SIMPLE DIVE – is any dive performed after a period of more than 12 (twelve) hours from another dive.
1.6 – RESIDUAL NITROGEN – is the nitrogen gas that still remains in the diver’s tissues after reaching the surface.
1.7 – RESIDUAL NITROGEN TIME – is the amount of time in minutes that needs to be added to the bottom time of a repetitive dive to compensate for the residual nitrogen from a previous dive.
1.8 – REPETITIVE DIVE – is any dive performed within 12 (twelve) hours after another dive.
1.9 – REPETITIVE GROUP DESIGNATION – is the letter that directly relates the total residual nitrogen from one dive to another performed within a period of less than 12 (twelve) hours.
1.10 – SIMPLE REPETITIVE DIVE – is a dive in which the bottom time used to select the decompression table is the sum of the residual nitrogen time plus the bottom time of the subsequent dive.
- EXCEPTIONAL DIVE – is a dive where the bottom time/depth factor does not allow any other dive to be performed before 12 (twelve) hours have elapsed after it.
2 – Instructions for Using the Decompression Tables
2.1 – To start decompression, use the table with the exact depth or the next greater depth reached during the dive.
Example: Maximum depth = 12.5 meters.
Select the 15-meter table.
2.2 – To start decompression, use the table with the exact bottom time or the next greater time.
Example: Bottom time = 112 minutes.
Select 120 minutes.
2.3 – Never attempt to interpolate times or depths between the values indicated in the tables.
2.4 – Always try to follow the indicated ascent rate: 18 (eighteen) meters per minute.
2.5 – Do not include the ascent time between decompression stops in the time indicated for the stops.
STANDARD AIR DECOMPRESSION TABLE
(*) Consult the No-Decompression Limits Table.
(**) No repetitive dives should be allowed after exceptional dives.
(*) Consult the No-Decompression Limits Table.
(**) No repetitive dives should be allowed after exceptional dives.
(*) Consult the No-Decompression Limits Table.
(**) No repetitive dives should be allowed after exceptional dives.
(*) Consult the No-Decompression Limits Table.
(**) No repetitive dives should be allowed after exceptional dives.
(**) No repetitive dives should be allowed after exceptional dives.
STANDARD AIR DECOMPRESSION TABLE
(**) No repetitive dives should be allowed after exceptional dives.
TABLES FOR EXTREME EXPOSURES – AIR DECOMPRESSION
(**) No repetitive dives should be allowed after exceptional dives.
NO-DECOMPRESSION LIMITS AND GROUP DESIGNATION TABLE FOR NO-DECOMPRESSION AIR DIVES
RESIDUAL NITROGEN TABLE FOR REPETITIVE AIR DIVES
(*) Dives followed by surface intervals longer than 12 hours are not considered repetitive dives.
Use the actual bottom times in the standard air decompression tables to compute such dives.
DECOMPRESSION TABLE ON THE SURFACE USING OXYGEN
DECOMPRESSION TABLE ON THE SURFACE WITH AIR
DECOMPRESSION TABLE ON THE SURFACE WITH AIR
II – TABLES FOR THERAPEUTIC RECOMPRESSION
Instructions for Using the Therapeutic Recompression Tables
- Follow the treatment tables precisely.
- Ensure a qualified attendant is inside the chamber at all times during recompression.
- Maintain normal ascent and descent rates.
- Thoroughly examine the patient at the relief or treatment depth.
- Treat an unconscious patient as if they have an embolism or severe symptoms unless it is absolutely certain that their condition is caused by another reason.
- Only use Air Treatment Tables when oxygen is not available.
- Be alert for oxygen poisoning if it is used.
- In the event of convulsions due to oxygen toxicity, remove the oral-nasal mask and ensure the patient does not injure themselves.
- Keep oxygen usage within depth and time limits.
- Check the patient’s condition before and after each stop and during longer stops.
- Observe the patient for a minimum of 6 hours after treatment, watching for symptoms of recurrence.
- Maintain accurate timing of intervals and written reports.
- Keep a medical emergency kit handy and well-secured.
- Do not allow any shortening or other alterations of the tables, except those authorized by the competent authority under the direct supervision of a qualified physician.
- Do not allow the patient to sleep between decompression stops or for more than 1 hour at any stop.
- Do not wait for a resuscitator. Start mouth-to-mouth resuscitation immediately in the event of respiratory arrest.
- Do not break the rhythm during resuscitation.
- Do not allow the use of oxygen at depths greater than 18 meters.
- Instruct the patient to report symptoms immediately when they are felt.
- Do not hesitate to treat doubtful cases.
- Do not allow the patient or attendant to remain in positions that could interfere with the complete blood circulation of their bodies.
DIAGNOSIS OF DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS AND GAS EMBOLISM
** More Likely
* Possible Cause
CONFIRMATORY INFORMATION
Diving History
- Does the patient feel well?
- Mandatory decompression?
- Proper decompression?
- Uncontrolled ascent?
- Held breath?
- Caused outside of diving?
- Repetitive diving?
Patient Examination
- Does the patient react and appear normal?
- Normal vigor?
- Normal sensitivity?
- Normal eyes?
- Normal reflexes?
- Normal pulse (heart rate)?
- Normal gait?
- Normal hearing?
- Normal motor coordination?
TREATMENT FOR GAS EMBOLISM
TREATMENT FOR DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS
RECURRENCE DURING TREATMENT
RECURRENCE AFTER TREATMENT
LIST OF TREATMENTS TABLE (*)
| TABLE | USAGE |
|---|---|
| 5 – TREATMENT WITH OXYGEN FOR DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS – PAIN ONLY | Treatment for decompression sickness – serious symptoms or pain only when symptoms are not relieved within 10 minutes at 18 meters. |
| 6 – TREATMENT WITH OXYGEN FOR DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS – SERIOUS SYMPTOMS | Treatment for decompression sickness – serious symptoms or pain only when symptoms are not relieved within 10 minutes at 18 meters. |
| 6A – TREATMENT WITH AIR AND OXYGEN FOR GAS EMBOLISM | Treatment for gas embolism. Also use when unable to determine if symptoms are caused by gas embolism or severe decompression sickness. |
| 1A – TREATMENT WITH AIR FOR DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS – PAIN ONLY TREATMENT AT 30 METERS | Treatment for decompression sickness – pain only when oxygen is not available and pain is relieved at a depth greater than 20 meters. |
| 2A – TREATMENT FOR DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS – PAIN ONLY TREATMENT AT 50 METERS | Treatment for decompression sickness – pain only when oxygen is not available and pain is relieved at a depth greater than 20 meters. |
| 3 – TREATMENT WITH AIR FOR DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS – SERIOUS SYMPTOMS, OR GAS EMBOLISM | Treatment for decompression sickness – serious symptoms or gas embolism when oxygen is not available or symptoms are not relieved within 30 minutes at 50 meters. |
| 4 – TREATMENT WITH AIR FOR DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS – SERIOUS SYMPTOMS OR GAS EMBOLISM | Treatment for symptoms worsening during the first 20 minutes of oxygen breathing at 18 meters on Table 6, or when symptoms are not relieved within 30 minutes at 50 meters, use treatment with air from Table 3. |
(* Oxygen treatment tables are presented before air tables because the oxygen treatment method is always preferred)
TABLE 5 TREATMENT WITH OXYGEN FOR DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS – PAIN ONLY
| Depth (Meters) | Time (Minutes) | Breathing Mixture | Total Elapsed Time (Hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 20 | Oxygen | 0:20 |
| 18 | 5 | Air | 0:25 |
| 18 | 20 | Oxygen | 0:45 |
| 18 to 9 | 30 | Oxygen | 1:15 |
| 9 | 5 | Air | 1:20 |
| 9 | 15 | Oxygen | 1:35 |
| 9 | 5 | Air | 1:40 |
| 9 to 0 | 30 | Oxygen | 2:10 |
- Treatment for decompression sickness – pain only, when symptoms are relieved within 10 minutes at 18 meters.
- Descent rate = 7.5 m/min.
- Ascent rate = 0.3 m/min. Do not compensate with slower rates. Compensate with higher rates by extending the ascent.
- The time at 18 meters begins upon arrival at 18 meters.
- If oxygen is interrupted, wait 15 minutes on air, then return to the table at the point of interruption.
- If oxygen needs to be interrupted at 18 meters, switch to Table 6 after reaching the 9-meter stop.
- The attendant should breathe air. If the treatment involves repetitive diving for the attendant or prolonged stops, the attendant should breathe oxygen during the last 30 minutes at the 9-meter stop.
TABLE 5 DEPTH/TIME PROFILE
TABLE 6 TREATMENT WITH OXYGEN FOR DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS – SERIOUS SYMPTOMS
| Depth (Meters) | Time (Minutes) | Breathing Mixture | Total Elapsed Time (Hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 20 | Oxygen | 0:20 |
| 18 | 5 | Air | 0:25 |
| 18 | 20 | Oxygen | 0:45 |
| 18 | 5 | Air | 0:50 |
| 18 | 20 | Oxygen | 1:10 |
| 18 | 5 | Air | 1:15 |
| 18 to 9 | 30 | Oxygen | 1:45 |
| 9 | 15 | Air | 2:00 |
| 9 | 60 | Oxygen | 3:00 |
| 9 | 15 | Air | 3:15 |
| 9 | 60 | Oxygen | 4:15 |
| 9 to 0 | 30 | Oxygen | 4:45 |
- Treatment for decompression sickness – serious symptoms or pain only, when symptoms are not relieved within 10 minutes at 18 meters.
- Descent rate = 7.5 m/min.
- Ascent rate = 0.3 m/min. Do not compensate with slower rates. Compensate with higher rates by extending the ascent.
- The time at 18 meters begins upon arrival at 18 meters.
- If oxygen is interrupted, wait 15 minutes on air, then return to the table at the point of interruption.
- The attendant should breathe air. If the treatment involves repetitive diving for the attendant or prolonged stops, the attendant should breathe oxygen during the last 30 minutes until reaching the surface.
- Table 6 can be extended by an additional 25 minutes at 18 meters (20 minutes of oxygen and 5 minutes of air) or by an additional 75 minutes at 9 meters (15 minutes of air and 60 minutes of oxygen) or both.
TABLE 6 DEPTH/TIME PROFILE
TABLE 6A TREATMENT WITH AIR AND OXYGEN FOR GAS EMBOLISM
| Depth (Meters) | Time (Minutes) | Breathing Mixture | Total Elapsed Time (Hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 30 | Air | 0:30 |
| 50 to 18 | 4 | Air | 0:34 |
| 18 | 20 | Oxygen | 0:54 |
| 18 | 5 | Air | 0:59 |
| 18 | 20 | Oxygen | 1:19 |
| 18 | 5 | Air | 1:29 |
| 18 | 20 | Oxygen | 1:44 |
| 18 | 5 | Air | 1:49 |
| 18 to 9 | 30 | Oxygen | 2:19 |
| 9 | 15 | Air | 2:34 |
| 9 | 60 | Oxygen | 3:34 |
| 9 | 15 | Air | 3:49 |
| 9 | 60 | Oxygen | 4:49 |
| 9 to 0 | 30 | Oxygen | 5:19 |
- Treatment for gas embolism. Also use when it is impossible to determine if symptoms are caused by gas embolism or severe decompression sickness.
- Descent rate = as fast as the patient can tolerate.
- Ascent rate = 0.3 m/min. Do not compensate with slower rates. Compensate with higher rates by extending the ascent.
- The time at 50 meters includes the time from the surface.
- If oxygen is interrupted, wait 15 minutes on air, then return to the table at the point of interruption.
- The attendant should breathe air. If the treatment involves repetitive diving for the attendant or prolonged stops, the attendant should breathe oxygen during the last 30 minutes until reaching the surface.
- Table 6A can be extended by an additional 25 minutes at 18 meters (20 minutes of oxygen and 5 minutes of air) or by an additional 75 minutes at 9 meters (15 minutes of air and 60 minutes of oxygen) or both.
TABLE 6A DEPTH/TIME PROFILE
TABLE 1A TREATMENT WITH AIR FOR DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS – PAIN ONLY TREATMENT AT 30 METERS
| Depth (Meters) | Time (Minutes) | Breathing Mixture | Total Elapsed Time (Hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 30 | Air | 0:30 |
| 24 | 12 | Air | 0:43 |
| 18 | 12 | Air | 0:56 |
| 15 | 30 | Air | 1:45 |
| 12 | 60 | Air | 2:16 |
| 9 | 60 | Air | 3:17 |
| 6 | 60 | Air | 4:18 |
| 3 | 60 | Air | 5:19 |
| 0 | 1 | Air | 6:20 |
- Treatment for decompression sickness – pain only, when oxygen is not available and pain is relieved at a depth less than 20 meters.
- Descent rate = 7.5 m/min.
- Ascent rate = 1 minute between each stop.
- The time at 30 meters includes the time from the surface.
- If the chamber’s tubing configuration does not allow a return to the surface from 3 meters within 1 minute as specified, do not consider the additional required time.
TABLE 1A DEPTH/TIME PROFILE
TABLE 2A TREATMENT WITH AIR FOR DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS – PAIN ONLY TREATMENT AT 50 METERS
| Depth (Meters) | Time (Minutes) | Breathing Mixture | Total Elapsed Time (hr:min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 30 | Air | 0:30 |
| 42 | 12 | Air | 0:43 |
| 36 | 12 | Air | 0:56 |
| 30 | 12 | Air | 1:09 |
| 24 | 12 | Air | 1:22 |
| 18 | 30 | Air | 1:53 |
| 15 | 30 | Air | 2:24 |
| 12 | 30 | Air | 2:55 |
| 9 | 60 | Air | 3:55 |
| 6 | 120 | Air | 6:57 |
| 3 | 240 | Air | 10:59 |
| 3 to 0 | 1 | Air | 10:59 |
- Treatment for decompression sickness – pain only, when oxygen is not available and pain is relieved at a depth greater than 20 meters.
- Descent rate = 7.5 m/min.
- Ascent rate = 1 minute between each stop.
- The time at 50 meters includes the time from the surface.
TABLE 2A DEPTH/TIME PROFILE
TABLE 3 TREATMENT WITH AIR FOR DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS – SERIOUS SYMPTOMS OR GAS EMBOLISM
| Depth (Meters) | Time | Breathing Mixture | Total Elapsed Time (hr:min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 30 min | Air | 0:30 |
| 42 | 12 min | Air | 0:43 |
| 36 | 12 min | Air | 0:56 |
| 30 | 12 min | Air | 1:09 |
| 24 | 12 min | Air | 1:22 |
| 18 | 30 min | Air | 1:53 |
| 15 | 30 min | Air | 2:24 |
| 12 | 30 min | Air | 2:55 |
| 9 | 12 h | Air | 14:55 |
| 6 | 6 h | Air | 16:57 |
| 3 | 2 h | Air | 18:59 |
| 3 to 0 | 1 min | Air | 18:59 |
- Treatment for decompression sickness – serious symptoms or gas embolism, when oxygen is not available and symptoms are relieved within 30 minutes at 50 meters.
- Descent rate = as fast as the patient can tolerate.
- Ascent rate = 1 minute between each stop.
- The time at 5 meters includes the time from the surface.
TABLE 3 DEPTH/TIME PROFILE
TABLE 4 TREATMENT WITH AIR FOR DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS – SERIOUS SYMPTOMS OR GAS EMBOLISM
| Depth (Meters) | Time | Breathing Mixture | Total Elapsed Time (hr:min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 1/2 to 2 h | Air | 2:00 |
| 42 | 1/2 h | Air | 2:31 |
| 36 | 1/2 h | Air | 3:02 |
| 30 | 1/2 h | Air | 3:33 |
| 24 | 1/2 h | Air | 4:04 |
| 18 | 6 h | Air | 10:05 |
| 15 | 6 h | Air | 16:06 |
| 12 | 6 h | Air | 22:07 |
| 9 | 11 h | Air | 33:08 |
| 9 | 1 h | Oxygen (or Air) | 34:08 |
| 6 | 1 h | Air | 35:09 |
| 6 | 1 h | Oxygen (or Air) | 36:09 |
| 3 | 1 h | Air | 37:10 |
| 3 | 1 h | Oxygen (or Air) | 38:10 |
| 3 to 0 | 1 min | Oxygen (or Air) | 38:11 |
- Treatment for worsening symptoms during the first 20 minutes of breathing oxygen at 18 meters on Table 6, or when symptoms are not relieved within 30 minutes at 50 meters, using the treatment with air from Table 3.
- Descent rate = as fast as the patient can tolerate.
- Ascent rate = 1 minute between each stop.
- The time at 50 meters includes the time from the surface.
TABLE 4 DEPTH/TIME PROFILE
