Ascent rates. Why do you choose to do it the way you do it.

[Al Mialkovsky]

It's been at least 10 - 15 years since 60 ft/minute was the recommended ascent rate. I think just about everyone teaches 30 ft/minute.

Padi is irresponsible for continuing to teach 60 feet per minute.

 

[Walter]

Probably, but it's a minor point compared to the rest of the program.

 

[Al Mialkovsky]

True Walter but it's indicative of their arrogance.

 

[Cacia]

lol

My most common error is doing my first stop too deep or staying a little too long taking pictures or something. I am very easily distracted, so my plan needs to be very simple.

The worst feeling in the world is to be staring at your computer and be totally dumbfounded about why it is saying you have all that deco! I'm usually on air, usually fairly deep, so I have my KISS method that also includes not being deeper than 120 for more than ten minutes, because I know about when I get narced enough to lose my already borderline vigilance.

And once that is gone, no math is happening. What I can do on deep air is very short of what I can do topside.

 

[TSandM]

Charlie, you're doing ratio deco!

As much as I enjoy criticizing my OW class, I have to give them that they acknowledged that the written materials said 60 fpm, but said that was wrong and they were teaching 30 fpm. (PADI)

 

[ryanpublic]

Apparently the Uwatec computers graduate the ascent rate.

When your depth is <20 feet it sets the idea ascent rate at 23fpm.
between 116 and 128 the ideal rate is set for 56 fpm.
An audible alarm sounds at 110% and increases in intensity to 200%.

Check out page 43/44 (pdf pages 45/46) in the manual galileo-sol

This is one reason why I got a dive computer so that I wouldn't have to think to hard to get this right.

 

[JeffG]

Charlie, you're doing ratio deco!

ummmm

I figure out how long I want to take on my ascent. Never less than 6 minutes. Rarely more than 12. This is a judgement call, based on experience with similar dive profiles/multiple dive sequences and observation of how long it takes to get the N2 bargraph on my Oceanic computer back into the green section

No he isn't.

 

[TSandM]

Jeff, I was teasing . . . You of all people should be able to recognize a needle when you see one

 

[JeffG]

Jeff, I was teasing . . . You of all people should be able to recognize a needle when you see one

Not necessarily.

 

[nwbobber]

Thanks to all who responded, this has been very informative. I understand this much better and I will be modifying my ascents. It's interesting how much of this gets glossed over for a lack of clinical evidence in the form of diagnosed DCS. I think that what we can do to make ourselves feel better after a dive is very important. How we feel is an indicator of how our bodies are responding to the stresses we expose ourselves to. The training agencies, in my opinion, have a responsibility to at least expose new divers to this evidence, and how ascent rates may affect us in a way we can recognize and respond to.

Thanks again
Bob