Multi level dives

[TMHeimer]

The wheel was never very popular and was discontinued with the release of inexpensive dive computers.

I've still never seen one other than a photo. Anyone have the "Nav Finder"? Anyone ever use that.....?

 

[Centrals]

I've still never seen one other than a photo. Anyone have the "Nav Finder"? Anyone ever use that.....?

"Nav Finder"?
Yes but only on the speciality course.
The kick cycle has to be very accurate. No chance if against or with the current.

 

[GJC]

DCIEM Tables allow multi level planning.

 

[TMHeimer]

"Nav Finder"?
Yes but only on the speciality course.
The kick cycle has to be very accurate. No chance if against or with the current.

Yeah, you have to have some really exact plan in mind.

 

[tursiops]

Yeah, you have to have some really exact plan in mind.

Actually, the NavFinder is especially useful when you have NO dive plan in mind. It allows you to log your tracks, which need to be straight but do not need to be planned, and then use the NavFinder to determine your course back to your starting point, as an example. Yes, you do do need to have a steady kick cycle, but you don't even have to know what it is.....just log (example) 36 kicks at 238 deg, then 22 kicks at 070 deg, then 40 kicks at 180. Using it in a current is tricky, but possible.

 

[tursiops]

DCIEM Tables allow multi level planning.

True, but they also are more conservative to start with than Navy (incl NAUI and SSI) and PADI tables, and have several special procedures and restrictions on a multi-level dive. PADI/RDP tables can also be used for multilevel dives, but only with additional special procedures. See this old document, attached.


The DCIEM "Short Form" no-deco table does NOT allow for multilevel dives; here is the caution note on it:

The DCIEM Sport Tables are part of the DCIEM Dive Manual.

 

[Dody]

You DM certificate is from padi right?

I wonder how do you pass the test, because calculating multilevel dives is part of the written exam you padi DM.

The wheel is the very old version.
The just a little bit old version is the erdpML.
PADI got a online version and as DM you got free access to it. Inkl e learning. It's Easy to use.

It is not PADI but SSI. And no, I never calculated multi level dives because the rule is that tables should not be used for that. Yet, some people do. Me I have my two DCs.

 

[boulderjohn]

The OP can be forgiven for not knowing the answer to the question despite his SSI DM certification. I am sure he was told how to use the SSI tables, as I am sure most people reading this thread were taught in whatever agencies trained them. But there is a problem.

That problem is that many people with tons of experience have decided that you can do exactly what he was asking about, and they mock people who stick with what they were taught. They tell you that the agencies know it works but won't tell you the truth. It is therefor easy to be led astray. I salute him for asking the question.

In a way, I hold the agencies at fault to some degree. Throughout beginning (and even more advanced training), agencies tell you what diving is like, and then the new diver goes out and sees something completely different when they dive "in the real world." That gives an overall impression that there is a lot going on in real world diving that is different from what was taught in class. Here is what I myself experienced in my first diving trip as a brand new diver.

• I was taught the importance of buddy checks, but I never saw anyone do one.
• I was taught never, ever to go into an overhead environment unless I took unspecified courses (which I now know do not even exist). I cannot estimate how many swim-throughs I experienced in that Cozumel trip.
• I was taught I could not go deeper than 60 feet as an OW diver. Now, I got my AOW at the beginning of the trip, so I did not violate that, but I saw many OW divers go deeper than 60 feet.
• After my first multi-level dive, I pulled out my tables so I could record the dive and plan the next one. When I saw how far off the tables I was, I had no idea what to do. I noticed others looking at me in amusement. "It makes a decent frisbee" one of them said. It remains the last time I ever saw any diver attempt to use the tables outside of a class.

So my big learning on my first scuba trip was that real world diving is very different from what I was taught in class.

 

[Centrals]

We all have different personal experiences on everything.
In my first ever diving trip after certification:
1. The dive guide was my buddy and we did buddy check.
2. Did not dive deeper than 18m or anything beyond ow training.
3. After completed the multi-level course, I realized that "PADI table" is only suitable for square profile.
4. I still seen occasionally some instructors used it in class nowadays.

Few years later I also realized that some divers are irresponsible and some operators are only interested on money.
Same as real life, nothing you had learnt from school/home would have prepared you for the reality. You have to learn again and use your brain.

 

[Blackcrusader]

It is not PADI but SSI. And no, I never calculated multi level dives because the rule is that tables should not be used for that. Yet, some people do. Me I have my two DCs.

Well congrats on having completed your DM. I never dive plan multilevel dives with a dive chart if staying within NDL. Dive computers do that for you in real time. If doing a light back gas deco then deco often clears on my shearwater as I ascend during the dive before I get to the safety stop the Perdix will show DECO CLEARED. I can check if on gassing or off gassing during the dive.

For me I watch CNS and Surf GF and tissue loading on the Shearwater Perdix as all the information is at hand with that DC. I assume you are not going into deco on any of your dives so your DC's should be giving you what you need for multilevel diving.