Academics of decompression diving

[Spazzy]

The Mark Powell and John Lippman books are excellent - the latter focuses more on the deco algorithms.

Some agencies offer an 'Intro to Deco' type course that is designed for someone like you who wants to know more but is not ready to start deco diving.

 

[Thalassamania]

Deco for Divers is pretty good if you are happy with secondary sources; for that matter there's a pretty good wiki article. A better source is the original work, much of which is available on RUBICON.

 

[FishDiver]

After you read a few texts, get a copy of deco software like VPlanner. I was able to internalize a lot of the theory by making modifications in dive plans and analyzing the results on the decompression models.

 

[rongoodman]

If you have an iPhone, Baltic Deco will give you both VPM and Buhlmann GF, so it's pretty easy to run "what if" scenarios and compare two of the main approaches approaches to decompression theory.

 

[rjack321]

After you read a few texts, get a copy of deco software like VPlanner. I was able to internalize a lot of the theory by making modifications in dive plans and analyzing the results on the decompression models.

You can also calculate gas plans by hand (SAC X average depth over the range the gas is used X time) and compare V-planner's gas usage estimates which are at the bottom of the schedule.

If you have enough gas, virtually any deco time/schedule becomes not too big a deal. If you don't have enough gas any deco is a huge deal.

 

[dannobee]

If you have enough gas, virtually any deco time/schedule becomes not too big a deal. If you don't have enough gas any deco is a huge deal.

True, but don't forget about the cold. It's a bitch shivering on deco, knowing you have another half an hour to go.

 

[rjack321]

True, but don't forget about the cold. It's a bitch shivering on deco, knowing you have another half an hour to go.

Is that academic or virtual shivering?

 

[aquaregia]

I found the 5thD article pretty hard on the eyes. This article has a good example that, while not as academic, is easier reading. I had an easier time with the 5thD article after reading the foxturd article.

+1 on Powell and Rubicon, together


Disclaimers: not trained in deco at all, have engineering background