Best Comprehensive Book on Diving

[old frogman]

I learnt with BSAC in the 1980's and used the RNPL/BSAC tables. In the lecture it was certainly brought up about not pushing the tables and using the next increment. don't remember what the manual said. No mention of safety stops at this time. If I remember it was early 1990's before BSAC suggested a safety stop at 6m as this was the stop depth of the BSAC88 tables.

P.S. didn't realise there was an imperial version of these tables.

The BSAC 1972 Manual had both imperial and metric tables. At the time the UK and Australia were converting to metric. However, many divers were still using depth gauges graduated in feet. Consequently, conversion to metric took a while. Also, the 1970s saw the introduction of buoyancy compensators, octopus regulators and the conversion from the tank J valve to the tank K valve and the use of the contents gauge attached to the regulator. I recall numerous arguments at club meetings, at the time, where older divers vehemently resisted the changes. As new young divers came on board the changes gradually occurred, as shown by history.

 

[USdiver1]

I recall numerous arguments at club meetings, at the time, where older divers vehemently resisted the changes.

The resistance is real: long live the J-valve, down with buoyancy compensators.

 

[BoltSnap]

down with buoyancy compensators

A Mae West Vest is OK I think

 

[old frogman]

I learnt with BSAC in the 1980's and used the RNPL/BSAC tables. In the lecture it was certainly brought up about not pushing the tables and using the next increment. don't remember what the manual said. No mention of safety stops at this time. If I remember it was early 1990's before BSAC suggested a safety stop at 6m as this was the stop depth of the BSAC88 tables.

P.S. didn't realise there was an imperial version of these tables.

Yes, I remember this mentioned in the lecture on the use of tables however, that was the last I heard of not pushing the tables, after the lecture. What PADI and other agencies did in the 80s, was to reinforce the safety stop. I recall on every boat dive, I did in the 80s and later, was the divemaster during the dive brief saying, "don't forget the safety stop".