DAN Research

[del_mo]

While I know the logistics make it impossible for most people to participate, I thought I would mention what a fascinating time I had participating in the "Flying after diving" study.

The folks at Duke Hospital that conducted the test (sponsored originally by the U.S. Navy), were so professional and interesting and answered any and every question I could think of concerning DCI. Unfortunately, many of the answers were "it depends".

One of the most interesting aspects was the effect of being at 60 feet. EVERYTHING was funny. Not just our voices, but the movie we watched (a drama) was treated like Mystery Science Theater 3000. We were all crying from laughing.

We "dove" to 60 fsw for 120 minutes with a 26 minute deco stop at 10 fsw (and boy did my dive computer NOT like that). We had a surface interval of exactly 14 hours before "flying" at a cabin pressure of 8,000 feet for four hours. We were consistatly monitored (ultrasound) looking for nitrogen bubbles.

Fortunately no one in our class or previous classes following this dive profile suffered any bends. As a result, the next series of tests will change only the surface interval...from 14 hours to 11 hours.

Anyone who can who lives in or around Durham, North Carolina, should consider participating.

As a post script, the worst chamber can be found Mozambique (now I have to change my travel plans), and the chambers in the Dominican Republic are not yet certified.

The chamber in Phuket was not damaged by the Tsunami.

For more information:

http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/research/projects/index.asp

 

[mike_s]

Please tell us about what you computer didn't like and what it did..

thanks... -mike

 

[del_mo]

All I can tell you is every alarm it has had gone off.....everything was flashing, and did so for 24 hours. It didn't seem to recognize the deco stop, and it claimed I assended too quickly (30 fpm was our assent rate). Since 60 feet for two hours is way beyond a recreational dive plan, I suppose that is what had it so unhappy.

 

[mike_s]

Interesting....

Good idea bringing your dive computer. Did anyone else in the group bring one?
Just wondering how the others reacted. I would imagine that they would act similar since several different brand computers are all made by the same companies for example.

 

[del_mo]

I was the only one who brought a computer.

 

[rab]

Did you have your dive computer in water during the "dive"? I know there's a blurb somewhere in my manual about not pressure testing in air -- I think it has to do with sealing against liquid (water) versus air. I'm curious as to the brand of computer, too.

-Rob

 

[herman]

Del Mo, you do know DAN's moto don't you ??

"Bend them then mend them!"

I forget how many times the director said he had been bent in the chamber.

 

[del_mo]

The computer was in a bucket of water, and as far as DAN's motto goes....it fits. We were all invited back for the next shorter duration.

In a weird way I was hoping to get bent. I wanted to know the feeling and I couldn't imagine a better place for it to happen. Unfortunately my wife has a different feeling on the topic.

My understanding is EVERYONE who works there has been bent except one who was claustrophobic. They've only had four serious level III's, one that still suffers slightly. But, those four were all doing much more dangerous tests than what we were doing and all had the gap between the heart chambers (I forget what that was called).

 

[BigJetDriver]

Del,

Thank you for the up-date on DAN's FAD study. I would dearly love to participate, given what I do for a living, but I have not had time in my schedule yet to do so.

Rob Davie

 

[knotical]

all had the gap between the heart chambers (I forget what that was called).

patent foramen ovale ?