Recomendations for Deco reading

[a_mart]

Hey folks,
I've enjoyed following a thread on how divers use their deco software as well as doing some searches on the web about deco. I'm still a newbie to this and am trying to learn about the different theories available before coming to any conclusions about anyone of them. This has led me down a few paths including taking a closer look at the algorithms my computers use. I do ow rec diving and am trying to be as kind to my body as I can, for my body has seen some hard miles. I am looking for both primary sources (example Bennet et all 2007) and material based on the studies. At this point my deepest dives have been around 90ft but usually don't have a need to go beyond 60ft. I'm not as worried about suffering from outright DCS as I am trying to address the cumulative effect of 'minor DCS' I may not be aware of. I get the basic idea of tissue types with different half-lives for nitrogen and that while a 'deep stop' may be off gassing nitrogen in one type of tissue it may continue loading in another. I'm not looking for a "I do this" reply but rather what material influenced you in your outlook. I would appreciate recommended links or books on the subject.
FYI I only do rec OW dives but am interested in understanding deco in a larger context, even if I never do deeper/longer dives with mixed gases.

Thanks,
Arunas

 

[DevonDiver]

One of the best regarded books on the matter is Mark Powell's 'Deco for Divers'. I'd recommend that as a starting point.

There's lots of articles to be read online.

 

[TSandM]

Another vote for Deco for Divers. It's very understandable, and minimizes the math. Another good book is Lippmann & Mitchell's Deeper into Diving, which has some information comparing models.

Erik Baker's paper, "Understanding M-values", can be found in multiple places on line, as well as his essay on deep stops.

If you join the Deco Stop, you can read Doppler's piece on "Understanding the Curve", which is a good discussion on gaining a visceral sense for what decompression software generates as output. You can read the same essay, somewhat expanded, in his excellent book, The Six Skills and other Discussions.

Ross Hemingway has an interesting piece on decompression myths.

And if you want more information from the people who are actually studying this subject, you can buy GUE's "Mysterious Malady" DVD, which consists of interviews with decompression gurus, including the aforementioned Erik Baker.

That ought to be enough to get you started . . .

 

[rameus]

as simple as it sounds:
the encyclopedia of recreational diving provided by PADI when you do your DM is pretty helpful. since it not "only" explains what happens with the saturation of your tissues but also the whole process going on in your body and threats/illnesses which could come with which symptoms.

 

[Mr Carcharodon]

Well we just discussed this recently: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/te...eading-decompression-models.html?daysprune=14

Haldane's 1908 paper, which is available through Rubicon, is absolutely the place to start. It laid the groundwork for the next nine decades of decompression modeling. After that read Robert D. Workman's 1965 paper, also available from Rubicon, and H.R. Schreiner and P.L. Kelley's "A Pragmatic View of Decompression" which may require a visit to a university library to find. Also try this: ftp://decompression.org/ Erik Baker's papers which are there are very lucid and to the point in a field where there is too hand waving. Erik provides a good discussion of VPM which is a bubble model, as opposed to the dissolved gas models that proceeded it. Powell's book is certainly a good introduction if light on details of calculations. It does however provide "M" values for most of the models out there, which is how the experimental limits are compared to calculated pressure values.

I am not really a fan of “do a search” type of responses. In part because the search function on the board seems to be so wanting. Maybe there would room to upgrade the search function, or at least post a sticky on how to use it more productively.

 

[DevonDiver]

I'm in the process of collecting some deco theory articles and links on my website.

Have a look: http://www.scubatechphilippines.com/resources.html

Would be grateful for any other suggestions of pertinent stuff to add.

 

[craracer]

'Deco for Divers

+3

A book that you will read over and over again. :cool2:

 

[Ste Wart]

I'm in the process of collecting some deco theory articles and links on my website.

Have a look: http://www.scubatechphilippines.com/resources.html

Would be grateful for any other suggestions of pertinent stuff to add.

Not deco related (well I guess it is) how about a link for stage rigging in the technical diver toolbox?

This one is pretty good:
FKD - Deco Bottle Rigging



As for Deco reading. Mentioned in other threads but:
Tao of Underwater Survival - Tom Mount et al( God I hate the new title)
Technical Diving from the Bottom Up - Kevin Gurr

The in depth look at types of DCS are well worth reading.

A good book to read in how not to Deco, is Mark Ellyat's Ocean Gladiator. At times fascinating, other times interminable, but my god the guy gets bent a lot!!!!

 

[ajduplessis]

What about "Valve drill on your knees" Just kidding!!!

Deco for Divers & Tao of Underwater Survival by Tom Mount, the latter however is not well written as book (not that I could do any better), but full of useful information and technical data.

 

[a_mart]

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions! I'm currently recovering from oral surgery so it will be a month or two before I can dive again (Bumer is my wife will be finishing her OW cert in about two weeks ). On the lemonade side of the lemon it gives me some time to start collecting and reading the material you all have suggested