Tables question (PADI tables) could apply to all i guess

[DiveBandit]

OK, instructors, here's one for you.

If the NDL for a particular depth is 60 minutes. Does this mean i need to be at the surface within 60 minutes, or do I just need to be on my way up by 60 minutes?

for example, if at 60 minutes I head top side and break the surface at 66 minutes (counting saftey stop). Did i bust the tables?

Dave

 

[Cacia]

your bottom time starts when you leave the surface and decend to the "bottom" of your profile. Maybe I misunderstood your question, actually, maybe you are asking if the safety stop is added to the total time?

 

[JeffG]

your bottom time starts when you leave the surface and decend to the "bottom" of your profile.

and it ends when you start your direct ascent to the surface

 

[kidspot]

I'm not an instructor, however every table I've used, you measure the time from beginning of descent to the beginning of the ascent (but not a 40minute ascent lol)
Aloha, Tim

 

[Mark Vlahos]

OK, I'm not an instructor, just a regular diver.

If I remember my instruction correctly, the clock starts when you leave the surface on your way to your depth. The clock ends when you begin your ascent to the surface from depth.

The tables assume a square profile so the ascent would be from the maximum depth directly to your safety stop, of course using a nice slow controlled ascent. This ascent and your safety stop do not count toward your bottom time.

Mark Vlahos

 

[Tom Smedley]

Bottom time starts when you leave the surface and stops when you begin a direct ascent to the surface. If you are at 60 feet you should have two minutes of ascent time and a three to five minute safety stop at 15 feet. If you left the bottom and ascended directly to your safety stop within your NDL time you would be within the tables.

 

[Cacia]

I don't make "direct ascents" anymore. Sunday, I did a wreck the Sea Tiger (127) and I took a long time to ascend since I am throwing in a couple deep stops. Should I be cognizant of something more?

 

[DiveBandit]

I had it in my head for some reason that I had to break the surface by the NDL, which would include the ascent.

I'm thinking even though you don't count the ascent, doing so would give yourself a nice saftey buffer.

 

[DBailey]

My understanding of direct ascent means you are going directly to the surface (within the speed limit) and your only stops are pre-planned deep and safety stops.

 

[TSandM]

If your deep stops are above where you begin offgassing, they don't count against you. It's considered part of the "direct ascent", as opposed to a multi-level profile where you go up and spend considerable time at a shallower depth, but one which may not be above the level where you are offgassing.