You can use divePAL Windows to plan repetitive dives in 3 different ways: 1) Iterative, 2) Max Depth, and 3) Max Time.
Let's demonstrate the 3 modes using as an example a two-tank boat dive to be performed in Cozumel. Our first dive will be at the Devils Throat dive site. Then, after a surface interval of 1 hour, we will perform a second dive at the dive site Columbia Shallow.
The dive profile for dive 1 will be the same for all 3 modes.
To create dive 1 we could either enter it manually or we could use a dive profile of a real dive.
Let's use a real dive.
From the main screen click on PLAN, then click on Start from Logged Dive Profile
Then set the search filters to: Real Dives, All Users, 1/1/2000 to today, Devil's Throat, All Logs ... and then click on Apply Filters.
Now double click on the dive log you want to use.
Now click on Accept ... and the click on Analyze .... followed by a Save
We are almost done with the plan for the first dive. You might want to give it a name first, then click on Save again.
Our first dive is done!
Now, let's plan the second dive. Click on the + icon (bottom right corner of the screen)
Click on the large PLUS icon to add the second dive ......
.... and enter the surface interval (1 hour) .... POINT A
In the pop-up window you can change the gas mix for dive 2 and even the conservatism level that will be used to plan dive 2.
The 3 radio buttons allow You to select which method to use to plan dive 2. The default value is Custom Profile and it will select the iterative mode.
Iterative Mode
In this mode you will plan dive 2 by entering a custom dive profile.
You can either create the dive profile manually or by importing it from a real dive (similar to what we did for dive 1).
Once you are done entering dive 2, click on it .... and make sure that dive 1 is included in the series of dives you want to analyze ....
In Iterative mode you use the analyzer to check the nitrogen loading levels and the dive profile editor to adjust the shape of the dive.
If you do not like the values of Nitrogen loading that you see (either because they are too high, or too low, or because you went into deco), then you go back to log, click on the pen symbol in the dive profile area to edit the profile.
You repeat this process until you are satisfied with the results.
Max Depth Mode
From POINT A above ...... select the radio button corresponding to Max Depth and enter value (45ft in this example) ...
Then click OK and divePAL will show the analyze screen of dive 2.
In this specific example divePAL is saying that the maximum dive time for dive 2 is one hour and 12 minutes.
Please note that the dive profile for dive 2 is characterized by a descent rate of 60ft/min and an ascent rate of 30ft/min and includes a safety stop at 15 ft for 3 minutes.
The maximum depth is the one you entered. while the dive time is calculated by divePAL.
Additionally, the nitrogen loading is calculated by taking in consideration the dive profile (and gas mix) of dive 1, the surface interval, the dive profile (and gas mix) of dive 2 and the conservatism levels of both dive 1 and dive 2.
Click Save to save the dive or click Back to go to the dive profile editing screen.
Max Time Mode
From POINT A above ...... select the radio button corresponding to Max Time and enter value (1 hour in this example) ...
Then, as you did for the Max Depth mode, click OK and divePAL will show the analyze screen of dive 2.
In this specific example divePAL is saying that the maximum depth for dive 2 is 50 ft.
One final note.
Once you are done planning your repetitive dives (using either one of the 3 modes described above), make sure to name your plans, save and upload them to the divePAL cloud (using the share icon in the bottom right corner) for future references and/ or sharing with your dive buddies.
Let's demonstrate the 3 modes using as an example a two-tank boat dive to be performed in Cozumel. Our first dive will be at the Devils Throat dive site. Then, after a surface interval of 1 hour, we will perform a second dive at the dive site Columbia Shallow.
The dive profile for dive 1 will be the same for all 3 modes.
To create dive 1 we could either enter it manually or we could use a dive profile of a real dive.
Let's use a real dive.
From the main screen click on PLAN, then click on Start from Logged Dive Profile
Then set the search filters to: Real Dives, All Users, 1/1/2000 to today, Devil's Throat, All Logs ... and then click on Apply Filters.
Now double click on the dive log you want to use.
Now click on Accept ... and the click on Analyze .... followed by a Save
We are almost done with the plan for the first dive. You might want to give it a name first, then click on Save again.
Our first dive is done!
Now, let's plan the second dive. Click on the + icon (bottom right corner of the screen)
Click on the large PLUS icon to add the second dive ......
.... and enter the surface interval (1 hour) .... POINT A
In the pop-up window you can change the gas mix for dive 2 and even the conservatism level that will be used to plan dive 2.
The 3 radio buttons allow You to select which method to use to plan dive 2. The default value is Custom Profile and it will select the iterative mode.
Iterative Mode
In this mode you will plan dive 2 by entering a custom dive profile.
You can either create the dive profile manually or by importing it from a real dive (similar to what we did for dive 1).
Once you are done entering dive 2, click on it .... and make sure that dive 1 is included in the series of dives you want to analyze ....
In Iterative mode you use the analyzer to check the nitrogen loading levels and the dive profile editor to adjust the shape of the dive.
If you do not like the values of Nitrogen loading that you see (either because they are too high, or too low, or because you went into deco), then you go back to log, click on the pen symbol in the dive profile area to edit the profile.
You repeat this process until you are satisfied with the results.
Max Depth Mode
From POINT A above ...... select the radio button corresponding to Max Depth and enter value (45ft in this example) ...
Then click OK and divePAL will show the analyze screen of dive 2.
In this specific example divePAL is saying that the maximum dive time for dive 2 is one hour and 12 minutes.
Please note that the dive profile for dive 2 is characterized by a descent rate of 60ft/min and an ascent rate of 30ft/min and includes a safety stop at 15 ft for 3 minutes.
The maximum depth is the one you entered. while the dive time is calculated by divePAL.
Additionally, the nitrogen loading is calculated by taking in consideration the dive profile (and gas mix) of dive 1, the surface interval, the dive profile (and gas mix) of dive 2 and the conservatism levels of both dive 1 and dive 2.
Click Save to save the dive or click Back to go to the dive profile editing screen.
Max Time Mode
From POINT A above ...... select the radio button corresponding to Max Time and enter value (1 hour in this example) ...
Then, as you did for the Max Depth mode, click OK and divePAL will show the analyze screen of dive 2.
In this specific example divePAL is saying that the maximum depth for dive 2 is 50 ft.
One final note.
Once you are done planning your repetitive dives (using either one of the 3 modes described above), make sure to name your plans, save and upload them to the divePAL cloud (using the share icon in the bottom right corner) for future references and/ or sharing with your dive buddies.