1st unplanned deco dive

[BoltSnap]

response if within NDL
"deco" -acknowledgement of the question
"zero" -I have no mandatory deco
"time" -time until I hit deco
"x-number" -amount of time

response if in deco
"deco"
"x-number"

Just to make sure that I understand you 100%, from what you said above:

The difference between one who has no required deco obligation and one that has already entered into deco and requires a stop.

The immediate number given after the "deco" sign (raised pinky in a closed fist) will be a "zero" then you point to your "computer" on your wrist followed by a number indicating the NDL time left. If one has already entered into a "required stop" or "ceiling" situation, one would just raise the pinky, the sign for deco, and then follow it with a number indicating the time for the deco. stop.

Is this what you are stating @tbone1004 ?

 

[Larryjd1]

I'm a pretty analytical guy and have read the computer manual a number of times along with practicing in sim mode quite a bit. My teenager dive buddy, not so much. However after this dive she was more inclined to practice a little more.

Thanks for sharing. I have the situation with my son.

Better to learn the lesson this way than the hard way!

 

[scubadada]

Hi @James Sparks

Do you and your daughter dive the same deco algorithm or do you do a different algorithm altogether? I would probably try to dive the same algorithm. I dive DSAT with all of my family members, avoids surprises.

 

[tbone1004]

@BurhanMuntasser that's what I would do if I were in a situation where I had to report back ndl. Would be discussed pre-dive since it's not a normal thing that is discussed.
The "time" in this case is to differentiate from deco. As in "I have no deco, we have x-minutes left".


In my normal diving the plan includes deco so we don't really ask about deco until we are at the first stop/ascent line.
"question, deco"
"deco, x-number *for minutes*, depth, x-number *for depth"

More of a validation of what has been planned since some of my buddies and I don't use the same algorithms or gradient factors on our computers so what they have may be slightly different than what I have.

How you specifically discuss in the water is up to you, but trying to use accepted hand-signals is ideal whenever possible. In this case the difference from the standards in technical diving is reporting back a "negative" deco value, being the NDL-time remaining. If you are never planning on going into deco, you could just as easily give "deco, number" back if you have pre-established that communication on the surface. If NDL is something that is important to you, then I would recommend that you figure out how you would like to communicate that and ensure your buddy is on the same page to remove and confusion

 

[James Sparks]

Good point Scubadada. When we 1st got our computers we set both of them to "P1" and pretty much forgot about it. The vast majority of our dives are off Catalina Island where we are usually in 30-40 ft of water primarily to stay above the thermocline so NDL times never come into play. Earlier this year I was doing some warm water wreck diving in Key Largo and had reset mine to "P0". On our 1st dive in Kona, I was still at "P0" and she was at "P1". After the 2nd dive, she reset hers to "P0"

 

[scubadada]

Good point Scubadada. When we 1st got our computers we set both of them to "P1" and pretty much forgot about it. The vast majority of our dives are off Catalina Island where we are usually in 30-40 ft of water primarily to stay above the thermocline so NDL times never come into play. Earlier this year I was doing some warm water wreck diving in Key Largo and had reset mine to "P0". On our 1st dive in Kona, I was still at "P0" and she was at "P1". After the 2nd dive, she reset hers to "P0"

I'm assuming you are diving Suunto computers.

 

[James Sparks]

Correct - we are both using a Suunto Cobra. I also wear a Suunto Zoop Nova wrist computer

 

[scubadada]

You're diving a relatively conservative deco algorithm. I would not worry about it, dive the same level of conservatism.

 

[outofofficebrb]

@James Sparks if you are going to use a signal for it, please use the "standard" deco sign which is a closed fist with pinky up.
Conversation to ask how much someone has until ndl
"question"
"deco"

response if within NDL
"deco" -acknowledgement of the question
"zero" -I have no mandatory deco
"time" -time until I hit deco
"x-number" -amount of time

response if in deco
"deco"
"x-number"

I like the use of standard signals. I don't think I currently use one based on your response but it works. Being better and going above and beyond "what works" is always better. Is there a video you can link me to that better shows this executed? I'm a visual person. Or maybe you want to become a movie star and shoot a quick one and show me! Thanks!

 

[tbone1004]

I'll try to record one tomorrow