Evolving Thought on Deep Decompression StopsHuh? This is a fairly incoherent post....
Fraedrich Study (2018)(9)
A study published in December 2018 Diving and Hyperbaric Medicineexamined whether computers using four algorithms (Suunto RGBM, VPM-B, EMC-20H, and Bühlmann ZHL-16C) conformed with what the US Navy had determined were the limits of safe ascent protocols in experimental dives with known decompression outcomes determined in the 2008 NEDU study. For the purposes of this study, the no stop time, first stop depth and total decompression time were examined and compared. According to the report, none of the computer algorithms passed all the test requirements with factory-default conservatism, but the Bühlmann ZHL-16C and Suunto RGB could with user-defined settings. Here are the relevant findings:
- Fraedrich D. Validation of algorithms used in commercial off-the-shelf dive computers. Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine. 2018 December 24;48(4):252–258. doi: 10.28920/dhm48.4.252-258. PMID: 30517958.)
I think his target was a bit bogus though.