Thanks for the math, 2.375 sounds exactly right. According to my accountant/wife, the exact number as of 1/1/06 is 12,958. I am one of those with more dives than posts.
I don't usually post, but this ascent procedure problem is of serious safety concern so I thought I should add to the discussion.
Most of the DAN related information, having to do with who gets bent or not, stuff like gender, smoking, hot showers, was found to be not significant. (or downright humerous!) While nobody seemed to make a big deal of publishing it, even DAN found out that the ascent procedure was the most important factor in who gets bent or not. It took them almost a decade longer than everyone else in research but they got there.
Heavy exercise can be a contributing factor, especially if you are heavily nucleated.
The trick is to not be heavily nucleated, and the way to do that is to come up slower and stop more often and longer as you approch the surface.
I get a laugh at everyone who says that exercise was the cause of a hit.
After every dive for years, I had to pull up a twenty pound anchor, with over a hundred feet of rode. That's a workout! Then, when I got back to the dock, I would have to load/reload the boat, usually about 700 pounds of tanks off, then on.
Now we have moorings, and a bigger boat. So I don't have to pull the anchor, but I have more to lift.
That doesn't even take into account the evening exercise program. Most people who dive the type of schedule that I do find that they have to have a workout program. In part to boost core temperature, in part to prevent the injuries that comes with all the lifting and carrying.
Besides, we go through all sorts of trouble to get underwater, I never understood the rush to get out. Another couple of minutes hanging around just below the surface is kind of nice. (this coming from someone that spends 2-3 hours a day underwater
)
