high altitude diving

[hawgboyd]

Does anyone know of decompression data for use above 10,000 feet elevation? And if so where to get the data?

 

[Doc Harry]

It's all theoretical.

I believe programs such as the V-planner will give you that information.

I once looked into doing a deco dive at 14,000 feet. The NDL was painfully short, and the deco obligations were painfully long.

Good luck.

 

[boulderjohn]

It's all theoretical..

...and controversial. Believe it or not, some people argue there is no need to factor altitude into dive planning at all.

 

[hawgboyd]

Thanks for the info doc.

 

[knotical]

At-Altitude Arithmetic
and/or
http://www.8thelementdiving.com/scuba_math/altitude.php

 

[amascuba]

I wrote a calculator several years ago. SecurityGeek.Net

I personally don't compensate for altitude on my dives.

 

[Mod63]

It's all theoretical.

I beg to differ. There is a set of tables for diving in the range of 8200ft to 14800ft. It was developed and field tested at Lake Titicaca by a rather obscure man by the name of Bühlmann. The tables are published in his books.

 

[DocVikingo]

I beg to differ. There is a set of tables for diving in the range of 8200ft to 14800ft. It was developed and field tested at Lake Titicaca by a rather obscure man by the name of Bühlmann. The tables are published in his books.

Perhaps I'm mistaken, but I believe that just because tables on altitude diving have been published doesn't mean they aren't theoretical, no matter how sound the reasoning may appear.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[Mod63]

Bühlmanns's tables are not theoretical, they were tested at altitudes up to 4000m. The full test protocoll was published in UHMS 39 - Flying after Diving, which is available at Rubicon. And one reson he started looking into diving at altitude was that there where cases of DCI when diving on sea-level tabels in Switzerland.

 

[Rhone Man]

Two quick thoughts:

• Ultra high altitude lakes tend to be shallow. If that is true in your case then it may even be shallow enough to dive on pure oxygen, or at least a highly enriched nitrox mix. That would significantly mitigate your risks.
• Thalassamania was involved in the world record highest ever altitude dive by Dr Charles Brush in Lago Licancabur (at around 17,000 feet). I am sure if you PM'ed him he would share his insights.