CAPTAIN SINBAD
Contributor
Well the thrust of modern research has taken credibility away from deep stops. Both NEDU study and UTD's own Italian study have shown that deep stops may not be as great as they were initially believed. This is being acknowledged by all sides of the discussion so I do not understand how NEDU study will do anything more than that. That point is well taken. Discussion has now shifted to "if not deep stops then how shallow?" UTD has gone from 75% depth to 66% depth and Dr. Mitchell own preference has become Buhlmann 50/80 gradient factors. So 66% of depth and 50/80 gradient factors are the two extremes between which between you better end up in your first stop otherwise no one in the world would like to dive with you! At least we are getting somewhere right?
Problem is that neither of these two parameters (66% depth by UTD and 50/80 by Dr. Mitchell) seem to have enough science behind them to be considered more preferable than the other. Dr. Mitchell has openly acknowledged that his 50/80 gfs are very subjective and he has no science to recommend them. UTD has not shown any solid reason why 66% depth is the ideal spot to aim for other than the fact that it is obviously better than the deeper 75% they were doing.
Conclusion is:
Don't be any deeper than 66% or you are insane! Dont be shallower than 50/80 gf or you are insane too! As long as Ratio Deco (or whatever the heck it is that you are using) is putting you between these two just shut and dive and wait for some more people to get bent so that we have some real data to talk about.
Problem is that neither of these two parameters (66% depth by UTD and 50/80 by Dr. Mitchell) seem to have enough science behind them to be considered more preferable than the other. Dr. Mitchell has openly acknowledged that his 50/80 gfs are very subjective and he has no science to recommend them. UTD has not shown any solid reason why 66% depth is the ideal spot to aim for other than the fact that it is obviously better than the deeper 75% they were doing.
Conclusion is:
Don't be any deeper than 66% or you are insane! Dont be shallower than 50/80 gf or you are insane too! As long as Ratio Deco (or whatever the heck it is that you are using) is putting you between these two just shut and dive and wait for some more people to get bent so that we have some real data to talk about.