Safety Stops
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Safety (?) Stops
I can't say with any conviction that I "enjoy" decompression stops but they are a very necessary requirement for the diving I prefer to do and for me a worthwhile trade off for the time I want to spend actually on a dive.
I can also appreciate a value in conducting 'Safety Stops' but on a recent trip, to conduct some training for one of our Overseas branches, the sign I had seen prior to the dive made me think a little more carefully about the 'safety' aspect.
Just as there are times and situations when planned mandatory decompression stops are not a good or even safe idea then there have to be times when 'safety stops' represent the less safe option. Situations where it is impossible to maintain a consistent depth because of buoyancy problems, or in 'Low gas' situations, it is perhaps better to be safe and secure on the surface. Certainly, where sea conditions are such that a heavy swell means a significant risk of frequent pressure changes adding a decompression risk and control of buoyancy difficult then a direct ascent may be much safer.
Dave Lock
NDC Diving Group Leader
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SAFETY STOPS
Conducting ‘Safety Stops’ appears to make a great deal of common sense. The fact that many diving computer manufacturers have incorporated them into their designs is a testament to this common sense approach. They are however additional to any required decompression and as such are only an option and can be ignored without penalty for subsequent dives. There are certain situations where rigidly trying to maintain or conduct such stops could lead to a ‘less safe’ situation.
Sea Conditions
Some computer manufacturers recommend that in rough conditions it may be difficult to maintain a position below any decompression ceiling and so suggest conducting stops deeper. This reduces the range of pressure fluctuations but does not remove them completely. Where significant swells are encountered, for example as a result of a sudden passing squall, then it could well be safer to omit or reduce ‘safety stops’ rather than risk a fluctuating pressure profile.
Problems
Trying to cope with problems underwater, such as SMB entanglement, slipping weight belts (or lost weights), equipment failure and especially buoyancy problems can lead to significant stress and task loading. In such situations trying to also cope with conducting ‘safety stops’ will place an additional task load on both the diver and their buddy. In such circumstances it might be better to reduce or omit ‘safety stops’ in order to resolve the situation on the surface were there is a plentiful supply of breathable gas and the stability and time to resolve problems.
Low Gas supplies
Trying to share gas with your buddy is complicated enough to deal with when you are both stable. The most comfortable position for sharing may not be the easiest position in which to conduct a ‘safety stop’. Add to that the fact that if you are properly weighted (neutral with 50 bar remaining), you will have increasing problems with buoyancy then it is better to be on the surface rather than religiously trying to complete optional stops.
Think SAFE - Dive SAFE
Any suggestions for further items for inclusion would be welcome and can be made to divesafe@bsac.com
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Page last modified: 9th Jul 2008 - 14:40:41