Technical Diving International

Decompression Procedures Diver

Name: ______________ Date: ___________

This quiz helps identify weak areas of understanding. It is open book, open
tables and should be used as a learning tool. Feel free to use a calculator,
both for the quiz as well as your real diving!

1. What are some reasons to perform a decompression dive?

2. What is the gas in air that causes the problems associated with DCS?

3. What are the two primary types of Decompression Sickness?

4. What is the PO2 of air at 30 msw?

5. Do the “time compartments” accurately measure nitrogen in the body?

6. What is the “virtual overhead”?

7. What are two kinds of redundant valve for a single cylinder?

8. A diver descends to 25.5 msw on air and remains there for 44 minutes
prior to ascent. What is the Residual Nitrogen Category using the
Buhlmann Air Decompression Tables?

Decompression Procedures 2001 Version 1.1

9. Using Buhlmann Air Decompression Tables a “G” diver has a 4 hour and
22 minute surface interval, what is the Repetitive Letter Group?

10. Using Buhlmann Air Decompression Tables a “D” diver wants to make
a repetitive dive to 23 metres. How many minutes of Residual Nitrogen
Time does she have?

11. Can a diver safely perform the 3 metre decompression stop at 4.5
metres without complication?

12. A diver starts with 190 bar at 10:43 and then had 145 bar at 11:04 while
at 18 msw wearing double 10’s. What is the diver’s SAC rate?

13. Which type of oxygen toxicity is of primary concern to a diver?

14. What are two problems associated with excessive nitrogen?

15. What are the two categories of Type II DCS?

16. How many time monitors should a decompression diver use?

17. What is the advantage of a “signal sausage”?

Decompression Procedures 2001 Version 1.1

18. If a diver runs out of air at 6 metres, with 2 minutes remaining at the
stop and 12 minutes required at 3 metres, what procedure should they
follow assuming they are asymptomatic and the diving conditions are
good?

19. By following dive tables, is a diver always safe from DCS events?

20. By using oxygen, can the decompression be accelerated? How would

a diver plan to accelerate the decompression?

21. What is the maximum single exposure dive time for a gas that has a
PO2 of 1.5 ATA?

22. What is the maximum recommended depth that 100% oxygen can be
used for decompression?

23. Other than adhering to profiles, what is the leading prevention of

DCS?

24. What is the “5 minute Field Neurological Exam”? When should it be

performed? How often should it be repeated?

Decompression Procedures 2001 Version 1.1

25. Using the Buhlmann Air Decompression Tables plan a dive to 45
metres for 30 minutes. Show the gas required as well as the profile.
Assume a diver with a SAC rate of 17 litres per minute. Show the amount
of gas required and time profiles. (For gas requirements calculate 5
minutes ascent time to first deco stop)

26. Can you tie a bowline knot?

I have reviewed the questions with my instructor and understand those I

may have missed. I am satisfied with the information and feel confident
to operate at the level of Decompression Procedures Diver to the limits I
have been trained without supervision.

Name:

Signed:

Date:

Decompression Procedures 2001 Version 1.1

Technical Diving International

Decompression Procedures Diver

Name: ANSWER SHEET Date: Version 1.1

This quiz helps identify weak areas of understanding. It is open book, open
tables and should be used as a learning tool. Feel free to use a calculator,
both for the quiz as well as your real diving!

1. What are some reasons to perform a decompression dive?

Deep wreck, repetitive dive, overstayed time or depth limits

2. What is the gas in air that causes the problems associated with DCS?

Nitrogen

3. What are the two primary types of Decompression Sickness?

Type I and Type II

4. What is the PO2 of air at 30 metres?

.21 X 4 BAR = .84 BAR

5. Do the “time compartments” accurately measure nitrogen in the body?

No, they are simply models

6. What is the “virtual overhead”?

The effect of a “decompression stop” that causes an

overhead, the diver cannot directly ascend to the surface

7. What are two kinds of redundant valve for a single cylinder?

A “Y” valve, also known as a slingshot valve and an “H”

valve

Decompression Procedures 2001 Version 1.1

8. A diver descends to 25.5 metres on air and remains there for 44 minutes
prior to ascent. What is the Residual Nitrogen Category using the Buhlmann
Air Decompression Tables?

Select the 27 metre depth and 45 minutes (round up) = 3

Decompression = 3 mins/6msw, 18 mins/3msw
Residual Nitrogen Category = G
9. Using Buhlmann Air Decompression Tables a “G” diver has a 4 hour and 22
minute surface interval, what is the Repetitive letter group?

“A” Diver

10. Using Buhlmann Air Decompression Tables a “D” diver wants to make a
repetitive dive to 23 msw. How many minutes of Residual Nitrogen Time
does she have?

24 minutes

11. Can a diver safely perform the 3 msw decompression stop at 4.5 msw
without complication?

No, there would not be sufficient nitrogen reduction; the

time would have to be extended. This is one of the
advantages of a computer compared to tables

12. A diver starts with 190 bar at 10:43 and then had 145 bar at 11:04 while at
18 msw wearing double 10’s. What is the diver’s SAC rate?

Bar used = 190 – 145 = 45 bar

Time = 21 minutes
Pressure at 18 msw = (18/10) + 1 = 2.8 ATA
SAC = 45 x 20 litre cylinders / 21 mins / 2.8 ATA = 15.3 l/min

13. Which type of oxygen toxicity is of primary concern to a diver?

Central Nervous System oxygen toxicity

14. What are two problems associated with excessive nitrogen?

Decompression Sickness
Nitrogen Narcosis

15. What are the two categories of Type II DCS?

Neurological
Cardiorespiratory

16. How many time monitors should a decompression diver use?

Decompression Procedures 2001 Version 1.1

 A minimum of two

17. What is the advantage of a “signal sausage”?

It extends much higher than a lift bag and is much easier to

see by the surface crew

18. If a diver runs out of air at 6 metres, with 2 minutes remaining at the stop
and 12 minutes required at 3 metres, what procedure should they follow
assuming they are asymptomatic and the diving conditions are good?

Return to the water, descend to 6 msw and stay for at least

3 minutes, ascend to 3 msw and stay for 18 minutes.
Surface and monitor for any sign of DCS, consider using
oxygen at the surface for 30 minutes

19. By following dive tables, is a diver always safe from DCS events?

Not necessarily!

20. By using oxygen, can the decompression be accelerated? How would a

diver plan to accelerate the decompression?

Yes, but in order to take advantage of the benefit, the diver

would have to use specially prepared tables or one of the
commercially available software programs to plan the dive.
Some dive computers allow 100% oxygen to be
programmed in as a second breathing gas.

21. What is the maximum single exposure dive time for a gas that has a PO2
of 1.5 ATA?

120 minutes

22. What is the maximum recommended depth that 100% oxygen can be
used for decompression?

6 metres

23. Other than adhering to profiles, what is the leading prevention of DCS?

Drink plenty of water or other liquids appropriate for diving

(not beer!), stay hydrated

24. What is the “5 minute Field Neurological Exam”? When should it be

performed? How often should it be repeated?

Decompression Procedures 2001 Version 1.1

 It is a test to determine if there have been some
neurological problems associated with DCS. Anytime some
symptoms are noted that may be related to Type II DCS.
Repeat each hour when transportation is delayed.

25. Using the Buhlmann Air Decompression Tables plan a dive to 45 metres
for 30 minutes. Show the gas required as well as the profile. Assume a diver
with a SAC rate of 17 litres per minute. Show the amount of gas required and
time profiles. (For gas requirements calculate 5 minutes ascent time to first
deco stop)

Dive profile: 45 msw for 30 minutes

Decompression Schedule: 3 mins/12 msw, 6 mins/9msw, 10
mins/6msw, 27 mins/3 msw.

(45/10) + 1 = 5.5 ATA

17l/min X 30 minutes X 5.5 ATA = 2805 litres of gas on

bottom

5 minutes ascent without deco X 17 X 5.5 ATA (err to the

side of caution) = 467.5 litres

Total Bottom Gas = 3272.5 litres

17 l/min X 3 minutes X 2.2 ATA = 112.2 litres

17 l/min X 6 minutes X 1.9 ATA = 193.8 litres

17 l/min X 10 minutes X 1.6 ATA = 272.2 litres

17 l/min X 27 minutes X1.3 ATA = 596.7 litres

Total Deco Gas = 1175 litres

26. Can you tie a bowline knot?

By now, it would be a good idea!

I have reviewed the questions with my instructor and understand those I

may have missed. I am satisfied with the information and feel confident
to operate at the level of Decompression Procedures Diver to the limits I
have been trained without supervision.

Decompression Procedures 2001 Version 1.1

Decompression Procedures 2001 Version 1.1