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There was some discussion in this list about O2 decompression in-water.
I recently got a copy of the DCIEM Diving Manual which included an in-water
O2 decompression table (Table 2).  

I was surprised to find that their O2 deco procedures were based on using O2 
at 9m (30ft) only.  The table gives air stop up to 9m, at which stage you go 
on to O2 and remain there for the full O2 deco schedule.  Five minute air
breaks (not counted as deco) can be taken each 30 minutes.

Admittedly the DCIEM procedures only recommend this if the diver is 
accompanied (two people on O2 is acceptable) and a chamber is within an hour's 
travelling time.  The manual claims that this depth (9m) is conservative but 
"the possibility of O2 toxicity problems still exist".

The table reduces deco time by 35 to 40% of the times given in their
standard air table (Table 1).

As I said, I was surprised at this use of O2 at a PPO2 of 2 ATA, especially
an agency like IAND has backed away to a very conservative maximum PPO2 of
1.4 ATA for nitrox dives, and only advise O2 stops at 6 and 3m.

Does anyone out there use the DCIEM In-Water O2 table, or is this an area
where DCIEM just hasn't caught up with the conservative trends in some
other areas of the "technical" (I hate that term!) diving community?

					Greg Ryan	gregr@cs*.su*.oz*.au*

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