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News Flash: Abyss, Advanced Dive Planning Software V1.20 is ready for shipment. V1.20 will begin shipment to all Registered users worldwide on Saturday April 22nd. All registered users should expect to receive their free upgrades over the course of the next week. Shortly thereafter the new Abyss-DEMO will begin shipment to those of you that have requested it. Practical matters Users of do-it-yourself programs for performing decompression computations, including ABYSS, should understand that the programs do not immediately solve all decompression problems. A considerable store of experience comes with ABYSS, but the relevance of available experience may vary considerably between different types of dive. ABYSS itself cannot provide judgement as to choice of its many variables, but examples and advice are available to users from Abysmal Diving Inc. as part of the ABYSS package. The program requires a knowledge of diving physiology and operations, and some training and study of the ABYSS system by the potential User in order to operate it effectively. The fact that a table was generated by ABYSS does not specify how it was computed, nor does it guarantee freedom from the possibility of decompression sickness. That possibilitiy exists with all diving, and divers should be well aware of it. 1.0 New Features in Abyss V1.20 With the release of V1.20 Abyss takes a major step forward in product development including over a dozen major additions/changes and several hundred minor modifications. 1.1 Defaults-Algorithm The Algorithm section now allows you to choose from three Buhlmanian algorithms to compute your Ongassing/Offgassing and Decompression. This feature can only be accessed before a dive profile is opened, and can not be changed from the Dive Profile Window. Abyss-150. 32 compartment, Asymmetrical multi-gas algorithm that is used as the default in Abyss. Offgasing halftimes are 150% of Ongassing Halftimes, (50% longer). Halftimes and "a" "b" values are proprietary Abyss values, and have been completely updated for V1.20. This algorithm is optimized for Deep and Mixed Gas diving. Abyss-125 30 compartment, Asymmetrical multi-gas algorithm. Offgassing halftimes are 125% of Ongassing Halftimes, (25% longer). Haltimes and "a" "b" values are original Buhlman values. This algorithm is very similar to the most current Buhlmann ZH-L16c (with partial ADT) of 1993. This algorithm is optimized for deep/repetitive recreational diving. Abyss-100 30 compartment, Symmetrical multi-gas algorithm. Offgassing halftimes are equal to Ongassing Halftimes. Halftimes and "A" "B" values are original Buhlmann values. This algorithm is similar to the original Buhlmann ZH-L12 of 1983. This algorithm is optimized for non-aggressive (No-Deco style) recreational diving. 1.2 Defaults-Altitude Post-Dive, allow you to specify a change in altitude immediately following your dive. Use this feature to indicate that you will be going through a mountain pass, or from a low altitude to a higher altitude. As a safety factor, this value is set to 1,770ft or 540m, and should not be set lower without due caution. Setting this value to "0" will result in a shorter deco stop at the 10ft/3m & 20ft/6m stops, and may result in a DCS hit from any post dive stress. 1.3 Defaults-Decompression Now allows you to enable or disable each of the 4 decompression gases. 1.4 Defaults-Disable Defaults This feature allows to "Turn-Off" all of the default waypoints generated from Descent/Ascent rate changes, Deco gas changes, and Workload changes. This can be very helpful for running faster simulations, or for use in training. This feature can be turned on and off from the Dive Profile Window. 1.5 Defaults-Disable Warnings This feature allows to "Turn-Off" all of the warnings generated from exceeding your PPO2 / END, Required Decompression Stops, and Hypoxia alarms. This can be very helpful for running faster simulations during the modification of a completed profile, but great caution must be used as Abyss will not alert you to any possible dangers. 1.6 Defaults-Gas Values Abyss now allows you direct access to the compartmental Half-times and "a/b" values used in calculating your ongassing, offgassing and decompression. From here you can see the differences in the various algorithms that Abyss offers you. 1.7 Defaults-J Factors The J-Factors are now fully operational, and work as indicated in the manual. T 1.8 Defaults-Scaling Scaling now contains what used to be Tissues-Scale Depth & Scale Real-time, & Defaults-Calculation Interval. We have combined these functions onto one screen to increase their usability. 1.9 Defaults-Template, Load & Save The template is now saved as part of the Dive Profile (*.DPD) as well as a separate template (*.DPT) file. This allows you to load any dive profile and the accompanying template will load automatically. 1.10 Defaults-Template, Units Defaults-Units has been moved into the header section of the Defaults list. You will now see which units are loaded at any time. To change, simply click on the listing in the defaults menu. This feature can be modified from the Dive Profile Window allowing you to move between Imperial and Metric units in the same dive. 1.11 Dive Profile Window The dive profile window has undergone some major changes to increase its utility as a planning tool. These changes consist of 1. A new graphed background clarifies the time & depth of all waypoints. 2. The mouse pointer is now Time & Depth sensitive, with the values being displayed in the bottom right corner of the screen. 3. By depressing the Left mouse button, you can pre-draw your waypoints and connecting Descent/Ascent lines, and see the exact values before you enter the New Waypoint screen. 4. The waypoints are now Dragable. Place your mouse pointer on a waypoint, depress and hold down the left mouse button, and you can modify the time & depth without opening the Modify Screen. 5. Decompression Ceiling is displayed as a smooth red line that follows above your dive profile. This line represents the minimum depth you could ascend to from any point in the dive before deco is required. 1.12 New Dive Profile The new dive profile screen now contains the option to specify the type of water you will be diving in. Though this makes a very small difference in computational values, we continue to strive for the highest degree of accuracy we can provide you. 1.13 Output-Tables. In response to customer request for more control over the formatting of the dive tables we have added an Edit option to the menu bar for Tables. Once the table has been generated you can select Edit-Font and change all fonting attributes, this allows you to reduce the size of the table to fit on any size paper. We have also added a header line to the table that will add your name, the date, the file and the template used for better tracking of your dive tables. 1.14 Repetitive Diving Repetitive dives are created by surfacing to a depth of 0, and indicating any time greater than 1 minute. When Abyss sees that you are on the surface, and your time is greater than 1 minute it will ask you if you want to make a repetitive dive. If you answer yes, it will ask two additional questions. Your surface interval time for all gases breathed. You need to enter the entire time you will be on the surface, regardless of what gas you are breathing. Then you will be asked for your next Maximum depth. These two pieces of information are used by Abyss to select from one of 216 repetitive dive "a" "b" value arrays. These arrays will control your offgassing during the surface interval, and your ongassing/offgassing and deco for your repetitive dive. Once you have answered these questions, you must still enter a waypoint or multiple waypoints for your surface activities. While on the surface you may make a gas switch if needed. Make sure your surface waypoints match the time you indicated in the repetitive questionnaire, and that your next dive does Not exceed your maximum indicated depth. For the computation of repetitive diving Abyss now uses a proprietary implementation of the RGBM (Reduced Gradient Bubble Mechanics) model. This allows Abyss to track the growth and formation of post dive bubbles as well as tissue tensions. At this time, no other program in the world offers this level of dual modeling. As always, we continue to strive to provide you with the very best technology available. 1.15 Splash Window The Splash Window (the little windows that opens for 5 seconds at the beginning of Abyss) now displays the full name of the Registered User and the version that is registered. 1.16 Tissue Array The Tissue Array has received a great deal of attention in this upgrade. It is now broken up into two separate diplays, the original horizontal display and a new vertical display. Both are fully scaleable, and the splitter window can be moved up and down as well as right and let to maximize the display of your choice. In the vertical display you will notice three new features. 1. The Compartmental Halftime is displayed to the left of each tissue bar, and is adjusted to accurately represent the contents of more than one gas in the compartment. 2. The maximum allowable overpressure is displayed to the right of the Red Bar. These are the controlling values that force you into a deco stop, and limit your ability to ascend. 3. The compartmental pressure is displayed to the far right of the tissue bar. This is the pressure of the gas in the compartment. All values displayed here are in "bar". /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ Christopher M. Parrett, President, Abysmal Diving Inc. 6595 Odell Place, Suite G. Boulder Colorado, USA 80301 Ph.303-530-7248, fx 303-530-2808 Makers of ABYSS, Advanced Dive Planning Software. Available in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Swedish. Abyss, Mixed Gas, Technical Nitrox, Recreational Air. Abyss, Technical Logbooks featuring 22 integrated databases.
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