14
HIGHER RISK DIVE PROFILES
The user must understand that all decompression devices (decompression tables and/or dive computers) are based on
mathematical models and that many experts are currently concerned that these models may not under certain conditions
adequately describe the physiological phenomena. These conditions are presently identified as dives which incorporate the
following (Fig. 1.1):
• SAWTOOTH PROFILES where the diver alternates between greater and shallower depths repeatedly
throughout the dive.
• REVERSE PROFILES where the diver spends most of the dive at shallow depths and then descends
to the maximum depth shortly before surfacing.
• CONSECUTIVE DIVES where the diver performs repetitive dives to approximately the same maximum
depth with only short surface intervals between dives. The risk of decompres
sion sickness increases when depth and the number of repetitive dives
increase and when the surface intervals are decreased.
• MULTIDAY DIVES repetitive dives performed for several consecutive days.
• DECOMPRESSION DIVES any dive during which the no-decompression limit has been exceeded or the
diver is advised by the computer that he may not return directly to the surface.
