Techniques at diving depth and the Ascent

At Diving Depth

When you reach the diving depth, level off and orient yourself. Use any natural aids that are available such as sunlight, current, bottom, channel, etc. Check with a compass if available. Avoid underwater exertion and keep your activity to a practical minimum. Breathe continuously, as slowly and deeply as possible. At the first sign of breathlessness, slow down, or stop if possible. Catch your breath before starting any activity. If fighting a current does not let you slow down, break off the dive.

Be especially careful to watch out for entanglement around wreckage, lines or vegetation. When swimming with poor visibility, keep your hands extended ahead. For free diving wear a comfortable, satisfactory pair of swim fins. Use an efficient kick and maintain a steady pace geared to the ability of your buddy. Watch the depth and time carefully. Keep your buddy in sight and look at him frequently. Signal him before any change in direction. Be sure that he understands the signal and watch that he follows the maneuver.

“Line” diving calls for some cautions. When using a float line, keep it taut, but do not pull the float under the surface. Keep in mind that it can snag objects above you, so watch for entanglements. In any area where there is any possibility of boat traffic, make certain that a diver’s flag is firmly set on the float. If you are using a line held by another person, be sure the tender keeps the line taut. Signal him to slacken or tauten as necessary. Keep in communication with him by line pulls. Remember the possibility of entanglement when using a line. Avoid going through any small passages or near snags, and keep your knife in mind for emergency disentanglement.

The Ascent

At the end of time at any deep dive, signal your buddy or the line tender and start for the surface. Breathe continuously and naturally during the entire ascent. Never hold your breath.

Do not exceed the rate of ascent specified in the decompression table for the type of dive and equipment. If decompression is necessary, follow the table, using the proper techniques.

The generally considered safe rate of ascent from a dive is 60 feet per minute, and usually decompression should present no problems unless you go deeper than 40 feet. For greater depth diving, you should provide yourself with a United States Navy Decompression Table and follow its directions to the letter. One safe way of handling the decompression problem is to provide yourself with decompression depth markers. A weighted line with knots every 10 feet should work. Weight the line heavily enough to keep it completely vertical in a strong current. An extra air cylinder may be hung at the first decompression stop. If it becomes necessary to surface before getting full decompression, you can complete the decompression by returning to the water.

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