Missed deco

[OneDragons]

Amongst the things I have been reading I came across the US navy recommendation for missed deco.

Now as far as I know the following is not advised by BSAC? But it got me thinking.

It says (paraphrasing) that for missed deco you can re-descend if it is within one minute and there are no signs of DCI to complete your deco stops as normal, or if over 1 minute longer or deeper stops were required and again no signs of DCI then you should re-descend, multply your deco stop times by 1.5 and on surfacing go on oxygen.

Is this pure heresy? Or would you consider something like this for yourself?

[GLOC]

Depends where you are and whether you have enough gas to do it.

In the UK, why bother, there is (should be) O2 on the boat and there is a chopper fairly easily accessible. However, if you are somewhere else, you need to make that call at the time based on a whole load of factors. Also dependent on the number of stops that you have missed. When you do your Technical training, missed stops should be discussed.

Have a read here about an incident in the Far East which meant IWR was required.

http://www.direxplorers.com/dir-decompression-forum/5915-oh-dear-youre-bent-long-way-home-iwr-anyone.html?highlight=recompression

Note that IWR is very different to missed stops.

Regards

Gareth

[OneDragons]

Will have a read, but I wanted to keep this separate from IWR since it is, as you say a different kettle of fish.

[Gareth]

Will have a read, but I wanted to keep this separate from IWR since it is, as you say a different kettle of fish.

There are significant issues with redescending if stops are missed.

In the UK we have ready, quick & free access to medical support & the required evacuation facilities.

If you talk to any UK recompression facility they will say.

1. Put the casualty on O2
2. Monitor the casualty & record any symptoms
3. Contact any of the chambers or the emergency number for DCI incidents (or if at sea the coastguard)
4. Follow their guide, which will normally be evacuation to a recompression facility - this is generally based on the amount of decompression missed, & any symptoms in the casualty

Gareth

[Garf]

Most technical agencies teach a missed stops protocol of one form or another. I'd happily re-descend and follow them if I popped up, was symptom free, and only up within the timescales outlined in the protocols.

[OneDragons]

So would BSAC introduce any protocols in technical courses?
Or do you think the reason that they don't because most are UK divers and we can get airlifted relatively quickly if needed which is the safer option on a large scale?

[Nigel Hewitt]

I think there is a world of difference between overshooting a stop, even by a long way, and missing one out. If you can get back on the plan reasonably quickly that has to be the best move but if you stay somewhere wrong for a significant amount of time you have blown the model and you don't have a plan any more.

[OneDragons]

I think there is a world of difference between overshooting a stop, even by a long way, and missing one out. If you can get back on the plan reasonably quickly that has to be the best move but if you stay somewhere wrong for a significant amount of time you have blown the model and you don't have a plan any more.

That makes a lot of sense, thanks.