Technical Question!

Tyiell · 03-30-2007, 11:32 AM

Ok, this seems out of place considering to other topics, but this problem is driving me NUTS.

I have to write some dive planning software and I need to know how in god's name the first table on the PADI RDP actually works. Not how to work it, but how it works out the pressure groups - is there a maths formula? I cant see a pattern at all, but im no mathematician so I just thought i'd ask

**Scuba Mama** · 03-30-2007, 04:39 PM

The tables were developed from Navy tables however they did saturation diving. If your writing a dive computer program you to take in the saturation of tissues exposed to pressure and breathing gas. You may want to do some research regarding bridge diggers they are the first group to develop the bends. Also try finding out about Dr. Rogers of Washington State. He did most of the work to translate tables from Navy to recreational. Also try looking at current on market dive computers and the tables they use this may help in solving the puzzle. Also NAUI and YMCA diving use different tables have you had a chance to look at these? As you can see there is no easy answer for your question. Good luck with your search.

**glynneco** · 03-31-2007, 02:44 AM

What the Navy actualy did was thow guys in the water at various depths for different times and bring them up at different rates to see if they got bent. When they did a red X went on the combination of depth and time. Alot of young, healty navy guys did a lot of chamber rides to develop those tables. They also developed the tables used by the chambers to treat DCS. I learned this interesting history from an ex navy diver who was running the the chamber my brother was in (two trips to resolve the symtons) His joints and bones are falling apart. He walks with a cane right now but expects to be in a wheelchair in the not to distant future. He was one of the guinea pigs used in developing/refining the tables. (Early one were done in the early 1930's Late 1920's first by the British and then by the Americans. The bottom line is the tables were developed by trial and error. The data developed lead to the equations we now so blithely use in our computers.
Our "recreational" sport owes a deep debt of gratitude to brave men who developed the data at a huge personal cost. DON'T treat the tables lightly for your sake AND theirs.

Tyiell · 04-03-2007, 01:31 PM

Hmmm. Looks like its gonna be a mission...

Thanks for the info!!!