PADI Altitude Diver course

Student Notes
Altitude diving and decompression theory
For purposes of using the RDP, an altitude dive is any dive made at over 300m/1000ft.RDP can be
used for dives up to 3,000m/10,000ft.

Air pressure drops roughly 3.1% per 300m/1000ft up to an altitude of 3,000m 10,000ft

e.g. At sea level a diver is at 1 atm, at 3000m/10,000ft the air pressure is only .714atm. This is the
same pressure drop as surfacing from 3m/10ft.

Tables and computers work on average tissue pressure caused by dissolved nitrogen, and are
concerned by the pressure ratio between this tissue pressure and the air pressure at sea level.

At altitude the pressure ratio between this tissue pressure and the air pressure is greater than at sea
level. Unless the actual depth is converted into a theoretical depth, for use with tables, then the
pressure ratio can exceed the maximum limit intended by the table or computer and increase the
possibility of DCS.

Tables and computers rely on empirical data, that which has been tested, therefore tables and
computers can only be relied on to produce acceptably minimal risk of DCS.

Compared to diving at sea level there is very little empirical data for diving at altitude. Therefore
the rules are proportionately extra conservative.

Because people differ in their physiology then no computer or dive table can ever guarantee that no
DCS will ever occur as they are based on averages.

Flying after diving and altitude diving both involve pressure changes above sea level, difference is
that diving at altitude involves ascending to a lesser pressure BEFORE diving instead of AFTER
diving. Flying after diving at altitude involves the same procedures as when diving at sea level.

Never mix diving at different altitudes by making one dive at an altitude and a repetitive dive at a
different altitude.
 Altitude diving and physiology
Two physiological conditions to watch out for: Hypoxia and hypothermia.

Hypoxia is the effect of breathing air at lower pressure which means a lower partial pressure of
oxygen PO2. This caused the body to not get enough oxygen to meet demands. This is caused at
altitude by heavy exercise, including carrying and donning gear for diving, and can have signs and
symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, faintness and exhaustion. Counter these by resting
frequently and limit exercise. Can come on suddenly after diving due to the increased pressure
differential of the air at altitude compared to what is in the cylinders. To counter hypoxia, stop, rest
and catch your breath. Resume activity at a slower pace when breathing normally.

NOTE: For us this is less likely as our bodies have become used to breathing thinner air as we live
at a higher altitude than where we dive. But worth remembering if you have travelled and gone
diving as soon as returning to SS.

Hypothermia is when the body core temperature drops, usually caused by exposure to cold air or
water for a period of time. Can be a problem even with wet suits, or dry suits, if in cold water for a
long enough time. It is a common problem with altitude diving as freshwater lakes tend to be colder,
with distinct thermoclines, than the ocean. Signs/symptoms include shivering, numbness and
blueness of skin. In severe cases it can result in death after coordination goes, weakness and
confusion set in followed by unconsciousness. This can be prevented by wearing the correct
exposure suit for the conditions and planned depth, rewarming between dives and ending the dive if
you begin shivering. NEVER ignore shivering as this is the first sign of something that can become
fatal. If hypothermia is suspected wrap victim in warm clothes/blanket to warm up. Severe cases
can require CPR, shock management and EMS.

NOTE: Hypothermia is not usually an issue in Illopango as the lake is usually warmer than the
ocean, probably due to sitting on a 6km deep magma chamber :-)

Equipment considerations
Buoyancy is an issue at altitude. Freshwater is less buoyant but wetsuits are more buoyant due to
the trapped air molecules in the neoprene. Therefore always do a weight check before diving at
altitude.

Use an ascent/descent line as not usually a sloping bottom in a lake. Ascents are very slow at
altitude so the line facilitates this and can help you stay at the required safety stop point.

A slate is very useful as actual depths must be converted into theoretical depth and the depth for a
safety stop is also different. All this can be recorded on a slate.

There are two types of depth gauges and altitude has different effects on them.

Bourdon Tube Gauges read shallower than the actual depth. To correct add 0.3m/1ft to the depth the
gauge shows and add 0.3m/1ft for every 300m/100ft of altitude. Actual depth is converted to
theoretical depth.

Capillary depth gauges deeper than the actual depth as they are based on compressed air in the
capillary tube. This means the capillary tube gauge automatically adjust for altitude. It will read
deeper than actual depth, but it reads the theoretical depth for the altitude at which you are diving.

Electronic gauges vary in their performance so read the manufacturers guidelines/manual.

To use a dive computer at altitude it must be designed for that use. Follow manufacturers
instructions. If a computer cannot be used to calculate equivalent decompression limits it may still
be useful as a depth and timing device.

RDP at altitude
Ascents from depth must be done at 9m/30ft per minute. Twice as slow as at sea level.

Three minute safety stop must be done at the theoretical depth for the altitude.

Make no more than two dives per day when diving at altitude.

When arriving at a dive site at a greater altitude from where you travelled, you have effectively
surfaced from a greater pressure. This means that the nitrogen in your body is at a greater level than
the surrounding air. This residual nitrogen has to be taken into account when planning a dive. You
can either allow a 6 hour surface interval before diving, i.e. arrive at the dive site the evening before
and dive in the morning, or add two pressure groups to the RDP for every 300m/1000ft of altitude,
or part there of. (always round UP). When diving above 2400m/8000ft always wait 6 hours.

Theoretical depths are the equivalent depths for decompression calculations of the actual depth of
the dive. Use chart supplied for this calculation. Remember the actual depth is less than the
theoretical depth and the maximum depth for recreational diving is a theoretical depth of 40m.

After more than 6 hours at altitude a diver's body nitrogen has equilibrated with the surrounding
atmosphere. Therefore due to these lower nitrogen levels more restrictive rules apply when diving
at an even higher altitude. For RDP table use an acclimated diver is one who has spent over 6 hours
between 1200m/4000ft and 3000m/10,000ft. If acclimated to less than 1200m/4000ft proceed as if
acclimated at sea level.

NOTE: according to these rules we all live at sea level when diving in the lake at Illopango.

For acclimated divers ascending to a higher altitude they must add 4 pressure groups for each
300m/1000ft of difference. Always round up to the next dive altitude and down for the acclimated
altitude.