Decompression Sickness Following Seawater Hunting Using Underwater Scooters

Since the 1960s there have been several reports of divers suffering from decompression sickness (DCS) after repetitive breath-hold (BH) diving. In the period from 1995 to 2000 John Batle observed apparent DCS in 30 free divers competing with underwater scooters in the sea around Mallorca. The cases were treated successfully with recompression therapy. Two of the typical diving profiles, described by Batle, have been submitted to calculations with a modified Haldane model: a perfusion limited, symmetrical multitissue/multilevel model. The model predicts that the two dive profiles will lead to DCS as recorded. A third profile, confirmed by reports to avoid DCS, also were accurately predicted. In order to protect free divers, John Batle developed a dive table for repeated BH diving. According to our calculations the Batle table does not prevent DCS during prolonged exposures. A alternative range of tables is developed and presented.

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