Dive Tables

Dive tables are a great resource for scuba divers. A dive table is a chart that is usually printed on cards or come in booklets that will help divers to determine different aspects of particular dives relating to breathing gas and when to take decompression stops during the dive. These dive tables can be found in many different places there are PADI dive tables, NAUI dive tables, navy dive tables and EAD dive tables. Most dive tables are created to assume that the diver will immediately proceed to the depth indicated and stay there for the full duration of the dive without visiting other depths and before returning to the surface.

In most cases a NAUI dive table and PADI dive table will be used among recreational divers and can often include a “how to use recreational dive tables” instruction section. If your booklet or cards did not come with a how to use section you can often find this information on the internet as well as depending on your certification course for scuba diving you will often be taught how to use the dive tables as well as use dive table practice during your certification processes.

A navy dive table is slightly more complicated as there are specific goals and instruction involved for the types of dives included in this training; however they are just as accurate if you are diving to the same depths for the same allotted period of time as any PADI, NAUI or EAD dive table.

A dive table profile and dive table recommendations are always a good starter when jumping into this area of scuba diving. Many organizations suggest a short form no-decompression table, this is often touted as one of the easiest dive tables to fill out and follow. This sort of table is often used as an entry level table and allows for space for you to fill in the table as well according to the dive you have planned. More complicated dive tables can include not only US Navy dive tables but also staged dive tables. You would use a staged dive table if you are diving to different depths and stopping for a specific amount of time in different stages of the dive.

Many times you will want to choose the dive tables that you are more practiced with and comfortable reading as they contain much needed information for you as a scuba diver. No matter what type of dive table you use you will want to know how to read it and to insure the information is the proper information for your specific dive this can be a severe safety issue and mistake if you do not check the depths and times stated before making your dive.