ANDI Ascent & Descent Procedures – Open Circuit Diving
During all ANDI training courses, students are taught to follow a set system of procedures for ascent and descent. These procedures include a number of stops, to enable team cohesion, increase safety and conservative off-gassing.
You don’t need to be an ANDI trained diver to appreciate the value of these protocols – they are relevant to all recreational and technical divers. I teach them as a ‘best practice’, on all my courses, regardless of agency certification.
Descent Procedures
At the Surface – Equipment matching/Group Cohesion – Signal “OK” to descend.
At 2m Depth – Pause Descent and; Buoyancy control, Bubble Check, Buddy contact, Equipment location & security, Correct Gas, Signal “OK to Descend”, Equalize at your own rate
At 5m Depth – Pause Descent and; Buddy Contact & Equalization, Signal “OK to Descend”, Equalize at your own rate
At 10m Depth – Pause Descent and; Buoyancy control, Buddy contact, Equipment location & security, Correct gas, Signal “OK to Descend”, Equalize at your own rate. Stay together…
.
Ascent Procedures (L2) (Rec)
At Bottom Depth – Signal “OK” to ascend
At 9m Depth – Pause ascent for 1 minute; Achieve neutral buoyancy and check for buddy contact, signal “OK” to ascend
At 6m Depth – Pause ascent for 2 minutes; Achieve neutral buoyancy and check for buddy contact, signal “OK” to ascend
At 3m Depth – Pause ascent for 2 minutes; Achieve neutral buoyancy and check for buddy contact, signal “OK” to ascend
Ascent Procedures (L3-5) (Tec)
At Bottom Depth – Signal “OK” to ascend
At 9m Depth – Pause ascent and complete decompression stop and gas switch as required; Achieve neutral buoyancy and check for buddy contact, signal “OK” to ascend
At 6m Depth – Pause ascent and complete decompression stop and gas switch as required; Achieve neutral buoyancy and check for buddy contact, signal “OK” to ascend
At 3m Depth – Pause ascent and complete decompression stop and gas switch as required; Achieve neutral buoyancy and check for buddy contact, signal “OK” to ascend; Achieve neutral buoyancy and check for buddy contact, signal “OK” to ascend
