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…

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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