Deep diving and short decompression by breathing mixed gases

Abstract

A series of test dives carried out by 14 subjects in depths between 130 and 1,000 ft. for periods varying between 5 min and 2 hr revealed that changes of the inert gas in the breathing mixture permit a considerable shortening of the decompression time. The physical and physiological basis of the method is discussed. physiological properties of He, N2, and Ar related to molecular weight and solubility; differences in diffusion rate and saturation speed of He, N2, and Ar Submitted on January 18, 1965