Suunto VYTEC DS User Guide

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the time needed to reach the surface after the ceiling and safety 
stops have been completed.

YOUR  ACTUAL  ASCENT TIME MAY BE LONGER THAN DISPLAYED 
BY THE INSTRUMENT! The ascent time will increase if you:

•   remain at depth

•   ascend slower than 10 m/min [33 ft/min] or

•   make your decompression stop deeper than at the ceiling.

These factors will also increase the amount of air required to reach 
the surface.

CEILING, CEILING ZONE, FLOOR AND 

DECOMPRESSION RANGE

When in decompression, it is important that you understand the meaning 
of ceiling, fl oor, and decompression range (Fig. 3.20.):

•  The ceiling is the shallowest depth to which you should ascend 

when in decompression. At this depth, or below, you must perform 
all stops.

•  The ceiling zone is the optimum decompression stop zone. It is 

the zone between the minimum ceiling and 1.8 m [6 ft] below the 
minimum ceiling.

• The 

fl oor is the deepest depth at which the decompression stop time 

will not increase. Decompression will start when you pass this depth 
during your ascent.

•  The decompression range is the depth range between the ceiling 

and fl oor. Within this range, decompression takes place. However, it 
is important to remember that the decompression will be very slow 
at, or close to, the fl oor.

The depth of the ceiling and fl oor will depend on your dive profi le. The 
ceiling depth will be fairly shallow when you enter the decompression 
mode, but if you remain at depth, it will move downward and the ascent 
time will increase. Likewise, the fl oor and ceiling may change upwards 
while you are decompressing.

When conditions are rough, it may be diffi cult to maintain a constant depth 
near the surface. In this case it will be more manageable to maintain an 
additional distance below the ceiling, to make sure that the waves do not