Saturation diving

Saturation diving is a term from the field of Berufstaucherei. With the saturation diving to the problem of increased decompression is encountered in deep dives. In this case, one uses the fact that the gas intake of the body at an elevated pressure is eventually limited. After a certain period at a high water pressure of the body is saturated, a prolongation of the immersion time does not lead to a longer gassing. As the decompression time can be, for example after a dive to depth of 200 m up to seven days, it can not be spent in the water. These methods use a hyperbaric chamber that simulates a gradual rise by around 30 m per day nowadays.

Principle and history

Dives over the zero time addition, due to the dive time or depth, require decompression. In principle, the longer the dive, and the higher the pressure, the more time must be spent for decompression. As the decompression time loss and other expense ( breathing gas, repetitive dives, safety) is connected, a (simple ) decompression is possible, but not in every case useful.

If the maximum saturation of the gases achieved in the body after some time, in depth, the necessary decompression time remains constant. From the perspective of the decompression, it is then irrelevant whether the immersion time is a few hours or a few days.

Since the discovery and exploration of saturation diving from the 1960s, and by researching the gas mixtures and appropriate working techniques were developed. So divides the traditional "wet" decompression due to the long decompression time (hours or days) out. After experiments with underwater stations ( eg Conshelf, Helgoland, Precontinent ) and other " dry" tests were developed following work methodology:

• Stationary pressure chambers on the escort ship for compression and decompression
• Transport divers with diving bell under pressure
• Transport divers with working submarine (diving compartment under pressure)
• Work on site

Offshore application and future

The saturation diving is still one of the key offshore divers working methods. Additions are the use of labor - submarines, robots or machines ( ROVs ) and armored diving suits in recent years and decades. By combining all the methods you can minimize the risks for the diver to optimize the use of labor and reduce costs.

• Professional diving