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OpenDeco Decompression models, data and research

OpenDeco is building tools to compare decompression model implementations and measure them against published evidence.

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Time runs from left to right and nitrogen pressure increases downward. The leading line is the nitrogen pressure the diver breathes through a dive that descends to 30 metres, holds, ascends, and waits 4.2 minutes at 9 metres before surfacing. Four lighter curves trail it: the nitrogen tension of Bühlmann ZH-L16C compartments with half-times of 8, 18.5, 38.3, 109 minutes. All five begin together at the resting surface value. The fastest compartment follows the breathed pressure within minutes while the slowest barely moves, and after the ascent every tension stays above its resting surface value, which is the inert gas load decompression has to clear.

Areas of work

Two divers on closed-circuit rebreathers riding diver propulsion vehicles above a reefSCUBAComparing decompression models across single and repetitive dive profiles.Navy diver walking the floor of a test pool in an atmospheric diving suitDefencePublished military diving methods and mixed-gas exposure.Test volunteer and technician seen through the window of a hypobaric chamberAerospaceHypobaric exposure and oxygen prebreathe before extravehicular activity.

Photographs: Nick Zachar/NOAA; Michael Walls/U.S. Navy; NASA. Rights

Research

OpenDeco works on decompression models and the evidence used to test them.

  • Decompression model benchmark

    In progress

    A reproducible comparison of model implementations across shared exposure profiles and published test cases.

    Open project

  • EVA prebreathe

    In progress

    Modelling nitrogen washout and pressure transitions used to reduce decompression-sickness risk before extravehicular activity.

    Open project