WARNING YOUR ACTUAL ASCENT TIME MAY BE LONGER THAN DIS- PLAYED BY THE INSTRUMENT! The ascent time will increase if you:
•remain at depth
•ascend slower than 10 m/33 ft per minute
•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, floor, and decompression range.
•The ceiling is the shallowest depth to which you should ascend when in decom- pression. 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 1.2 m/4 ft below the minimum ceiling
•The floor is the deepest depth at which the decompression stop time will not in- crease. Decompression will start when you pass this depth during your ascent
•The decompression range is the depth range between the ceiling and floor. Within this range, decompression takes place. However, it is important to remember that the decompression will be very slow at, or close to, the floor
54