![](/images/new-backgrounds/1254842/25484247x1.webp)
5.9.5. Personal adjustments
There are personal factors that can affect your susceptibility to DCI, which you can predict in advance, and input into the decompression model. Such factors vary between divers and also for the same diver from one day to another. The
The personal factors which tend to increase the possibility of DCI include, but are not limited to:
•cold exposure - water temperature less than 20 °C/68 °F
•below average physical fitness level
•fatigue
•dehydration
•previous history of DCI
•stress
•obesity
•patent foramen ovale (PFO)
•exercise on or after dive
This feature is used to adjust the computer to be more conservative, according to personal preference, by entering the suitable Personal Adjustment setting with the help of Table 5.5, Personal Adjustment settings. In ideal conditions, retain the default setting, P0. If conditions are more difficult, or any of the factors which tend to increase the possibility of DCI exist, select P1, or even the most conservative P2. The dive computer then adjusts its mathematical model according to the entered Personal Adjustment setting, giving shorter
Table 5.5. Personal Adjustment settings |
| |
Personal | Condition | Desired tables |
adjustment |
|
|
value |
|
|
P0 | Ideal conditions | Default |
P1 | Some risk factors or conditions exist | Progressively more conservative |
P2 | Several risk factors or conditions |
|
| exist |
|
The Suunto Cobra3 also allows experienced divers who are willing to accept a greater level of risk to adjust the RGBM model. The default setting is 100%, which gives full RGBM effect. Suunto strongly advises you to use full RGBM effect. Statistically, very experienced divers have less incidents with DCI. The reason for this is unknown, but it is possible that some level of physiological and/or psychological accommodation can take place when you are very experienced as a diver. Thus, for certain divers and diving conditions, it may be desirable to set attenuated (50%) RGBM mode. See Table 5.6, RGBM model settings.
Table 5.6. RGBM model settings |
| |
RGBM setting | Desired Tables | Effect |
100% | Standard Suunto RGBM model Full RGBM effects | |
| (Default) |
|
50% | Attenuated RGBM model | Smaller RGBM effects, higher risk! |
24