Scubapro-uwatec ALADIN PRO NITROX User Manual

THE SYSTEM
®
depth
O
% MIX
2
NO STOP
max. depth
®
OPERATING MANUAL
American
dive time
Feet
SWISS MADE BY UWATEC AG
Safety considerations
You must carefully read this entire manual before using your Aladin® Pro Nitrox.
Diving has many inherent risks. Even if you follow the instructions of this manual in a careful fashion, it is still possible that you may be
WARNING
The Aladin® Pro Nitrox is a decompression tool to assist a trained and certified diver in making decisions concerning dive planning and execution. As with any tool, the Aladin® Pro Nitrox may be misused if the following safety and operational precautions are not strictly followed. If they are followed, car eful use of the Aladin® Pro Nitrox can increase your diving enjoyment and reduce your risk of decompr ession sickness. If they are not, you will be placing yourself at serious risk for decompression sickness. While the Aladin® Pro Nitrox is a technically advanced tool based on biophysical models of decompression sickness and oxygen toxicity, neither it nor any other diving computer (or table) can actually monitor the physiological changes that occur in your body as you dive. In addition, each diver will vary in his or her susceptibility to decompression sickness. Not only that, but each individual diver‘s own susceptibility may vary from day to day . Combined with the fact that decompression modelling is an inexact science, and of necessity must be based at least partly on certain unproven assumptions, it is incumbent upon you, the individual diver , to dive responsibly and to carefully follow all standar d safe diving practices as well as the admonitions contained in this manual.
Operating Manual Aladin® Pro Nitrox
seriously injured or die from decompression sickness, oxygen toxicity or some other inherent risk of scuba nitrox. Unless you are fully aware of these risks and are willing to personally accept and assume responsibility for those risks, do not use the Aladin® Pro Nitrox!
B
Aladin® Pro Nitrox–The Diving System
depth
dive time
max. depth
DIVE
deco info
®
–+ E
Interface and logbook-software DataTrak (Option) Dive Computer Aladin® Pro Nitrox
B
C
Operating Manual Aladin® Pro Nitrox
Operating Manual Aladin® Pro Nitrox
Important remarks concerning signal words and symbols
This operating manual makes use of the following icons to indicate especially important comments:
Remarks: Informations and tips which are important for optimal use of the functions of
your Aladin® Pro Nitrox.
WARNING
– + E
D
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.
The following symbols are used in the operating manual:
flashing display
acoustic alarm signal
B
Operating instruction for manual input (Example: bridging contacts B and E)
February 1996, Copyright by Uwatec Switzerland
Operating Manual Aladin® Pro Nitrox
Safety considerations
Guidelines for the use of Aladin® Pro Nitrox:
The following guidelines for using Aladin® Pro Nitrox are derived from the latest medical research and the recommendations of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences for diving with diving computers. Following these guidelines will greatly increase your safety while diving, but cannot guarantee that decompression sickness will not occur.
– The Aladin® Pro Nitrox is designed for dives made with nitrox and compressed air ( 21% O2) only . Do not use
the Aladin® Pro Nitrox for dives made other mixed gases.
– It is absolutely necessary to check the set mixture before each dive and to compare it to the gas mixture
actually used.
Always remember: Setting a wrong mixture cause either insufficient decompression calculations or a too
low calculation of the oxygen-toxicity!
– In accordance with the recommended maximum diving limit of all instructional agencies, do not dive
deeper than 130 feet.
– Always check the diving limits given by the used share of oxygen.
– Do not use the Aladin® Pro Nitrox for planned decompression diving. The decompression algorithm contained
in the Aladin® Pro Nitrox should be used only for emergency or unintended decompression.
Operating Manual Aladin® Pro Nitrox
E
Safety considerations
– On all dives with the Aladin® Pro Nitrox, make a safety stop for three to five minutes within the ten to thirty
feet zone.
– Never use the Aladin® Pro Nitrox for repetitive, “square“ dives deeper than 60 feet. A squar e dive is a dive
that is performed for its duration at a uniform depth.
– Always make the deepest dive of the day first when repetitive dives are planned, and for each successive
dive make sure that the deepest portion of that dive is done at the beginning of the dive.
– All divers using dive computers to plan dives and indicate or determine decompression status must use
their own computer.
– If the Aladin® Pro Nitrox fails at any time during the dive, the dive must be terminated, and appropriate
surfacing procedures (including a slow ascent and a 3 to 5 minute safety stop) should be initiated immediately .
– On any given dive, all divers in a buddy group must follow the most conservative dive computer for that
particular dive.
– You should not dive for a period of twenty-four hours before activating the Aladin® Pro Nitrox to use it to
plan or control your diving.
F
Operating Manual Aladin® Pro Nitrox
Safety considerations
– You MUST follow the ascent rates as indicated by the Aladin® Pro Nitrox, and should the computer fail for
any reason, you must ascend at a rate of no greater than 60 feet per minute.
– Y ou MUST be familiar with all signs and symptoms of decompr ession sickness before using the Aladin® Pro
Nitrox! Seek IMMEDIATE treatment for decompression sickness should any of these signs or symptoms occur after a dive! There is a direct correlation between the efficacy of treatment and the delay between the onset of symptoms and the treatment for decompression sickness.
– Always observe the optical and acoustic alarm signals of the Aladin® Pro Nitrox. Avoid situations of incr eased
risk which are marked with a warning sign in this operating manual.
– Never dive the Aladin® Pro Nitrox to the limit. Neither the Aladin® Pro Nitrox, nor any other diving computer
or decompression table should be pushed to its limit. Give yourself a margin of safety by always leaving at least a few minutes in the “no-stop“ box before making your ascent.
– Avoid repeated ascents and descents (yo-yo diving) while using the Aladin® Pro Nitrox.
Operating Manual Aladin® Pro Nitrox
G
LIST OF CHAPTERS
I INTRODUCTION 1
II ALADIN® PRO NITROX – THE SYSTEM 13
III DIVING WITH ALADIN® PRO NITROX 31
IV DIVING AT REDUCED RISK WITH ALADIN® PRO NITROX 57
V LOGBOOK 67
VI DIVE PLANNER 73
VII INTERFACE 83
VIII TROUBLE SHOOTING 87
IX APPENDIX,
Maintenance, Technical Information, Warranty
91
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
I INTRODUCTION
1. Aladin® Pro Nitrox: Your Personal Companion ______________________________________ 2
2. Aladin® Pro Nitrox ______________________________________ 3
3. Aladin® Pro Nitrox – Reducing Risks of
Decompression Sickness ______________________________________ 7
4. The Calculation Model ZH-L8 ADT 4.1 Description_________________________ 9
4.2 Advantages _______________________ 11
5. Safety in Diving _____________________________________ 12
I Introduction
1
I
1. Aladin® Pro Nitrox – Your Personal Companion
What can further increase your diving pleasure? The good feeling of having the highest possible safety and freedom to move. A dive computer which constantly controls the data of your dive and your individual behavior meets these requirements. Aladin® Pro Nitrox watches over the nitrogene and oxygene saturation of your body without interruption. With Aladin® Pro Nitrox you dive more safely than ever before. In addition, Aladin® Pro Nitrox offers an unmatched comfort in carrying and operation. Aladin® Pro Nitrox gives you increased safety due to the new calcula­tion model. All in­formations necessary for safe diving are combined in one in­strument. The Aladin Pro Nitrox can increase
®
both your diving pleasure and safety by reducing your risk of decompression sickness provided you
carefully follow the instructions and
guidelines given you in this manual.
Unlike previous diving computers, which only base their decompressin
information on depth and time data,
the Aladin® Pro X Nitrox also considers
temperature, which
is known to be additional
risk factor for decompression sickness.
Aladin® Pro Nitrox allows you to plan and
execute dives with a greater degree of safety
than with previous models of decompression
computers.
Please read this operating manual carefully and to the last page.
2
I Introduction
2. Introduction Aladin® Pro Nitrox
Nitrox is a gas mixture consisting of nitrogen and oxygen. The kind of air used for diving with compressed air is the same as the normal air of the earth‘s atmosphere (78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% inert gases). Therefore, normal air is also Nitrox!
When talking of Nitrox as the breathing gas for diving, it concerns a mixture with a higher share of oxygen. A higher share of oxygen (and automatically the reduction of the share of nitrogen) has the advantage of lengthening the no-stop phase (or reducing the decompression phase), since less nitrogen is dissolved in the diver‘s body during the dive.
But the higher share of oxygen in the Nitrox-mixture also causes additional physiological problems by the toxic effects at a higher partial pressure of oxygen (ppO2). When breathing oxygen at a higher partial pressure, two kinds of oxygen toxicity can occur:
I Introduction
I
CNS damages: Symptoms of poisoning occuring at short notice in the central nervous system(CNS). Such symptoms are: irritations of the respiratory organs, sickness, headache, pulmonary oedema, cramps, uncon­sciousness. The symptoms occur at a ppO2 of more than 1 bar and depend on the term of exposure and on the partial pressure of oxygen.
Damages of the lungs: Symptoms of pulmonary poisoning occuring in the long run. The symptoms occur at a ppO2 from 0.5 bar and higher and with terms of exposure in the range of days/weeks.
Aladin® Pro Nitrox considers the short term toxic effect of oxygen (CNS damages) by means of the so called „oxygen-clock“. It is based on a list which showa the units of toxicity for oxygen per unit of time in dependence of the ppO2. The indication of toxicity uses „CNS O2 %“ (= relative toxicity of oxygen for
3
2. Introduction Aladin® Pro Nitrox
the central nervous system). CNS O2 0% corresponds to the normal state before the first dive, and CNS O 100% corresponds to the critical upper limit. The list, initially published by the US Navy , is nowadays known by the names IANTD- orNOAA-list. We modified this list for the use with Aladin NitroX in cooperation with Dr. Bill Hamilton, Hamilton Research Ltd. (Tarrytown, NY), a well-known specialist.
The long-term kind of oxygen poisoning has practically no relevance for diving with independent diving equipment and is therefore not considered in the design of Aladin Nitrox.
The physiological peculiarities of oxygen and the changing decompression due to the reduced share of nitrogen require a profound training, if nitr ox is used for diving. Additional technical problems with the use and the maintenance of parts of the equipment bear further dangers when diving with nitrox. Therefore,
we recommend to adhere to the following guidelines by all means.
2
4
I Introduction
2. Introduction Aladin® Pro Nitrox
WARNING WARNING
I
1. Only dive with nitrox if you have been trained thoroughly by a recognised institution.
2. Only use Aladin® Pro Nitrox with open breathing systems. Aladin® Pro Nitrox must be set for a determined gas mixture. In partially-open and in closed circulation-systems, the gas mixture can vary considerably. The calculations may yield results different from those necessary for the actual muxture.
3. Only use Aladin® Pro Nitrox for diving with an indepent breathing apparatus. Aladin® Pro Nitrox is not designed for long-term exposures with Nitrox.
I Introduction
4. Aladin® Pro Nitrox always calculates consider­ing the gas mixture set by the user . It is absolu­tely necessary to check the set mixture before
each dive and to compare it to the gas mixture
actually used. Maximum deviation from the measured mixture must not exceed 1% O2. A wrong gas mixture can be lethal!
5. Aladin® Pro Nitrox disposes of a ppO2-warning, the default-limits of which are set at 1.5 bar
max
ppO
. This limit can be adjusted via Interface/
2
Data Talk in the range of 1.2 to 1.95 bar. An alternation of the ppO bar is risky and we do not recommend it.
max
to higher than 1.6
2
5
2. Further Remarks on Aladin® Pro Nitrox
WARNING
6. Frequently check the „oxygen-clock“ (CNS O Limit), especially in the range higher than 1.5 bar ppO2. Close the dive if the CNS O2 Limit exceeds 75%.
7. Make sure you have a sufficiently long surface interval, just as when diving with compressed air. Oxygen also needs sufficient time to leave the body. Go on the next dive only when the CNS O2 Limit has dropped below 40%.
8. Of course, Aladin® Pro Nitrox is a personal
instrument like any other diving computer . This
also applies when diving with compressed air between two nitrox®-dives. Aladin® Pro Nitrox can be adjusted to compressed air (21% oxygen)
WARNING
2
and then also includes the calculation of the CNS O2 Limit in the same way as with any other nitrox-dive. Always remember: setting a wrong mixture causes either insufficient decompression calculations or a too low calculation of the oxygen-toxicity!
6
I Introduction
3. Aladin® Pro Nitrox–Reducing Risks of Decompression Sickness
By considering your individual gas mixture, depth and time profile and water temperature, the Aladin® Pro Nitrox can be considered a personal diving control instrument. Relying on the latest results of medical and physiological research for its decompression modeling, the Aladin® Pro Nitrox differs from earlier diving computers in a number of significant ways:
I
WARNING
You must strictly observe all optical and acoustic alarms and take appropriate action based upon those alarms to avoid serious injury or death from decompression sickness!
• The ZH-L8 ADT decompression calculation model
considers eight body tissues as well as the ambient temperature. This allows for an even more precise calculation of a modelled risk for decompression sickness which can lead to greater diving safety.
• The Aladin® Pro Nitrox uses both optical and
acoustic alarms. The acoustic alarm uses varied sound signals to assist in establishing the reason for the alarm.
I Introduction
• By using the Aladin® Pro Nitrox‘s logbook, a diver may directly call up information from the last 19 dives. When interfaced with a personal computer, 37 dives and 200 minutes of dive profile in intervals of 20 seconds can be read out.
• The dive planner allows the advance planning of no stop dives with readily determinable surface intervals.
7
3. Aladin® Pro Nitrox - Reducing Risks of Decompression Sickness
WARNING
Although the Aladin® Pro Nitrox can be used to plan decompression dives, such dives are beyond the realm of recreational or sport diving and must not be attempted by recreational or sport scuba divers.
• The Aladin® Pro Nitrox is designed to be mounted on the diver‘s left or right wrist, which offers the maximum freedom of movement as well as easy operation and use.
8
I Introduction
4. The Calculation Model ZH-L8 ADT
4.1 Description
The Aladin® Pro Nitrox uses a new decompression calculation model known as the ZH-L8 ADT. This model uses eight compartments or “tissue“ groups with nominal half time periods from 5 to 640 minutes. This model differs considerably from other models by its consideration of the following additional physiological processes:
1. Blood perfusion to the body‘s organs is not constant. Skin and muscle tissues are in particular subject to changes in blood perfusion, depending on temperature and work load. Changes in blood perfusion to these organs change their nitrogen saturation tolerance. The model used by the Aladin® Pro Nitrox takes these effects into account and thus the “skin“ and “muscle“ compartments in the Aladin® Pro Nitrox show variable half-time periods and saturation tolerances.
Decompression information is calculated
I Introduction
I
according to the diver‘s individual behavior and decrease in skin temperature. The decrease in skin temperature is based upon the water temperature and the dive time. By considering
these changes in saturation, the
time that must
be spent at
the
surface
prior to
flying
can be
considerably
lengthened, depending
upon the depth, time,
and temperature of a dive, as well as the
diver's behavior during that dive.
9
4. The Calculation Model ZH-L8 ADT
2. The decompression model used by the Aladin® Pro Nitrox considers nitrogen in both its dissolved as well as its gaseous phase (microbubbles). Formati­on of microbubbles is considered to be a strong indicator of a high risk of decompression sickness. The Aladin® Pro Nitrox model calculates the formation of microbubbels depending on various assumed influences in arterial and venous blood. In normal, slow ascents, microbubbles form mainly in venous blood. During fast ascents, microbubbles may also form in arterial blood and in the body‘s tissues as well. If a particular dive profile may result in the creation of microbubbles according to the Aladin® Pro Nitrox‘s model, decreased bottom time and/or increased decompression times as well as increased “no fly“ time will be indicated.
• Microbubbles can form if the diver makes too fast an ascent, ignores required decompression stops, or makes repeated ascents during a dive (yo-yo diving). These microbubbles can form in arterial
blood as well as in the body‘s tissues. If these microbubbles partially impair circulation, the rate of gas diffusion and saturation tolerance for those tissues immediately surrounding this area of impaired circulation are changed. If requir ed, both decompression time and RBT will be adjusted in such a way that already existing microbubbles will stop growing. Increased decompression time will also assist those local areas of impaired circulation to desaturate with less risk of decompression sickness.
• The calculation of microbubbles results in altered ascent instructions. If microbubbles are assumed to be present based on the data used by the Ala­din® Pro Nitrox, the ascent rate to the surface is reduced to 23 feet/minute. This will help prevent the formation of microbubbles in the arterial circulation and minimizes formation of micro­bubbles in the venous circulation after the dive.
10
I Introduction
4. The Calculation Model ZH-L8 ADT
4.2 Advantages
On the first dives following responsible diving procedures, a diver using the Aladin® Pro Nitrox should never be required to decompress, although a three to five minute safety stop between ten and thirty feet is recommended for every dive. If, however, unplanned circumstances arise during the dive which increase the risk of decompression, the Aladin® Pro Nitrox can, if closely followed, reduce the risk of decompression sickness by reducing remaining bottom time and/or increasing decompression time. Some of the more common risk situations are as follows:
• Repetitive dives, especially those deeper than 60 feet and those with short surface intervals.
• Repetitive dives using square dive profiles.
• Repetitive diving over the course of several successive days.
• Diving in cold water.
• Y o-yo diving (repeated descents and ascents to the surface during a given dive).
I Introduction
I
• Flying within 24 hours after diving.
If a diver experiences any of these risk factors while diving, the Aladin® Pro Nitrox will add required decompression time in order to help minimize the risk of decompression sickness.
WARNING
Do not use the Aladin® Pro Nitrox for planned decom-pression dives!
If signs or symptoms of decompression sickness occur after diving with Aladin® Pro Nitrox, seek IMMEDIA TE treatment at the nearest recompression facility.
11
5. Safety in Diving
With its new decompression model, the Aladin® Pro Nitrox is an extremely versatile tool which can increase your diving comfort and safety. As with any diving tool, however , ultimate responsibility for diving safety remains with the individual diver . The same responsible diving practices taught by all diving certification agencies are still absolutely necessary in order to safely dive with the Aladin® Pro Nitrox.
Certain mistakes which may be made by a diver , such as ascending at an excessive rate, going too deep, or staying too long at depth, may be overcome if the diver carefully follows the Aladin® Pro Nitrox‘s corrected ascent instructions. Of course, the Aladin Pro Nitrox can do nothing to prevent the occurrence of lung overexpansion injuries or nitrogen narcosis, whose avoidance lies solely with the individual diver. The Aladin® Pro Nitrox is a highly sophisticated technical instrument which, if used and maintained properly , will have high r eliability. Despite this no dive should be made with an Aladin® Pro Nitrox without a
thorough understanding of decompression theory and dive table use, and every diver must have a set of decompression tables with him on every dive.
WARNING
Do not use the Aladin® Pro Nitrox without a set of accepted nitrox diving tables with you as a back up decompression tool on every dive.
Should decompression sickness occur, whether the
®
Aladin® Pro Nitrox was used correctly or not, a detailed history of the previous dives may be used to allow a better diagnosis and the most effective treatment for the diver.
12
I Introduction
II ALADIN® PRO NITROX – THE SYSTEM
1. Description _____________________________________ 14
2. Dive Computer 2.1 Operation _____________________________ 16
2.2 Operating scheme for surface functions ____ 17
2.3 Operating modes_______________________ 23
II Aladin® Pro Nitrox - The System
13
II
1. Description
depth
.
NO STOP
max. depth
®
deco info
dive time
The Aladin® Pro Nitrox system consists of three units:
1 The dive computer displays only the important
general dive- and decompression data.
1
depth dive time
CNS O
LIMIT
2
%
NO STOP
max. depth deco info
14
II Aladin® Pro Nitrox - The System
1. Description
2 The dive computer has a data memory which stores the dive data. The data can be transmitted to a MS-
DOS personal computer with the logbook program DataTrak via an interface (available as an option).
2
depth
dive time
max. depth
DIVE
deco info
®
II
II Aladin® Pro Nitrox - The System
15
2. Dive Computer
2.1 Operation Switching on display: – automatically, on submerging in water or when adaptation to atmospheric
pressure is necessary.
– manually by manipulating contacts on housing.
Switching off display: – automatically, after three minutes without operation.
Aladin® Pro Nitrox has 4 operating contacts B, E, +, – on the outside of the housing. For manual operation, touch base contact B and any one of the other three contacts above the display with moistened fingers.
16
max. depth
depth
B
dive time
Contact B: Base contact, which has to be touched for all
operations.
Contact E: Enter contact. It serves the switching on of the
deco info
®
computer, the activation of logbook and dive-plan mode and the switching between no-stop and decompression planning. It is also used to confirm inputs and is therefore comparable to the ENTER- or
+
E
RETURN-key of a computer.
+ / – contacts: They initiate the selection of the logbook and dive-
plan as well as the setting of values (time, depth, dive­number etc.).
II Aladin® Pro Nitrox - The System
2. Dive Computer
depth
dive time
deco info
max. depth
2.2 Operating scheme
for surface functions
6
Input stage
DIVEPLAN
DIVEPLAN
II Aladin® Pro Nitrox - The System
(or 3min)
(or 3min)
depth
dive time
max. depth
deco info
depth
dive time
max. depth
deco info
B and E B and + B and –
Sleep
1
Surface Sleep
5 4
Input stage Input stage
O2 % MIX
O2 % MIX
(or 3min) (or 3min)
(or 3min)
3s
2
Ready or
Surface
automatically
depth dive time
NO STOP
max. depth deco info
3
Battery
capacity
LOGBOOK
(or 3min)
5sec
LOGBOOK
II
17
2. Dive Computer
1
depth dive time
max. depth deco info
2
depth dive time
O2 MIX
max. depth deco info
depth dive time
O2 MIX
max. depth deco info
Ready-mode Surface-mode
3
depth dive time
max. depth deco info
18
DESATURATION
DO NOT FLY
CNS O
1. Aladin® Pro Nitrox is in a state of rest; no information is displayed (-> sleep-mode or -> surface-sleep-mode).
depth
dive time
max. depth
deco info
2. Bridging B and E activates the display -> ready-
h
LIMIT
2
%
h
mode or -> surface-mode.
depth
dive time
max. depth
deco info
3. A second bridging of contacts B and E activates the display of the remaining battery capacity for approximately 5 seconds. As soon as the battery capacity is 0%, a battery alarm is sent (see page 39). There is still a small reserve left at bAt 0%.
II Aladin® Pro Nitrox - The System
2. Dive Computer
4
depth dive time
O2 % MIX
max. depth deco info
Ready-mode Surface-mode
depth dive time
LOGBOOK
max. depth deco info
depth dive time
LOGBOOK
max. depth deco info
II Aladin® Pro Nitrox - The System
depth dive time
DO NOT FLY
CNS O
LIMIT
2
%
O2 % MIX
DESATURATION
max. depth deco info
h
h
depth
h
dive time
max. depth
deco info
II
4.a) Selecting the logbook function:
B and + Cancel: B and – or automatically after three minutes
depth
dive time
max. depth
deco info
4.b) Activating the logbook:
B and E. Aladin® Pro Nitrox shows the most recent dive.
19
2. Dive Computer
5
20
depth dive time
LOGBOOK
max. depth deco info
depth dive time
O2 % MIX
max. depth deco info
depth dive time
DO NOT FLY
CNS O
LIMIT
2
%
O2 % MIX
DESATURATION
max. depth deco info
h
Ready-mode Surface-mode
or after 3 minutes
depth dive time
O2 MIX
max. depth deco info
depth
dive time
max. depth
deco info
4.c) Leaving the logbook:
B and E or automatically after three minutes.
h
depth
dive time
max. depth
deco info
5. a) Selecting the O2% Mix function:
B and –. Cancel: B and +: or automatically after three minutes.
II Aladin® Pro Nitrox - The System
2. Dive Computer
depth dive time
O2 MIX
max. depth deco info
5.b) Activating the O2% Mix function:
B and E By B and + or B and – the portion of oxygen is set.
depth
dive tim
e
max. depth
deco info
II
depth dive time
O2 % MIX
max. depth deco info
Ready-mode Surface-mode
II Aladin® Pro Nitrox - The System
depth dive time
DO NOT FLY
CNS O
LIMIT
2
%
O2 % MIX
DESATURATION
max. depth deco info
h
5.c) Leaving the O2% Mix function:
h
B and E or automatically after three minutes (new setting is not accepted).
21
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