User manual SCUBAPRO-UWATEC ALADIN AIR

THE SYSTEM OPERATING MANUAL B at of f S E T U P cl r ba t se g ge PR O o G ad i W E S de de pth DO N DIV OT EP FLY LO LA GB N DIV OOK pth DO div S L O W et E im e S L O W DIV T EP FLY LO LA GB N DIV OOK NO div et E im e ma x. de DE SA DE TURA CO TIO SPEE N D S N % ft h m h ma x. DE O pth ST OP TO P de DE SA TU CO RATIO SPEE N D S N % ft h m h O pth ST OP TO P tan kd ata ps i ba r de co inf o tan kd ata ps i ba r de co inf o sw sw iss ma d iss ma d e e American ® SWISS MADE BY UWATEC AG Safety considerations You must carefully read this entire manual before using your Aladin® Air. Diving has many inherent risks. Decompression sickness is among the most serious of those risks. Even if you follow the instructions of this manual in a careful fashion, it is still possible that you may be seriously injured or die from decompression sickness or some other inherent risk of scuba diving. 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® Air! WARNING The Aladin® Air is a sophisticated decompression tool to assist a trained and certified diver in making decisions concerning dive planning and execution. As with any tool, the Aladin® Air may be misused if the following safety and operational precautions are not strictly followed. If they are followed, careful use of the Aladin® Air can increase your diving enjoyment and reduce your risk of decompression sickness. If they are not, you will be placing yourself at serious risk for decompression sickness. While the Aladin® Air is a technically advanced tool based on a biophysical model of decompression sickness, 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 standard safe diving practices as well as the admonitions contained in this manual. Operating Manual Aladin® Air B Aladin® Air ­ The Diving System Logbook software DataTrak (option) Bat SETUP off clr bat seg PROG geo adi E W depth dive time S DIVE max. depth deco info depth tank data psi dive time ­ max. depth DIVE + deco info swiss made E tank data psi swiss made B MemoMouse External storage extension for dive data (option) Dive computer Aladin® Air with digital compass Dive computer Aladin® Air with mechanical compass Operating Manual Aladin® Air C Important remarks concerning signal words and symbols This operating manual makes use of the following icons to indicate especially important comments: Remarks: 1 Informations and tips which are important for optimal use of the functions of your Aladin® Air. WARNING 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 Operating instruction for manual input (Example: bridging contacts B and E) July 1996, Copyright by Uwatec Switzerland Operating Manual Aladin® Air D Safety considerations 3 Guidelines for the use of Aladin® Air: The following guidelines for using Aladin® Air 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. ­ In accordance with the recommended maximum diving limit of all instructional agencies, do not dive deeper than 130 feet. ­ Do not use the Aladin® Air for planned decompression diving. The decompression algorithm contained in the Aladin® Air should be used only for emergency or unintended decompression. ­ On all dives with the Aladin® Air, make a safety stop for three to five minutes within the ten to thirty feet zone. ­ Never use the Aladin® Air for repetitive, "square" dives deeper than 60 feet. A square 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. ­ The Aladin® Air is designed for dives made with compressed air only. Do not use the Aladin® Air for dives made with nitrox or other mixed gases. ­ If your diving cylinder is equipped with a reserve or "J"-type valve, make certain that the reserve function is in an open (down) position. Failure to keep the reserve open will result in the improper calculation of the dive data which depends on tank pressure. Operating Manual Aladin® Air E Safety considerations ­ All divers using dive computers to plan dives and indicate or determine decompression status must use their own computer. ­ If the Aladin® Air 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® Air to use it to plan or control your diving. ­ You MUST follow the ascent rates as indicated by the Aladin® Air, and should the computer fail for any reason, you must ascend at a rate of no greater than 60 feet per minute. ­ You MUST be familiar with all signs and symptoms of decompression sickness before using the Aladin® Air! 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® Air. Avoid situations of increased risk for decompression sickness which are marked with a warning sign in this operating manual. ­ Never dive the Aladin® Air to the limit. Neither the Aladin® Air, 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® Air. F Operating Manual Aladin® Air LIST OF CHAPTERS I II III IV V VI VII INTRODUCTION ALADIN® AIR ­ THE SYSTEM DIVING WITH ALADIN® AIR DIVING AT REDUCED RISK WITH ALADIN® AIR LOGBOOK DIVE PLANNER MEMOMOUSE AND DATATRAK/DATATALK 1I 9 II 29 III 53 IV 63 V 69 VI 77 VII 81 VIII VIII TROUBLE SHOOTING IX APPENDIX, Maintenance, Technical Information, Warranty 85 IX I INTRODUCTION 1 Aladin® Air ­ Diving as never before 2 Aladin® Air ­ Your Personal Companion 3 The Calculation Model ZH-L8 ADT ______________________________________ 2 ______________________________________ 3 3.1 Description _________________________ 5 3.2 Advantages ________________________ 7 ______________________________________ 8 I 4 Safety in Diving I Introduction 1 1 Aladin® Air ­ Diving as never before Aladin® Air uniquely combines in a single instrument all the information necessary for save and comfortable diving. The dive computer constantly registers the data of the dive and of the individual comportment of the diver. Aladin® Air controls the gas saturation of your body including air consumption, water temperature and individual performance and permanently displays the prognosis of the remaining dive time. This allows you to make the most of your dive time while diving more safely than ever thanks to the new and revolutionary calculation model. The integrated compass complements the equipment of the Aladin® Air console. The clear arrangement of the data in the displays, the compact, ergonomically optimized design and the comfortable way of carrying make the Aladin® Air an instrument with an additional plus in easy handling and safety. Please read this operating manual carefully and to the last page! For the complementation of Aladin® Air you can choose between the digital compass True Track or a conventional mechanical device. You will find the operation instructions for the compass in a separate manual. 2 I Introduction 2 Aladin® Air ­ Your Personal Companion I By considering your individual depth and time profile, as well as workload and water temperature, the Aladin® Air can be considered a personal diving control instrument. Relying on the latest results of medical and physiological research for its decompression modeling, the Aladin® Air differs from earlier diving computers in a number of significant ways: · The ZH-L8 ADT decompression calculation model considers eight body tissues as well as the diver`s workload and ambient temperature. This allows for an even more precise calculation of a modeled risk for decompression sickness which can lead to greater diving safety. · Aladin® Air is directly connected to the diving equipment by means of a high-pressure hose and therefore permanently receives the current compressed air data. Tank pressure can be easily checked at any time. By monitoring the reduction in air pressure, the Aladin® Air calculates the diver`s work load and provides a prediction of the I Introduction remaining time allowed at the current depth based upon tank pressure and air consumption. Thus the remaining bottom time (RBT) displayed on the Aladin® Air considers depth, tank pressure, as well as air consumption to give the diver a more accurate calculation of when the ascent must be begun according to the calculated decompression program. WARNING If a tank with a reserve or "J"-Type valve is used, the reserve must be in the open (down) position in order to receive a correct air time calculation. · The Aladin® Air uses both optical and acoustic alarms. The acoustic alarm uses varied sound signals to assist in establishing the reason for the alarm. 3 2 Aladin® Air ­ Your Personal Companion 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! WARNING Although the Aladin® Air 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. · By using the Aladin® Air`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. The handy and elegant console with compass (choice between the digital compass True Track or a conventional mechanical compass) and the dive computer Aladin® Air combines all information necessary for safe and comfortable diving. Easy handling, clearly arranged presentation of the data in the displays and the comfortable arrangement of the instruments are the crucial points of the Aladin® Air luxury. 4 I Introduction 3 Calculation Model ZH-L8 ADT I 3.1 Description The Aladin® Air 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 especially 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® Air takes these effects into account and thus the "skin" and "muscle" compartments in the Aladin® Air show variable halftime periods and saturation tolerances. Decompression information is calculated accordI Introduction ing to the diver`s individual workload 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 workload during that dive. 5 3 Calculation Model ZH-L8 ADT 2. The decompression model used by the Aladin® Air 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® Air 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® Air`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 required, 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 basedon the data used by the Aladin® Air, the ascent rate to the surface is reducted 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. 6 I Introduction 3 Calculation Model ZH-L8 ADT I 3.2 Advantages On the first dives following responsible diving procedures, a diver using the Aladin® Air 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® Air 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. · Diving with increased workloads. · Yo-yo diving (repeated descents and ascents to the surface during a given dive). · Flying within 24 hours after diving. If a diver experiences any of these risk factors while diving, the Aladin® Air will decrease remaining bottom time without requiring decompression, or will add required decompression time in order to help minimize the risk of decompression sickness. WARNING Do not use the Aladin® Air for planned decompression dives! If signs or symptoms of decompression sickness occur after diving with Aladin® Air, seek IMMEDIATE treatment at the nearest recompression facility. I Introduction 7 4 Safety in Diving With its new decompression model and calculation of remaining air time at depth, the Aladin® Air 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® Air. 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® Air`s corrected ascent instructions. Of course, the Aladin® Air can do nothing to prevent the occurrence of lung overexpansion injuries or nitrogen narcosis, whose avoidance lies solely with the individual diver. The Aladin® Air is a highly sophisticated technical instrument which, if used and maintained properly, will have high reliability. Despite that, no dive should be made with an Aladin® Air 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® Air without a set of accepted diving tables with you as a back up decompression tool on every dive. Should decompression sickness occur, whether the Aladin® Air 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. 8 I Introduction II ALADIN® AIR ­ THE SYSTEM 1 Description 2 Setting Up _____________________________________ 10 2.1 Mounting the high-pressure hose ________ 12 2.2 Connecting the dive computer ___________ 13 2.3 Disconnecting the dive computer ________ 14 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Switching on and off ___________________ Operating ____________________________ Operating scheme for surface functions ___ Operating modes ______________________ 15 16 17 22 II 3 Dive Computer II Aladin® Air ­ The System 9 1 Description The Aladin® Air system consists of four units: E W S depth DO NOT FLY DIVEPLAN LOGBOOK dive time h DIVE S L O W % SPEED 1 A high-pressure hose establishes the connection between the diving equipment and the dive computer and thereby ensures the measuring of the tank pressure. The hose is connected to the high pressure outlet of the regulator. The dive computer can be detached by means of a bayonet catch especially designed for this purpose and then used for the surface functions independently. 2 2 The dive computer displays all important dive data. The bipartite display shows general dive- and decompression data in the upper part; data calculated on the basis of the measured tank pressure are displayed in the lower part. DESATURATION DECOSTOP NO STOP ft h m max. depth deco info tank data psi bar swiss made depth dive time tank data bar 1 swiss made NO STOP max. depth deco info 10 II Aladin® Air ­ The System 1 Description 3 The dive computer is equipped with a memory which stores dive data. The data can be temporarily stored in the storing extension MemoMouse and from there transferred to a MS-DOS personal computer. 4 The logbook software DataTrak manages the data of entered dives and offers a wide scope of graphical and statistical functions. By means of the control software DataTalk it is possible to alter basic settings of the dive computer (see page 78). MemoMouse and DataTrak/DataTalk 4 are available on the market as options. E W II S depth dive time DIVE max. depth deco info 3 tank data bar swiss made II Aladin® Air ­ The System 11 2 Setting Up 2.1 Mounting the high-pressure hose The high-pressure hose ist mounted on the high-pressure outlet (HP-outlet) of the first stage of the regulator. HP Adaptor Mount the high-pressure hose on the HP-outlet. If the threadings do not match, you can optain an adaptor from your diving retailer. Tighten the connection with a matching wrench. 12 II Aladin® Air ­ The System 2 Setting Up 2.2 Connecting the dive computer Make sure that the tank valve is closed and the regulator is depressurised. ­ Place the bayonet ring of the high-pressure hose on the connecting part of the dive computer in such a manner that the guiding pins of the bayonet ring grip into the guides provided. ­ Turn the bayonet ring to the right until it reaches the stop and than let loose the ring. Make sure that the bayonet ring leaps back a few millimeters. Check the correctness of the connection by forcefully pressing and pulling the hose. The bayonet ring must have a range of spring of a few millimeters. II WARNING ­ Open the tank valve and check the tightness of the connections. The dive computer has switched on the display automatically during the build-up of the pressure. Check if the tank pressure is indicated in the lower display. The display switches off again after three minutes without operation or breathing activity. WARNING II Aladin® Air ­ The System Check tank pressure before every dive. 13