If you ascend above the ceiling during a decompression stop, a downward arrow appears in from of the ceiling depth, and a continuous beeping starts. You may surface only after ASC TIME and CEILING have disappeared. This means that the decompression stop and any mandatory safety stop have been completed. Below is an example of a decompression dive with a ceiling of 3 m and total ascent time of 9 minutes. Before you do a decompression dive, you need to understand the meaning of ceiling, ceiling zone, floor, and decompression range. You need to understand these concepts to be able to correctly interpret the guidance provided by the dive computer.

It is always recommended to keep close to the decompression ceiling when ascending. Below the floor 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 slower at or close to the floor compared to the ceiling zone. Suunto and Cressi both use their own RGBM (reduced gradient bubble model) for calculations. Suunto’s comes in on the conservative side while Cressi’s is slightly more liberal. Which model is better? The Leonardo may give you a tiny amount of extra bottom time but there’s not much to really tell them apart.

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Obviously, if you are exceeding the NDL and your dive becomes a decompression dive, the Suunto RGBM penalizes you with extended surface intervals and any subsequent dives will be impacted. Be aware that this is a recreational computer. It is NOT designed for use on planned decompression dives. If you are intending to go into decompression it can be put into gauge mode and used as a bottom timer along with your dive plan.

The Leonardo allows you to easily reset the computer, wiping the memory. This is a great feature for dive centers and schools; each new diver can start fresh. However, we found that if you’re using it as a personal computer, it’s not a function you would use at all. The floor is the deepest depth at which the decompression stop time does not increase. Decompression starts when you pass this depth during your ascent.The blinking ASC TIME text and an upward arrow indicate that you are below the floor. A low priority alarm will also sound. You should start your ascent immediately. The ceiling depth is shown on the left side of the center field, and the minimum total ascent time on the right side. When the decompression dive starts, the NO DEC TIME on your display is replaced by ASC TIME, and a CEILING indicator appears. An upward pointing arrow also prompts you to start your ascent. When conditions are rough, it may be difficult to maintain a constant depth near the surface. In such cases, it is more manageable to maintain a depth somewhat below the ceiling, to ensure that the waves do not lift you above the ceiling. Suunto recommends that you decompress deeper than 4 m (13 ft), even if the indicated ceiling is shallower. Ascent time