Your dive computer indicates you need to make a mandatory decompression stop. Your buddy's dive computer does not. You should:

Your dive computer indicates you need to make a mandatory decompression stop. Your buddy's dive computer does not. You should:

• A. Follow your buddy's dive computer and have yours repaired.
• B. Both follow the most conservative of the two dive computers.
• C. Make a decompression stop that splits the difference between what your buddy's computer requires and what yours does.
• D. None of the above.

Answer: (B)

When two dive computers disagree about decompression, the safer path is to follow the more conservative plan. This is because different algorithms and conservatism settings can produce different decompression obligations, and the more conservative one is designed to protect you from going into a tissue-loading state that could lead to decompression sickness. If your computer shows a mandatory decompression stop, perform that stop as indicated before surfacing, even if your buddy’s computer does not require one. Relying on your buddy’s, or trying to split the difference, increases risk because you could finish the dive underspecified on your own device. Stay with the stop your computer prescribes, complete it, then ascend according to your computer’s instructions.

When two dive computers disagree about decompression, the safer path is to follow the more conservative plan. This is because different algorithms and conservatism settings can produce different decompression obligations, and the more conservative one is designed to protect you from going into a tissue-loading state that could lead to decompression sickness. If your computer shows a mandatory decompression stop, perform that stop as indicated before surfacing, even if your buddy’s computer does not require one. Relying on your buddy’s, or trying to split the difference, increases risk because you could finish the dive underspecified on your own device. Stay with the stop your computer prescribes, complete it, then ascend according to your computer’s instructions.