Question about Hooka diving and breathhold.

[mark9989]

Does anyone know if decrompression is required using a hooka? If so, what is the maximum dive depth in which decompression is not needed, and are their any decompression tables for hooka divers to follow?

2) Since hookas dont use mixed gas, is holding your breath ok?

 

[Erik]

Be careful!

Hookah diving involves breathing compressed gas, and therefore you should use a dive table or computer. If you are diving to a max depth of around 15', then you literally have hours of bottom time without having to do decompression STOPS, but all compressed gas diving involves decompression. In the cases where a deco stop is not needed, you are still required to ascend at a slow rate: this is an extremely important aspect of all compressed gas diving. Whether you're on the end of a hose or breathing from tanks, and whether you're breathing air, nitrox, or other mixes is really irrelevant as far as decompression is concerned, it's just the logistics that are different.
If you are breathing compressed gas (which you are when on a hookah) you must never hold your breath, EVER. 4 metres of seawater is more than enough to cause an embolism upon ascent. The gas you're breathing is compressed; it doesn't have anything to do with what the gases are.
Anyone who wants to use a hookah should take a scuba course first....there are things you must know before breathing compressed gases.
Cheers,
Erik Y.

 

[icarus pacific]

he's such a hoser!

DB's Guru of the Group Hug, Erik is very correct.

Diving with tanks or surface supplied by a hose is to be treated just like a SCUBA dive and all decompression issues need your attention. Good question!


sven

 

[mishu1984]

also...dont spearfish while on hooka...its cheating:naughty

plus ur hooka hose and the shock cord might tangle up, which can be a very big problem given the right circumstances

 

[icarus pacific]

Originally posted by mishu1984
...dont spearfish while on hooka...its cheatingQUOTE]


Yeah, well... it depends where you are. As long as you're using common sense, not leaving the catch to rot on the beach and following the local ways, getting dinner on air ain't a bad thing.

But doing it holding your breath is somthing to strive for.


sven