Posted by Gerry Smith on March 09, 2001 at 11:03:19:
In Reply to: NAUI & PADI agree on this posted by RaiderKarl on March 09, 2001 at 10:40:57:
Karl,
Toward the end of your post you appear to imply that NAUI and PADI endorse holding your breath during ascent so long as it is below 20'. Is that your message? If so I believe you're off base by a mile.
In NAUI we say never hold your breath - always maintain an open airway - regardless of depth. It's just possible that PADI has some other take on this but I doubt it.
Matt's (and others') point about keeping the epiglottis open serves to satisfy NAUI's open airway rule, but an ascent with your throat holding closed COULD embolize you no matter what the depth. It just might happen in less distance in shallow water where the relative pressure change (hence the expansion in the lungs) is greater.
If I misconstrued your post, ignore mine. Thanx,
GS