Posted by Kendall Raine on March 16, 2001 at 11:02:19:
In Reply to: Deep Stops Beneficial or not? posted by Steve on March 15, 2001 at 22:32:28:
Deep stops are very important. Every study I've seen says so. My own crude Doppler studies also support this. By slowing the ascent rate way down, you go a long way to avoiding the problem of free phase venous gas formation. Once bubbles form, deco efficiency goes way down-hence the need for gruesomely long shallow stops in neo-Haldanean models. Cure the problem deep and the need for log shallow stops diminishes greatly.
Specific to your question, remember that for a dive to 140 or 100 fsw fsw on air, you're actually net off gassing N2 at the 50 stop. Furthermore, you're slowing the ascent rate such that the inert gas gradient is kept lower thus allowing your lungs to filter inert gas in dissolved phase more effectively. You should definitely read Pyle's article.
e-mail me privately if you want additional info.