US Navy Decompression Tables and Procedures, Part One

Table Definitions-1• Depth: Maximum depth attained during a dive• Actual Bottom Time (ABT): Time from leaving surface untilbeginning a direct ascent to the surface• Decompression: Process of eliminating nitrogen from the bodyduring ascent– Linear: One continuous ascent without stopping– Staged: Stops for specific times at specific depths duringascent• No-Decompression limits: Maximum time that can be spent at agiven depth without requiring staged decompression