Cobra3 User's Guide

GLOSSARY
Air time
The amount of dive time remaining, based on a calculation of cylinder pressure
and ambient pressure and present air consumption.
Altitude dive
A dive made at an elevation greater than 300 m/1000 ft above sea level.
Ascent rate
The speed at which the diver ascends toward the surface.
ASC RATE
Abbreviation for ascent rate.
Ascent time
The minimum amount of time needed to reach the surface on a decompression
stop dive.
ASC TIME
Abbreviation for ascent time.
Ceiling
On a decompression stop dive, the shallowest depth to which a diver may
ascend based on computed nitrogen load.
Ceiling zone
On a decompression stop dive, the zone between the ceiling and the ceiling
plus 1.8 m/6 ft. This depth range is displayed with two arrows pointing toward
each other (the ”hour glass” icon).
Central nervous system toxicity
Toxicity caused by oxygen. Can cause a variety of neurological symptoms.
The most important of which is an epileptic-like convulsion which can cause a
diver to drown.
CNS
Abbreviation for central nervous system toxicity.
CNS%
Central nervous system toxicity limit fraction. Also note Oxygen Limit Fraction
Compartment
See "Tissue group".
DAN
Abbreviation for Divers Alert Network.
DCI
Abbreviation for decompression illness.
Decompression
Time spent at a decompression stop, or range, before surfacing, to allow
absorbed nitrogen to escape naturally from tissues
Decompression range
On a decompression stop dive, the depth range between the floor and the
ceiling within which a diver must stop for some time during ascent.
Decompression illness
Any of a variety of maladies resulting either directly or indirectly from the
formation of nitrogen bubbles in tissues or body fluids, as a result of
inadequately controlled decompression. Commonly called "the bends" or "DCI".
Dive series
A group of repetitive dives between which the dive computer indicates some
nitrogen loading is present. When nitrogen loading reaches zero the dive
computer deactivates.
Dive time
Elapsed time between leaving the surface to descend, and returning to the
surface at the end of a dive.
ΔP
Delta P, describing the Cylinder Pressure drop during the dive; the difference
in cylinder pressure between the beginning and end of a dive.
EAD
Abbreviation for equivalent air depth.
EAN
Abbreviation for enriched air nitrox.
Enriched air nitrox
Also called nitrox or Enriched Air = EANx. Air that has some oxygen added.
Standard mixes are EAN32 (NOAA Nitrox I = NN I) and EAN36 (NOAA Nitrox
II = NN II).
Equivalent air depth
Nitrogen partial pressure equivalent table.
Floor
The deepest depth during a decompression stop dive at which decompression
takes place.
Half time
After a change in ambient pressure, the amount of time required for the partial
pressure of nitrogen in a theoretical compartment to go half way from its
previous value to saturation at the new ambient pressure.
HP
Abbreviation for high pressure (= cylinder pressure).
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