5.11. Safety Stops
Safety Stops are widely considered good diving practice for recreational diving, and
are an integral part of most dive tables. The reasons for performing a Safety Stop in-
clude: reducing sub-clinical DCI, microbubble reduction, ascent control, and orientation
before surfacing.
The Suunto D6i displays two different types of Safety Stops: Recommended Safety
Stop and Mandatory Safety Stop.
5.11.1. Recommended Safety Stops
With every dive over 10 meters, there is a three-minute countdown for the Recommen-
ded Safety Stop, to betaken in the 3–6 m/10–20 ft range. Thisis shown with the STOP
sign and a three-minute countdown in the center window instead of the no-decompres-
sion time.
WHEN STOP IS DISPLAYED,
MAKE A RECOMMENDED SAFETY
STOP FOR 3 MINUTES.
NOTE
The Recommended Safety Stop, as the name implies, is recom-
mended. If it is ignored, there is no penalty applied to the following
surface intervals and dives.
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