What is the recommended maximum ascent rate to avoid decompression sickness?

The recommended maximum ascent rate to avoid decompression sickness is 10 meters (33 feet) per minute. This guideline is established to help divers safely off-gas nitrogen absorbed during the dive, thus reducing the risk of forming gas bubbles in the body tissue, which can lead to decompression sickness.

Ascending at a rate of 10 meters per minute provides a balance between the need to return to the surface efficiently and allowing enough time for nitrogen to be released from the tissues into the bloodstream and then exhaled. This controlled and gradual ascent enables the body to safely manage the changes in pressure.

Ascent rates faster than this can significantly increase the risk of decompression illness, as they provide insufficient time for the nitrogen to be adequately eliminated from the body, leading to potential adverse outcomes. The choice of 10 meters per minute is a widely accepted standard in recreational and professional diving practices to enhance diver safety.