Successive Dives Planner

Successive Dives — Key Features

• Plan sequences of multiple dives with surface intervals
• Calculate residual nitrogen loading between dives
• Determine NDL for each subsequent dive
• Suggest minimum surface intervals for desired profiles
• Suggest maximum depth or time for your next dive
• Based on Bühlmann ZH-L16C with configurable gradient factors

Successive Dives — How It Works

Enter your dive sequence: depth, time, gas mix, and surface interval between dives. The planner calculates nitrogen loading from each dive and shows how it affects the next dive's no-decompression limit. Use different modes to verify a sequence, suggest intervals, or find safe depth/time limits.

Why Use Our Successive Dives Planner?

• Safely plan multi-dive days without guesswork
• See exactly how residual nitrogen affects your next dive
• Multiple planning modes for different scenarios
• Based on proven decompression algorithms

Successive Dives — Frequently Asked Questions

Why does residual nitrogen matter?

After a dive, your body retains dissolved nitrogen in your tissues. If you dive again too soon, this residual nitrogen adds to the new dive's loading, reducing your safe no-decompression time. Planning successive dives accounts for this.

What planning modes are available?

Four modes: Verification (check if a sequence is safe), Interval Suggestion (minimum surface interval needed), Depth Suggestion (maximum safe depth for the next dive), and Time Suggestion (maximum safe bottom time).

How many dives can I plan in sequence?

You can plan as many successive dives as you need. Each dive in the sequence accounts for cumulative nitrogen loading from all previous dives.

What algorithm is used for residual nitrogen?

The calculator uses the Bühlmann ZH-L16C model with 16 tissue compartments. Each compartment has a different half-time, ranging from 4 to 635 minutes, which accurately models how your body absorbs and releases nitrogen between dives.

What is the minimum recommended surface interval?

It depends on your dive profiles and remaining nitrogen loading. As a general guideline, most training agencies recommend at least 60 minutes between recreational dives. The calculator shows exactly how much time you need based on your specific dive sequence.

Can I plan repetitive dives over multiple days?

Yes. The calculator models nitrogen loading across multiple dives in a sequence. For multi-day diving, keep in mind that slow tissues can take 12 to 24 hours to fully off-gas, so each day's first dive may still carry residual loading.