Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024

Title 46 - Shipping last revised: Nov 04, 2024
Appendix Appendix A - Appendix A to Part 197—Air No-Decompression Limits

The following table gives the depth versus bottom time limits for single, no-decompression, air dives made within any 12-hour period. The limit is the maximum bottom time in minutes that a diver can spend at that depth without requiring decompression beyond that provided by a normal ascent rate of 60 fsw per minute. (Although bottom time is concluded when ascent begins, a slower ascent rate would increase the bottom time thereby requiring decompression.) An amount of nitrogen remains in the tissues of a diver after any air dive, regardless of whether the dive was a decompression or no-decompression dive. Whenever another dive is made within a 12-hour period, the nitrogen remaining in the blood and body tissues of the diver must be considered when calculating his decompression.

Air No-Decompression Limits

Depth (feet): No-decompression limits (minutes)
35310
40200
50100
6060
7050
8040
9030
10025
11020
12015
13010

(Source: U.S. Navy Diving Manual, 1 September 1973.)

authority: 33 U.S.C. 1509; 43 U.S.C. 1333; 46 U.S.C. 3306,3703,6101; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1
source: CGD 76-009, 43 FR 53683, Nov. 16, 1978, unless otherwise noted.