Maximum operating depth
Maximum Operating Depth (MOD) is a term used in scuba diving, particularly in technical diving, to refer to the depth at which a particular breathing gas mixture becomes hazardous due to oxygen toxicity.
Definition[edit | edit source]
The Maximum Operating Depth of a gas is the depth at which the partial pressure of oxygen (ppO2) in the breathing mix reaches a level considered to be the maximum safe limit. This limit is generally accepted to be 1.4 atmospheres (atm) for normal diving, and 1.6 atm for decompression stops.
Calculation[edit | edit source]
The MOD is calculated using the formula:
MOD = ((ppO2 / fraction of oxygen) - 1) x 10
Where:
- ppO2 is the maximum safe partial pressure of oxygen, usually set at 1.4 atm for normal diving and 1.6 atm for decompression stops.
- Fraction of oxygen is the proportion of oxygen in the breathing mix, expressed as a decimal.
Considerations[edit | edit source]
While the MOD provides a guideline for safe diving depths, it is not the only factor to consider. Divers must also take into account nitrogen narcosis, decompression sickness, and the no-decompression limit.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Maximum operating depth Resources | ||
---|---|---|
|
|
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD