If a diver experiences asymptomatic omitted decompression after missing a stop greater than 30 fsw and a chamber is available, which treatment is recommended?

• A. Descend to the depth of the first stop and follow the schedule to 30 fsw
• B. Treatment Table 6 (Recompression)
• C. Surface and await recompression later in a chamber
• D. Switch to Oxygen at 30 fsw and continue with existing stops

Answer: (B)

When decompression is missed, bubbles can remain or form in the tissues even if you feel fine. The presence of these gas bubbles is why the option to treat in a chamber with recompression is used—as pressure is increased, bubbles shrink and nitrogen is washed out more quickly, reducing the risk of progression or late symptoms. The standard approach is to use a recognized recompression table (Table 6), which takes the diver to about 60 feet of seawater while breathing 100% oxygen, then follows a controlled ascent per the table. This immediate, higher-pressure therapy addresses the root issue of the missed stop and helps prevent further injury.

Other options don’t provide the necessary pressure to shrink bubbles and speed nitrogen elimination. Simply returning to the first stop or continuing the dive doesn’t offer the hyperbaric environment needed to treat decompression sickness, and surfacing with oxygen at a shallow depth while sticking to the existing schedule delays effective therapy.