Suunto DX User Guide
Personal and altitude adjustments
There are several factors that can affect your susceptibility to DCS. Such factors vary between divers and from one day to another.
The personal factors which tend to increase the possibility of DCS include:
- exposure to cold water - less than 20°C (68 °F)
- below average physical fitness level
- fatigue
- dehydration
- stress
- obesity
- patent foramen ovale (PFO)
- exercise before or after dive
The five-step personal setting can be used to adjust the algorithm to fit your DCS susceptibility.
| Personal adjustment | Explanation |
|---|---|
| -2 | More aggressive. Ideal conditions with excellent physical fitness. Highly experienced with many recent dives. |
| -1 | Aggressive. Ideal conditions with good physical fitness. Experienced with some recent dives. |
| 0 | Ideal conditions (default value). |
| 1 | Conservative. Some risk factors or conditions exist. |
| 2 | More conservative. Several risk factors or conditions exist. |
In addition to the personal setting, Suunto DX can be adjusted for diving at different altitudes. This adjusts the decompression calculation according to the selected altitude adjustment.
| Altitude adjustment | Explanation |
|---|---|
| 0 | 0 – 300 m (0 – 980 ft) (default) |
| 1 | 300 – 1500 m (980 – 4900 ft) |
| 2 | 1500 – 3000 m (4900 – 9800 ft) |
To change the personal and altitude adjustment settings:
- While in a dive mode, keep pressed.
- Press to enter Personal Altitude settings.
- Press to change the Personal adjustment and confirm with .
- Press to change the Altitude adjustment and confirm with .
- Press to exit.
Traveling to a higher altitude can temporarily cause changes to the equilibrium of dissolved nitrogen in the body. It is recommended that you acclimatize to the new altitude by waiting at least three (3) hours before diving.