Dry Dive Experience – 50m Hyperbaric Chamber
Ever wondered what it feels like to experience 50 metres of depth without getting wet?
Join Dive Rutland for a unique Dry Dive Experience at the Midlands Dive Chamber, where you'll experience the effects of increased pressure in the controlled environment of a hyperbaric chamber.
Dry diving gives you the opportunity to experience simulated depth in a safe, carefully supervised environment. It's a fascinating way to understand how pressure and depth can affect you as a diver, while experiencing the sensation of being at 50m without actually entering the water.
What is a Dry Dive?
Dry diving is exactly what it sounds like – diving without getting wet!
Instead of descending underwater, you enter a hyperbaric chamber where the surrounding pressure is increased to simulate the conditions experienced at depth.
For divers interested in deeper diving, this provides a unique opportunity to experience the effects of increased pressure in a controlled environment.
It's also a great chance to learn more about pressure, nitrogen narcosis and decompression, and to discuss your experiences with the chamber team and fellow divers.
Why Take Part in a Dry Dive?
Understanding how you personally respond to depth and increased pressure is an important part of becoming a confident diver.
A dry dive allows you to experience simulated depth and the associated effects in a controlled environment, helping you understand what you may experience during deeper diving.
But there's another really valuable benefit.
Get to Know Your Local Chamber
Hopefully, you'll never need to visit a hyperbaric chamber as a patient.
However, in the unfortunate event that you or another diver ever does require their assistance, having already been inside the chamber, met the team and experienced how everything works can be incredibly reassuring.
Knowing where you're going, what the chamber looks like, what will happen and who will be looking after you can take away some of the uncertainty at what could otherwise be a stressful time.
Think of it as a bit of a comfort blanket – get to know the chamber before you ever need it.
For us, that's one of the real benefits of this experience. It's not just about simulating 50m; it's about becoming familiar with an important part of the diving safety infrastructure available to local divers.
What Will Happen?
Before entering the chamber, all participants will:
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Complete a self-declaration medical questionnaire.
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Obtain Dive Doctor clearance if required by the medical questionnaire.
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Change into scrubs, which will be provided.
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Attend a full pre-dive briefing.
The group, with a maximum of 10 divers, will then enter the hyperbaric chamber accompanied by a Midlands Dive Chamber supervisor.
The chamber will be compressed to an equivalent depth of 50 metres.
Once the maximum bottom time has been reached, decompression will begin. During decompression, participants will breathe 100% oxygen as directed by the chamber supervisor.
Once you're out of the chamber, there will be a post-dive briefing, an opportunity to ask questions and time to have your dive logbook stamped.
And What About the Really Important Questions?
Of course, no dry dive would be complete without someone asking the all-time classics:
"How do I go to the toilet?"
"Do I get fed?"
"What happens if I need something while we're in the chamber?"
These are exactly the sort of questions you can ask during the briefing – no question is too daft!
You'll be given a full explanation of what to expect before entering the chamber, including how the chamber operates, what happens during compression and decompression, and what you can and can't do while you're inside.
We'll make sure the important stuff is covered!
The Depth
50 metres
This is a dry dive, so you remain inside the chamber throughout the experience.
You'll experience the pressure equivalent of being at 50m without actually being underwater.
Timings
The Dry Dive will have an AM start and will run as a half-day experience.
We're currently awaiting confirmation of the exact timings from the chamber. Full timings and meeting arrangements will be provided as soon as they are confirmed.
Please allow sufficient time for the complete experience, including the pre-dive briefing, chamber session, decompression and post-dive briefing
Important Safety Information
Although the environment is carefully controlled and the risk is extremely low, a dry dive does carry a risk of decompression illness (DCI), just as a wet dive does.
You must report any unusual or abnormal symptoms immediately to the chamber supervisor.
All participants must follow the instructions given by the Midlands Dive Chamber team throughout the experience.
Location
Midlands Dive Chamber
Redwood House
Hospital of St Cross
Barby Road
Rugby
Warwickshire
CV22 5PX
Requirements
Minimum age: 18 years
Minimum qualification: SSI Scuba Diver or equivalent
All participants must complete the appropriate medical self-declaration before taking part.
Where indicated by the medical questionnaire, medical clearance from a Dive Doctor will be required before participation.
Trip Price
We're running this experience cost neutral. That means we're not adding a profit margin to the trip – the price simply covers the costs of organising and running the experience.
£50 – Cash or BACS
Pay by cash or BACS and your place costs £50.
£55 – Online, Card or PayPal
For the convenience of booking and paying online, or paying in store by Credit/Debit Card or PayPal, the price is £55.
The £5 difference covers the additional transaction and payment processing costs associated with card and PayPal payments.
Whichever payment method you choose, the underlying trip cost is the same.
Spaces Are Limited
The chamber experience is limited to a maximum of 10 divers, making this a great opportunity to experience simulated depth as part of a small group.
Whether you're preparing for deeper diving, curious about the effects of pressure, interested in learning more about decompression, or simply want to experience something a little different, this is a unique opportunity to experience 50m of simulated depth without getting wet.
And, perhaps most importantly, you'll get to know your local hyperbaric chamber and its team before you ever need them.
50m. No water. No wetsuit. No bubbles. Just pressure!
As with all Dive Rutland events and trips, our Terms & Conditions apply.
COME DIVING
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