Dry Diving Information, Dry Dive dates and costs, Midlands Diving Chamber

What is Dry Diving?

Dry diving is exactly as it sounds. A hyperbaric chamber is the perfect environment to test a diver's ability at depth, but in a safe and water-free environment.

View the dry diving photo and video gallery

View the feedback from dry divers

Decompression illness DCI can result from a diver's inability to handle nitrogen narcosis.

If a diver is underwater the first time they experience narcosis, they can panic and risk DCI.

A dry dive can prepare a diver mentally for what can happen underwater.

Book a Dry Dive with the Midlands Diving Chamber

Inside the Midlands Diving Chamber

Inside the chamber.

Recompression Chamber at Midlands Diving Chamber

What happens in Dry Diving?

Two dry dives are available: to a depth of 40 metres or 50 metres.

For the 40m dive:

  • The divers fill in a self-declaration medical form. Any questions ticked YES must be covered by a Dive Doctor's clearance form. (These can be done at MDC with enough notice).
  • Divers change into scrubs (provided).
  • After a briefing, divers (maximum of 10) enter the chamber accompanied by an MDC supervisor.
  • The chamber is compressed to 40m.
  • After maximum bottom time is reached, decompression begins.
  • At the end of the session there is a post-dive briefing plus time for questions and logbook stamping.

For the 50m dive:

  • The divers fill in a self-declaration medical form. Any questions ticked YES must be covered by a Dive Doctor's clearance form. (These can be done at MDC with enough notice).
  • Divers change into scrubs (provided).
  • After a briefing, divers (maximum of 10) enter the chamber accompanied by an MDC supervisor.
  • The chamber is compressed to 50m.
  • After maximum bottom time is reached, decompression begins.
  • Divers decompress on a 100% oxygen.
  • On coming out of the chamber there will be a post-dive briefing and time for questions and logbook stamping.

Please remember that like a wet dive, a dry dive does carry a risk of DCI, although an extremely minimal one as the environment is carefully controlled. Please report any abnormal symptoms immediately.

Costs and Requirements for Dry Diving

A minimum of 6 divers is needed to dry dive up to a maximum of 20.

Cost per diver is £30.00 for the 40m dive and £40.00 for the 50m dive.

Payable on the day by cash or cheque.

Divers must be at least 18 years old for insurance reasons.

Divers must bring along a certification card or logbook so it can be sighted by chamber staff.

Any individual who requires a diving medical to dive, must bring it along so it can be sighted by chamber staff.

Dates of Dry Diving

To find out dates when the Midlands Diving Chamber is running Dry Dives, please click here.

MDC - Run By Divers For Divers