A buddy team dives to 100 feet for 18 minutes, and after a surface interval of 2 hours and 35 minutes, they dive to 70 feet for 24 minutes. What is their adjusted maximum dive time for a third dive to 45 feet?

To determine the adjusted maximum dive time for a third dive to 45 feet after two previous dives, one must consider the principles of dive tables or dive computers, which account for residual nitrogen from prior dives.

In the first dive to 100 feet for 18 minutes, the divers would accumulate nitrogen. After a surface interval of 2 hours and 35 minutes, they dive again to 70 feet for 24 minutes, further adding to their residual nitrogen load.

The recommended surface interval plays a crucial role in allowing the body to eliminate nitrogen before another dive. Given the relatively longer interval of 2 hours and 35 minutes, some nitrogen would have been off-gassed, making it safer to plan for a third dive.

When assessing the maximum dive time for a deeper dive (in this case, at 45 feet), one would typically refer to the appropriate depth-time limits indicated in dive tables or message from a dive computer. The calculation often involves subtracting the accumulated nitrogen values based on previous dives and factoring in the surface interval.

In this situation, the adjusted maximum dive time determined from the dive tables for a dive to 45 feet, taking into account previous nitrogen absorption from the first two dives and the off-gassing from the surface interval