What defines a repetitive dive?

A repetitive dive is specifically defined as a dive that occurs after a previous dive and is started more than 10 minutes and less than 12 hours after the previous dive. This definition is critical for understanding the implications of nitrogen saturation in the body and for effective dive planning, particularly concerning decompression sickness risk.

When a diver completes a dive, nitrogen levels in their body increase. If a second dive is conducted within this timeframe, it can complicate the diver's nitrogen loading and risk of decompression sickness. This time frame allows divers to plan their subsequent dives while considering residual nitrogen from the previous dive.

Other definitions, such as a dive started immediately after another or one performed on the same day, do not capture the full context needed to manage dive safety effectively. The distinction of starting more than 10 minutes but less than 12 hours provides a clearer framework for categorizing dives based on their proximity in timing to prior dives, which is essential for safe scuba diving practices.