A repetitive dive is any dive that occurs before off-gassing of
nitrogen has completed. This time will vary depending on the dive,
and the dive table used. US Navy Dive tables give a maximum length of
time for this to occur as 12 hours, while NAUI dive tables put it at
24 hours. Under PADI tables you only have 6 hours to off gas
completely. When in doubt being conservative does not hurt but
pushing the boundaries certainly can.
For comparison purposes, a side-by-side exam will easily show
U.S.Navy Dive Tables to be the 'safest', or most conservative, giving
the longest decompression /out gas times, next safest are the (sadly)
now-defunct NAUI tables, which are only slightly less 'safe', or
conservative, while the resort/hotel/rental industry-sponsored PADI
'tables' are simply designed to let a diver belt down a couple more
beer on the 'safety' boat before diving again. Well that's it buddy.
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