Uwatec Aladin Air z User manual

English
THE SYSTEM
®
English
Active Light
SWISS MADE BY UWATEC AG
®
AIR Z
OPERATING MANUAL

2Uwatec®Aladin®Air Z
Operating scheme
Operating scheme
for surface functions
Sleep
Surface Sleep
Ready or
Surface
Battery
capacity
1
2
3
54
5sec
(or 3min)
(or 3min)
3s
(or 3min) (or 3min)
depth dive time
automatically
DIVEPLAN
DIVEPLAN
Input stage
LOGBOOK
LOGBOOK
Input stage
NO STOP
depth dive time
max. depth deco info
tank data
bar
B and E B and + B and –

3
Uwatec®Aladin®Air Z
English
The following symbols are used in the operating manual:
This operating manual makes use of the following icons to indicate especially important comments:
Remarks: Informations and tips which are important for optimal use of the functions of
your Aladin®Air Z.
Attention! Information which draws your attention to situations and special features
important for your diving comfort and the early avoidance of risk situations.
Danger! Alarms which indicate risk situations and dangers. Ignoring these warnings
can lead to situations involving danger to life and limb. These alarms must be
obeyed!
- + E
B
Operating instruction for manual input
Example: bridging contacts B and E
Flashing display
Acoustic alarm signal
Important remarks concerning signal words and symbols
January 2000, Copyright by Uwatec Switzerland

4
Safety considerations
Uwatec®Aladin®Air Z
You must carefully read this entire manual before using your Aladin®Air Z.
Diving has many inherent risks. Decompression sickness is among the most
serious of those risks. Even if you follow the instructions of this manual in a
careful manner, it is still possible that you may be seriously injured or die from
decompression sickness or some other inherent risk of scuba diving. Unless
you are fully aware of these risks and are willing to personally accept and
assume responsibility for those risks, do not use the Aladin®Air Z!
The Aladin®Air Z is a sophisticated dive computer to assist a trained and certified diver in making decisi-
ons concerning dive planning and execution. As with any tool, the Aladin®Air Z may be misused if the fol-
lowing safety and operational precautions are not strictly followed. If they are followed, careful use of the
Aladin®Air Z can increase your diving enjoyment and reduce your risk of decompression sickness. If they
are not, you will be placing yourself at serious risk for decompression sickness.
While the Aladin®Air Z is a technically advanced tool based on a mathematical model of decompression
sickness, neither it nor any other diving computer (or table) can exactly monitor the physiological changes
that occur in your body as you dive. In addition, each diver will vary in his or her susceptibility to decom-
pression sickness and each diver will vary in his or her susceptibility to decompression sickness. In additi-
on to this, each individual diver‘s own susceptibility may vary from day to day. Combined with the fact that
decompression modelling is an inexact science, and must be based to some extend on certain unproven
assumptions, it is emphasis on you, the individual diver, to dive responsibly and to carefully follow all stan-
dard safe diving practices as well as the recommendations contained in this manual.
Guidelines for the use of Aladin®Air Z:
The following guidelines for using Aladin®Air Z are derived from the latest medical research for diving with
diving computers. Following these guidelines will greatly increase your safety while diving, but cannot gua-
rantee that decompression sickness will not occur.
–The Aladin®Air Z is designed for dives made with compressed air only. Do not use the Aladin®Air Z for
dives made with nitrox or other mixed gases.
–Due to the danger of nitrogen narcosis do not dive deeper than 40 m. Aladin®Air Z does not warn you
in this respect.
–On all dives with the Aladin®Air Z, make a safety stop for at least one to three minutes within the 3 to

5
Safety considerations
Uwatec®Aladin®Air Z
English
5 metre zone.
–Always make the deepest dive of the day first when repetitive dives are planned, and for each successi-
ve dive make sure that the deepest portion of that dive is done at the beginning of the dive.
–If your diving cylinder is equipped with a reserve or “J“-type valve, make certain that the reserve is in an
open (down) position. Failure to keep the reserve open will result in the improper calculation of dive data
depending on tank pressure.
–All divers using dive computers to plan dives and indicate or determine decompression status must use
their own computer which they take with them on all dives.
–Repetitive dives after exchanging the dive computer: Wait at least 24 hour before you start with the
repetitive dive.
–If the Aladin®Air Z fails at any time during the dive, the dive must be terminated, and appropriate sur-
facing procedures should be initiated immediately.
–On any given dive, all divers in a buddy group must follow the most conservative dive computer for that
particular dive.
–Always observe the optical and acouctic alarm signals of the Aladin®Air Z. Avoid situations of increased
risk for decompression sickness which are marked with a warning sign in this operating manual.
–You MUST follow the ascent rates as indicated by the Aladin®Air Z and if the computer should fail for
any reason, you must ascend at a rate of no greater than 10 metres per minute.
–You MUST be familiar with all signs and symptoms of decompression sickness before using the Aladin®
Air Z! Seek IMMEDIATE treatment for decompression sickness should any of these signs or symptoms
occur after a dive! There is a direct correlation between the effectiveness of treatment and the delay bet-
ween the onset of symptoms and the treatment for decompression sickness.
–Ensure that you have enough Air for the Ascent. Do not use the RBT to the limit if prolonged ascents or
an increased rate of breathing (currents…) are expected.
–See also page 54-55 and 84.

6Uwatec®Aladin®Air Z
Aladin®Air Z – The Diving System
Dive Computer
Aladin®Air Z
MemoMouse and
logbook software
DataTrak (Option)
- + E
BScreen Guard
(Optional: Several colours)
Transmitter
(Option)

7
Uwatec®Aladin®Air Z
English
List of chapters
Aladin®Air Z – Introduction ___________9
1 Aladin®Air Z –More Safety in Diving ____10
2 Aladin®Air Z –Your Personal Companion_10
3 The Calculation Model ZH-L8 ADT _________
3.1 Description _______________________12
3.2 Advantages _______________________13
4 Safety in Diving _______________________14
Aladin®Air Z – The System ___________15
1 Description
1.1 System hardware __________________16
1.2 Safety of transmission ______________17
2 Transmitter
2.1 Operating modes and functions______18
3 Dive Computer
3.1 Operating ________________________19
Active backlight ___________________20
3.2 Operating modes __________________25
4 Setting Up (Transmitter and
Dive Computer)
4.1 Mounting of the transmitter_________29
4.2 Pairing of transmitter and
dive computer ____________________31
Diving with Aladin®Air Z ____________33
1 Terminology/Symbols
1.1 Display during no-stop phase________34
1.2 Display during decompression phase__35
2 Attention Messages and Alarms ____________
2.1 Attention messages ________________36
2.2 Alarms ___________________________37
I
2.3 Alarm low battery _________________38
3 Preparation for the Dive ________________38
4 Functions during the Dive
4.1 Dive time_________________________40
4.2 Dive depth _______________________40
4.3 Maximum depth___________________40
4.4 Ascent rate _______________________41
4.5 Decompression information _________43
4.6 Tank pressure (only with transmitter)__45
4.7 Remaining bottom time RBT_________46
5 Surface Functions
5.1 End of a dive _____________________48
5.2 Desaturation time _________________48
5.3 No fly time _______________________49
5.4 Warning of bubbles ________________49
6 Diving in Mountain Lakes _______________50
Diving at Low Risk with
Aladin®Air Z ________________________53
1 Diving at Low Risk with Aladin®Air Z
1.1 Dive at low risk____________________54
1.2 Minimizing risks on first dives _______54
1.3 Minimizing risks on repetitive dives ___55
1.4 Action in risk situations_____________56
Logbook ____________________________59
1 Survey_______________________________60
2 Selection and Activation________________61
3 Selection of Dive ______________________62
4 Leaving Logbook-Mode ________________63
5 Output on PC ________________________64
II
III
IV
V

8Uwatec®Aladin®Air Z
VII
Dive Planner ________________________65
1 Survey_______________________________66
2 Selection and Activation from
Ready-Mode__________________________66
3 Selection and Activation from
Surface-Mode ________________________67
4 Planning a No-Stop Dive ______________68
5 Planning a Decompression Dive _________70
6 Leaving the Dive-Plan-Mode ____________71
Communication Software
for Windows®_______________________73
1 MemoMouse, DataTrak and DataTalk
1.1 Personal programming of the
dive computer (DataTalk) ___________ 74
1.2 Analysis and storage of real
dives (DataTrak)___________________ 74
1.3 Updates (DataTrak, DataTalk)________ 74
Trouble Shooting ____________________75
1 Trouble Shooting ______________________76
Appendix ___________________________79
1 Maintenance _________________________80
2 Technical Information _________________ 81
3 Conversion of Tank Pressure ____________82
4 Warranty ____________________________83
4.1 Recognition of warranty ____________83
4.2 Scope of the warranty______________83
4.3 Warranty period and claim __________83
5 Serial No. / Dealer address ______________86
List of chapters
VIII
IX
VI

9
I Introduction
I Uwatec®Aladin®Air Z
English
1 Aladin®Air Z – More Safety in Diving _________________________________________10
2 Aladin®Air Z – Your Personal Companion _________________________________________10
3 The Calculation Model ZH-L8 ADT 3.1 Description ____________________________12
3.2 Advantages____________________________13
4 Safety in Diving _________________________________________14
I

10
1 Aladin®Air Z – More Safety in Diving
I Uwatec®Aladin®Air Z
What can further increase your diving pleasure? The good feeling of having the greatest possible freedom
of movement plus the highest possible safety. A dive computer which constantly monitors the data of your
dive and your individual conduct meets these requirements. Aladin®Air Z watches over the gas saturation
of your body without interruption. With Aladin®Air Z you dive
more safely than ever before, although you can make more of your diving time thanks to the exact calcu-
lation of the air-supply. In addition, Aladin®Air Z offers unmatched comfort and ease of operation. Aladin®
Air Z gives you increased safety due to the new calculation model.
All the information necessary for safe diving are combined in one instrument.
2 Aladin®Air Z – Your Personal Companion
By considering your individual conduct, workload and temperature changes, Aladin®Air Z is your personal
control instrument. Aladin®Air Z relies on the latest results of medical and physiological research for the
calculation of decompression. This research has helped in the development of an adaptive calculation
model unique to the present day.
Aladin®Air Z was exclusively developed for diving with compressed air and distinguishes itself from other
commercial diving computers by a number of new functions:
• The new calculation model ZH-L8 ADT considers for the first time 8 body tissues, the diver’s conduct and
the ambient conditions. Therefore, a more precise decompression indication is possible for risk situati-
ons, which increases safety in these cases.
• The measurements of scuba tank pressure are transmitted to Aladin®Air Z by means of a transmitter.
Faulty transmission of data between transmitter and Aladin®Air Z is prevented by a number of precau-
tions. Tank pressure can easily be checked at any time. In addition, the pressure rates allow calculation
of the diver’s air consumption and a prediction of the remaining air time at the current depth. The cal-
culation for RBT (Remaining Bottom Time) – the time left to the diver until he must start the ascent accor-
ding to the calculated decompression programme – therefore includes consideration of tank pressure
and the individual diver’s rate of air consumption.

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2 Aladin®Air Z – Your Personal Companion
I Uwatec®Aladin®Air Z
English
I
Where a reserve valve is used in order to get correct air-time-calculations diving
has to be done with an open reserve valve!
• Alarms are given optically and acoustically. The reason for the acoustic alarm can be distinguished by
the characteristics of the sound.
• By means of the logbook, the diver can directly call up the information of the last 19 dives.
Via interface to the PC, 37 dives and 200 minutes of precise dive-profile in intervals of 20 seconds can
be read out.
• The dive planner allows the advance planning of no-stop dives and decompression dives
with freely determinable surface intervals.
• The proven way of carrying the dive computer on one’s wrist, giving maximum freedom of movement
and easy operation, plus a clearly arranged display of the data, are the prominent points of comfort of
Aladin®Air Z.

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3 Calculation Model ZH-L8 ADT
I Uwatec®Aladin®Air Z
3.1 Description
The Model ZH-L8 ADT (8 compartments with a nominal half-time period from 5 to 640 minutes) differs
considerably from other models by the consideration of additional physiological processes:
1.Blood perfusion of the organs is not constant. Skin and muscles in particular are subject to considerable
changes of blood perfusion depending on temperature and workload. A change in blood perfusion also
causes a change of the saturation tolerance. The model takes these effects into account. Therefore, skin
and muscle compartments show variable half-time periods and saturation tolerances.
The necessary decompression times are calculated according to the diver’s workload and the decreasing
skin temperature. The decrease of skin temperature is estimated based on the water temperature and
the dive time. At the surface, the diver’s physical performance is lower than during the dive. By consi-
dering the differences in physical performance the no fly time becomes considerably longer.
2.The model considers inert gas not only in the dissolved state, but also in the gaseous phase (microbub-
bles). Formation of microbubbles is calculated with allowance for the different influences in arterial and
venous blood. With normal ascents gas bubbles mainly form in venous blood, with fast ascents also in
arterial blood and on ignoring decompression stops in the tissues. As the model calculates microbubbles,
those physiological processes are reconstructed which actually occur.
The bubbles on the venous side of the circulation are carried into the lungs where they change the arte-
rial nitrogen pressure. This influences mainly repetitive dives, dives with very long decompression times
and the no fly time.
• Gross disregard of the ascent rate, exceeding the decompression depth and repeated ascents to the sur-
face (yoyo dives), can all cause microbubbles to form on the arterial side and in tissues. Where the bub-
bles partially impair circulation, the rate of gas diffusion and the saturation tolerance are changed.
Decompression time, and if necessary decompression depth, are adjusted so that existing bubbles stop
growing. In addition, altered decompression assures that the tissue desaturates sufficiently if microbub-
bles impair circulation locally.
• The calculation of the gas bubbles results in a new ascent instruction. The ascent rate near the surface
is reduced down to 7m/min. This prevents with high reliability the formation of microbubbles in the arte-
rial circulation and minimizes the formation of microbubbles in the venous circulation after the dive.

13
3 Calculation Model ZH-L8 ADT
I Uwatec®Aladin®Air Z
English
I
3.2 Advantages
On first dives with correct diving technique and avoiding risk situations, there are no extended decom-
pression times. On the other hand, it is possible to react correctly in risk situations due to the realistic simu-
lation of the physiological processes in the body. This increases safety considerably. Risk situations are, for
example:
• Repetitive dives (especially with short intervals) and dives on several successive days
• Dives in cold water
• Dives with increased workload (currents, exertion)
• Yoyo dives
• Flying after the dive
• Excessive ascent rate.
In case of mistakes on the part of the diver, actual prevention of decompression sickness is possible for the
first time due to the reconstruction of the bubble formation and its consequences. The correction of the
decompression must not be confused with a real recompression, which serves as therapy of existing damage.

14
4 Safety in Diving
I Uwatec®Aladin®Air Z
With its new decompression model and with the calculation of air-time Aladin®Air Z offers a so far un-
reached level of safety. However, responsibility for the dive finally remains with the diver as before. The
usual diving caution is still absolutely necessary when diving with Aladin®Air Z.
In case of diver mistakes (ignoring decompression stops, excessive ascent rate etc.) Aladin®Air Z can calcu-
late a corrected ascent instruction immediately which minimizes the occurrence of decompression sickness.
The prevention of barotrauma and nitrogen narcosis still lies in the hands of the diver.
Aladin®Air Z is a highly developed technical instrument of high reliability. Despite this the user of the
Aladin®Air Z is to have an understanding of the physiological interrelations, to know the use of decom-
pression tables and to have them on every dive.
Should an incident occur, the detailed previous history of the incident is stored in the dive computer. The
evaluation of these records allows better diagnosis and the most effective treatment for the diver.

15
II Aladin®Air Z – The System
II Uwatec®Aladin®Air Z
English
1 Description 1.1 System hardware __________________________16
1.2 Safety of transmission ______________________17
2 Transmitter 2.1 Operating modes and functions ______________18
3 Dive Computer 3.1 Operating_________________________________19
Active backlight ___________________________20
3.2 Operating modes __________________________25
4 Setting Up (Transmitter and
Dive Computer) 4.1 Mounting of the transmitter _________________29
4.2 Pairing of transmitter and dive computer ______31
II

16
1 Description
II Uwatec®Aladin®Air Z
1.1 System hardware
The Aladin® Air Z system consists of three units:
1The transmitter is installed at the high pressure outlet of the
regulator. It measures tank pressure and radio-transmits the
results to the dive computer, where they are also used for the
calculation of air consumption and dive data.
2The dive computer displays only the important dive data. The 2
part display shows general dive- and decompression data in the
upper part; data calculated on the basis of the measured tank
pressure are displayed in the lower part.
3The dive computer has a data memory which stores the dive
data. The data can be downloaded out into a MemoMouse from
where they can be transmitted to a Windows®personal com-
puter with the logbook program DataTrak. MemoMouse and
DataTrak are available as an option.
It is possible to use
Aladin®Air Z as a con-
ventional dive computer.
In this case calculations
depending on air data
are not possible and the
lower part of the display
does not show air data.
NO STOP
depth dive time
max. depth deco info
1
2
3
tank data
bar

17
1 Description
II Uwatec®Aladin®Air Z
English
II
1.2 Safety of transmission
Data transmission from transmitter to receiver is supported by various levels of safety in order to ensure
continuous and reliable reception:
1.Each transmitter works with an allocated address. This address is commu-
nicated to the dive computer on pairing. There are more than 60,000 addres-
ses. This assures that no two transmitters send on the same channel. The pai-
ring of transmitter and receiver is also carried out by a process with various
safety levels in order to prevent faulty pairing.
2.Data are transmitted with an average interval of 5 seconds. The exact point
in time of the transmission is variable. This prevents two transmitters from
disturbing each other for longer periods.
3.Together with the pressure data additional informations are transmitted. This
allows reconstruction of faulty data and, on the other hand, where this is
no longer possible, recognition of useless data.
By means of these safety measures, faulty transmission is almost impossible.
In spite of that, the transmitted measurements are subjected to an additional
plausibility check. Only such data are used which are sensible in the current
situation.

18
2 Transmitter
II Uwatec®Aladin®Air Z
2.1 Operating modes and functions
Off-mode: When the regulator is unpressurised the transmitter is in the off-mode. In that
case, air pressure is measured every 5 seconds. When pressure increases (on
opening the valve), the transmitter leaves the off-mode automatically. When
the tank valve is closed and the regulator inlet pressure is reduced to below
8 bar, the transmitter falls back into off-mode.
Pair-mode: After switching on (opening of the tank valve), the transmitter sends its address
to the dive computer for a short time. This is the code in order that the dive
computer can be paired to the transmitter.
Transmission-mode: As long as tank-pressure is decreasing (during normal breathing) the pressure
is transmitted to the dive computer on average every 5 seconds.
Standby-mode: If there is no decrease in tank-pressure (no breathing), the transmission is stop-
ped after 3 minutes in order to save energy. Pressure measuring continues.
As soon as breathing is resumed, the transmission also starts again – the trans-
mitter returns to transmission-mode.
The transmitter starts working if the tank valve is
opened or when air is consumed on breathing.
The transmitter does not work if the regulator is un-
pressurised or if there is no air consumed for 3 mi-
nutes.
The dive computer can only receive data from the
transmitter if the computer and transmitter are
paired. If the pairing has not been carried out, there
are no air data displayed by the dive computer and
Aladin®Air Z works as a conventional dive computer.
tank data
bar
NO STOP
depth dive time
max. depth deco info
NO STOP
depth dive time
max. depth deco info
tank data
with transmitter without transmitter

19
2 Dive Computer
II Uwatec®Aladin®Air Z
English
II
3.1 Operation
Switching on display: – automatically, on submerging in water or when adaptation to atmospheric
pressure is necessary.
– manually by operating contacts on housing.
Switching off display: – automatically, after three minutes without operation.
Aladin®Air Z has 4 operating contacts B, E, +, – on the outside of the housing. For manual operation touch
base contact B and any one of the other three contacts above the display with moistened fingers.
Contact B:
Base contact, which has to be touched for all operations.
Contact E:
Enter contact. It serves to switch on the computer, to activate the logbook
and dive-plan mode and to switch between no-stop and decompression
planning. It is also used to confirm inputs and is therefore comparable to
the ENTER- or RETURN-key of a computer.
+ / – contacts:
They serve to select the logbook and dive-plan as well as to set values
(time, depth, dive-number etc.).
B
- + E

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3 Operating
II Uwatec®Aladin®Air Z
Active backlight
The display of the Aladin®Air Z can be illuminated both on the surface and underwater.
The backlight can be switched on by pressing the unit above the display.
The light will turn off automatically after 7 seconds.
The backlight can only be activated if the computer display is on.
• The active backlight is no substitute for a dive torch. When diving at night or
at increased depth we recommend the use of a dive torch.
• Replace the battery if the battery warning appears.