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.

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.

Inside the chamber.

• The divers fill in a self-declaration medical form. Any questions ticked YES must be covered by a Fit to Dive medical. (These can be done at MDC with enough notice).
• Divers change into scrubs (provided).
• After a briefing, divers (maximum of 9) 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.

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.

A maximum of nine divers can be taken per dry dive.

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.

The cost is a charter price of £450.00 per chamber dive, payable no later than seven days before the dive takes place. A discount can be arranged if there is a larger group that requires more than one dive.

Any individual who requires a diving medical to dive must submit it no less than seven days prior to the dive.

A minimum of 24 hours notice is required for cancellations, otherwise the deposit becomes non-refundable. Dives can be rebooked within this period for no extra charge.

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