Understanding the Five-Minute Tissue Compartment in Scuba Diving
James McMullin Jun 30, 2025
Understanding the Five-Minute Tissue Compartment in Scuba Diving
Explore the physiology behind safer diving with Signature Scuba – Rancho Cucamonga’s leader in dive education.
When it comes to scuba diving, understanding how your body interacts with pressure and nitrogen is essential for diving safely. One of the most important concepts in dive physiology is the “five-minute tissue compartment”—a model that helps explain how nitrogen is absorbed and released in our bodies during and after a dive.
Whether you're a recreational diver or on your way to becoming a dive pro, this article will deepen your understanding and help you make better decisions underwater.
What Is a Tissue Compartment?
In diving physiology, the human body is modeled as having different "tissue compartments"—theoretical groups of tissues that absorb and release nitrogen at varying rates during a dive. These aren’t actual organs or muscles, but mathematical models used in dive tables and computers to manage decompression.
What Is the Five-Minute Tissue Compartment?
The five-minute tissue compartment is one of the fastest compartments in these models. That means nitrogen enters and leaves it quickly due to excellent blood flow (perfusion). It often becomes the controlling compartment—the one that dictates how fast or slow you should ascend to safely off-gas nitrogen and avoid decompression sickness (DCS).
The 7 Times Rule
A compartment is considered fully saturated after about seven half-times. For the five-minute tissue:
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5 minutes x 7 = 35 minutes to full saturation.
This rule also applies to off-gassing. Once your dive ends, it takes approximately 35 minutes for this compartment to release the nitrogen completely under ideal conditions.
The 3-Minute Safety Stop
Why do divers stop at 20 feet (6 meters) for 3 minutes at the end of a dive? This standard practice is backed by decades of research and provides critical time for off-gassing nitrogen—especially from faster compartments like the five-minute model.
It’s a simple and effective habit that significantly reduces your risk of DCS.
A Real-World Deep Dive Example
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Depth: 130 ft (40 m)
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Ascent to 20 ft: 110 ft at 60 ft/min = ~2 minutes
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Safety Stop: 3 minutes at 20 ft
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Total Ascent + Stop Time: ~5 minutes
After this routine, your fast tissues (like the five-minute compartment) are about half-cleared. To further minimize risk, a slow ascent from 20 ft to the surface over 6–8 minutes adds another layer of safety.
Why This Compartment Matters
The five-minute tissue compartment’s fast saturation and desaturation rates make it essential in managing your dive profile—especially on deeper dives. When this compartment is in control, rushing to the surface or skipping stops could dramatically increase your risk of DCS.
Every Body Is Different
While models guide us, every diver’s physiology is unique. That’s why conservative dive planning and smart ascent habits matter—especially when diving frequently, deep, or in cold water.
Enter: O'Dive Technology
Signature Scuba stays ahead of the curve by staying informed about innovations like O’Dive, a tool that provides personalized feedback about bubble formation in your body after diving. With insights from your own body, dive profiles can be adjusted to improve safety.
Dive Smart. Dive Educated.
Understanding the five-minute tissue compartment empowers you to dive with more awareness and responsibility. It’s just one of many concepts taught in our advanced and specialty scuba courses.
Whether you’re diving Catalina’s kelp forests or exploring wrecks off the coast, Signature Scuba in Rancho Cucamonga is here to help you dive smarter and safer.
Ready to take your dive knowledge deeper?
Call us at 909-476-8183 or visit us in Rancho Cucamonga to get started with your next course or guided dive.
