Well anyone who has gone to PADI Divemaster and higher or individuals who have planned or been thought on multilevel dives will be familiar with the PADI Wheel, well it is now being replaced with the eRDPML. (Electronic Recreational Dive Planner for Multilevel Dive Planning)

The eRDPML is the next generation electronic dive planner. Like its predecessor the eRDP, the new eRDPML is not a dive computer but an electronic dive table that allows the user to plan single level and multilevel dives. While the first generation eRDP provided the same information as the Recreational Dive Planner (RDP) table, the eRDPML provides the same information as The Wheel, in an electronic format. The eRDPML helps maximize bottom time by allowing dive planning in two-metre/five-foot increments.

The eRDPML has a robust design that includes a flip cover to protect the unit when not in use. The general rules and dive planning abbreviations (NDL, ANDL, ML, etc.) are printed on the inside of the fl ip cover, which provides easy access to information. Like the previous eRDP, the
eRDPML is designed solely for use on the surface — it is water resistant, not waterproof.

The eRDPML allows you to select either metric or imperial for dive planning and offers the same three modes as before:
• Dive Planning – allows you to plan up to fi ve consecutive singledepth
dives or two- to three-level multilevel dives (similar to The
Wheel).
• Surface Interval – for finding minimum surface interval between
dives
• Maximum Depth – for calculating the maximum allowable depth
for a given time

The same general rules and guidelines that apply when using The Wheel also apply when using the eRDPML. Like the eRDP, the eRDPML will prompt you to use some of these rules. For example:
• Reminding you when a safety stop is required
• Warning you when your planned dive is beyond the RDP limits
• Reminding you when Special Rules for Multiple Dives (WX and YZ
rules) apply
• Warning you when your next planned level in a multilevel dive
exceeds the multilevel ascent limit (Exceeds ML Ascent Limit)

Incorporating eRDPML in diver courses

Because the eRDPML replaces the original eRDP and The Wheel, you can use it in any PADI course to plan either single level or multilevel dives. Though your PADI Offi ce will no longer distribute The Wheel or the original eRDP, you may continue to use them in your diver-level courses until your stock is used up.

Beginning 1 January 2009, PADI Divemaster candidates will be required to have and be competent in the use of the eRDPML in addition to the RDP table version. Starting immediately, divemaster candidates may use the eRDPML in place of the RDP table and The Wheel during the Decompression Theory and the Recreational Dive Planner Divemaster exam.

The eRDPML and eRDPML Desktop Version (developed in Flash format for teaching purposes) start shipping in August through all PADI Offi ces. (eRDPML product number – 70031; eRDPML Desktop Version product number – 70903)