What does a 'stop request' mean and how should it be handled?

• A. A request to increase workload.
• B. A signal to finish the job.
• C. A directive to accelerate work.
• D. A request to pause work or stop decompression; supervisor must pause and assess safety before continuing.

Answer: (D)

A stop request is a signal to pause work or the dive ascent to reassess safety before continuing. When this signal is given, the supervisor must immediately pause the operation and review all safety factors—current depth and time, decompression obligations, gas availability and mix, equipment status, and the team’s condition. The goal is to determine whether it’s safe to resume, perhaps with adjustments to the plan (like longer decompression, slower ascent, different gas, or even aborting). This keeps divers protected from decompression sickness and other hazards. It’s not about increasing workload, finishing the job, or speeding things up, which is why this option best matches the safety-focused response embodied by a stop request.