Which of the following is crucial for determining a diver's safety limits using the RDP?

Using the RDP table correctly is essential for determining a diver's safety limits because it provides a systematic method for planning dives to minimize the risk of decompression sickness. The RDP, or Recreational Dive Planner, outlines safe depth and time limits for dives based on given surface intervals and the number of dives conducted. Properly interpreting and applying the RDP ensures that divers understand how long they can dive at specific depths without exceeding safe limits.

By using the RDP table, divers can calculate their no-decompression limits and understand how to manage their dive profiles effectively, which enhances their safety during the dive. This is a key aspect of dive planning, as it allows divers to make informed decisions based on their experience levels and specific dive conditions, ensuring they stay within their personal safety limits.

While understanding dive ethics, following instructor guidelines, and choosing appropriate dive sites are important aspects of safe diving practices, they do not directly relate to the systematic and quantitative approach that the RDP offers for calculating dive limits.