If you accidentally exceed the oxygen limits of your computer, what should you do first?

If you accidentally exceed the oxygen limits of your dive computer, the most important first action is to ascend immediately. This is crucial because exceeding the oxygen limits indicates that the partial pressure of oxygen you're receiving is too high, which can lead to oxygen toxicity, a potentially life-threatening condition. By ascending, you reduce the pressure and the partial pressure of oxygen in your bloodstream, thereby minimizing the risk of harmful effects associated with elevated oxygen levels.

Continuing the dive or waiting to see if your computer alerts can increase the risks associated with oxygen toxicity, as the body may already be in a dangerous state. Making a safety stop, while generally recommended as a routine practice to avoid decompression sickness, does not address the immediate concern of exceeding oxygen limits and can further compromise your safety. Therefore, prioritizing an immediate ascent is the best course of action to mitigate risks in such a situation.