B737-700
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 166
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Climbing through approximately FL300; we got a Cabin Altitude Warning light and horn. We immediately donned our oxygen masks and performed the Cabin Altitude Warning Horn QRC and asked ATC to stop our climb and for a lower altitude. ATC approved our descent and issued a clearance first to 16;000 feet then to 10;000 feet. We established communications with each other and began the descent. We didn't initiate an emergency descent as the cabin pressure was showing 5;000 feet and holding steady. We had no other abnormal indications. Upon crossing approximately 24;000 feet the Cabin Altitude Warning light went out and the horn stopped. We continued the descent towards 10;000 feet as we were only 140 miles southeast of KATL and we were planning on a diversion to ATL (once we coordinated with Dispatch). We informed the Flight Attendants that everything was ok; that we had an abnormal indication in the cockpit; but that we were fine. They informed us that everyone was good in back and that there were no indications in the cabin and that the masks had not dropped. I established voice communication with Dispatch; informed them of the issue and we all concurred that a divert to ATL was the best course. We informed ATC of our intentions and were issued a clearance to ATL. We informed the Passengers that we had an abnormal indication in the cockpit; and that all was fine but the prudent decision was to divert into ATL. We didn't declare an emergency and executed a normal landing without incident. We taxied to gate where we were met by Maintenance and informed them of the problem and filled out the logbook.We had issues; initially; with communication because we were distracted by the warning horn. Had we silenced the horn; it would have made initial communication easier.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
B737-700 flight crew reported diverting to a nearby alternate after receiving a Cabin Altitude Warning.