The depth shall be 60, 60 shall the depth be, 61 is right out unless your AOW certified????

[JamesBon92007]

I consider swimming to be part of the natural development of a child. First you learn how to crawl, then you learn how to hold your breath underwater, then you learn how to walk, then you learn how to swim (and not always necessarily in that order), and somewhere in there you become accustomed to using a mask, fins, and snorkel, somewhere in there you learn how to catch and throw a ball, then you go to the beach and learn about surf and rip currents, then you learn how to free-dive and ride a bicycle if you don't know already, and finally you learn to scuba dive. My goal is to have my grandkids (and kids) swimming before they reach age 3, and by swimming I mean they can dive to the bottom of an 8' deep pool and recover objects and assist a distressed person in the water. So far both my daughters accomplished this (the first one was over 3 but since then I've altered my goal) and all of my grandkids are capable swimmers with the exception of my 2-year-old grandson who can hold his breath underwater for a good 20 seconds but for some reason hasn't gotten the idea that he needs to propel himself while underwater. When I took my first scuba course there was one kid who didn't know how to swim. They gave him his money back to told him to return when he was ready. Back then ('69) nearly all scuba divers were free divers first. Perhaps if you only go on dive boats in clear, warm, calm water you could get by without really knowing how to "swim" but it sure seems like it would be handy if something went wrong (such as the boat sank or wasn't there when you surfaced). I read about an incident where the boat didn't show up and one person ditched his gear and swam to a rock. He was rescued but the others perished. Someone said in this thread that they free dive deeper than 60 feet which, in their mind, makes the 60 foot limit rather ludicrous. I'm almost 64 and I think I can still do 60 feet with fins on (I'm gonna have to try it sometime soon, before I get any older ). In any case we live on a planet that is 3/4 water and with so knowing how to swim sure seems like a good idea to me, even if you aren't a diver.

 

[John C. Ratliff]

I'm turning 71 next month, and feel that I can still free dive over 60 feet deep.

SeaRat

 

[dumpsterDiver]

What exactly were all the steps to air sharing? Hey, my reg doesn't work. Give me your octo. Purge. Breathe. Kind of like what happens when you pull your own reg out of your mouth to smile at the camera 'cause you're so happy to be diving. Try getting your reg back even though you don't turn it loose while buddy breathing with a freaked out (saucer eyed ) insta-buddy 'cause they are OOA. I'll take air share with a safe second any day. Progress...ahhh. Keeping sand out of your octo isn't that hard. The wife and I share air all the time just balancing tanks to extend bottom time. Easy peasy.

Sharing air like that is frowned upon by some dive charters, but in my mind it is a practical and excellent means to practice.

I'm using the dreaded AIr 2 and he is carry a loaded speargun! You're right it is easy, even with a 14 yr old kid in 80 feet of water and without a long hose.

 

[TMHeimer]

What exactly were all the steps to air sharing? Hey, my reg doesn't work. Give me your octo. Purge. Breathe. Kind of like what happens when you pull your own reg out of your mouth to smile at the camera 'cause you're so happy to be diving. Try getting your reg back even though you don't turn it loose while buddy breathing with a freaked out (saucer eyed ) insta-buddy 'cause they are OOA. I'll take air share with a safe second any day. Progress...ahhh. Keeping sand out of your octo isn't that hard. The wife and I share air all the time just balancing tanks to extend bottom time. Easy peasy.

All makes sense but you have over 200 dives--dedicated enough that agencies probably aren't thinking of you when dropping buddy breathing. If you air share regularly it would be easy, as would buddy breathing.

JamesBon92007, I agree swimming should be part of the natural development of a child. Like you, I had access to a boat and ocean (and Sound) as a kid. Many inland don't, and have no interest in a pool or access to one or a lake, I would presume. Once in a while someone would show up for OW course with so little water experience it amazed me.

 

[AdivingBel]

Sharing air like that is frowned upon by some dive charters, but in my mind it is a practical and excellent means to practice.

I have been told some dive ops don't like it. We always tell the DM/guide (if there is one in the water) before we splash. So far no push back. It's just become automatic for us.

 

[Diving Dubai]

I remember being taught Buddy breathing in 2007, but as a student the instructor was in control, all I had to do was put the reg in and, purge and breathe

Fast forward to last year and bit my wife and I need to complete the Buddy Breathe from 15m (ours was from 20m) First, on an anchor line, second in blue water (both in the ocean) Whilst controling the ascent and the "victim" and carrying out safety stops.

What we found difficult at first, was the mechanism for being the donator

Controlling the reg at all times
Keeping a grip of the other diver
Managing a controlled ascent inc buoyancy adjustments and speed of ascent
Ensuring Safety stops were adhered to and ceilings were not breached.

The first attempts, were shambolic at best, more a complete cluster #%&#. It wasn't' the breathing and reg donating, it was more the mechanics of what to use each hand for (staying compliant with the requirements). We had to carry out "Dry Practice" on the shore to figure out the best way and which hand to use for which action, how to wear your computer etc to perfect the task.

We did both pass the next run, but I'm still not convinced we have the prettiest technique and would love to hear how others approach the task

 

[Diving Dubai]

I don't know about the history. I do know that some charter operators enforce these depth limits, and I do believe the whole thing is a load of ****.

Something similar came up in another thread about check dives. Step back a moment and put yourself in the position of an operator.

Lets assume they are running a 2 tank trip on a wreck which is at about 30m.

How can you assess if someone is capable and has sufficient experience for the dive?

Log book? Someone with 200 dives over 10 years may be less competent that another who has 200 dives over 3 years say

Previous conditions? Someone who has the majority of the dive in say inland quarries, or lakes may not be used to current.

C Card? Someone has evidence that they have participated in a course and that the instructor has declared that they have met the minimum standard?

There are other pointers for sure, but these are subjective and open to dispute.

In your case for instance you didn't believe that the EAN course taught you anything new. I don't doubt it. But without a C card, what evidence does anyone have, apart from someone's word? The only real way would be to carry out a check dive with demonstrations of skills before hand. How would that play out?

The operators have to balance trying to ensure that people have the minimum experience whilst making the dive accessible.

When people dive privately they can do what they like, there is no comeback nor scuba police. Some cheap dive insurances may have a depth limit in the fine print (I've seen someone's claim for a chamber ride rejected because of this - they relied on a Credit Card provided trip insurance)


I don't know the real answer to the question, but I believe that the current system is as good as it can be, without it being too bureaucratic

 

[Edward3c]

I remember being taught Buddy breathing in 2007, but as a student the instructor was in control, all I had to do was put the reg in and, purge and breathe

Fast forward to last year and bit my wife and I need to complete the Buddy Breathe from 15m (ours was from 20m) First, on an anchor line, second in blue water (both in the ocean) Whilst controling the ascent and the "victim" and carrying out safety stops.

What we found difficult at first, was the mechanism for being the donator

Controlling the reg at all times
Keeping a grip of the other diver
Managing a controlled ascent inc buoyancy adjustments and speed of ascent
Ensuring Safety stops were adhered to and ceilings were not breached.

The first attempts, were shambolic at best, more a complete cluster #%&#. It wasn't' the breathing and reg donating, it was more the mechanics of what to use each hand for (staying compliant with the requirements). We had to carry out "Dry Practice" on the shore to figure out the best way and which hand to use for which action, how to wear your computer etc to perfect the task.

We did both pass the next run, but I'm still not convinced we have the prettiest technique and would love to hear how others approach the task

Which agency requires buddy breathing?

BSAC require Dive Leaders to do Assisted Source (AS) ascent as donor and receiver from 15m. I did an Advanced Diver AS from 20m earlier this month, The student's concern was which hand would do what. Dry practice then the real thing and a very controlled ascent.

 

[Neilwood]

Edward - I would guess he means air share rather than buddy breathe.

I don't even think you need to do a practical on dry land (it would certainly be useful though) but make sure you have thought through the process mentally. You should be able to go through the process visualising each step.

 

[Edward3c]

Edward - I would guess he means air share rather than buddy breathe.

I don't even think you need to do a practical on dry land (it would certainly be useful though) but make sure you have thought through the process mentally. You should be able to go through the process visualising each step.

My student normally dives Rebreather or twins, but chose to use a single tank on the day - against my advice, hence the dry run.