Depth

[Crush]

And FYI, a PADI 5* means that they only instruct PADI and have padi for the 5* designation. Doesn't really mean anything. It is good marketting... PADI is very good at that.

Has anyone out there ever seen a PADI 4* operation? 3.5*? 2*? Funny how they are all 5*...

 

[B Lo]

... a PADI 5* means that they only instruct PADI and have padi for the 5* designation. Doesn't really mean anything. It is good marketting... PADI is very good at that.

Are you sure this is true and that there are no advantages whatsoever to a shop being PADI 5* rated? If I remember correctly, one PADI 5* shop told me that there were different requirements even with regard to the frequency and strictness with which their gas mixes were analyzed. I never read up on it and just took it at face value...

 

[ZenDiver.3D]

Are you sure this is true and that there are no advantages whatsoever to a shop being PADI 5* rated? If I remember correctly, one PADI 5* shop told me that there were different requirements even with regard to the frequency and strictness with which their gas mixes were analyzed. I never read up on it and just took it at face value...

Nope. It has more to do with number of dealers they have for merchandise and volume of teaching classes. Plus you pay a fee for the 5* rating. They don't monitor gas mix analysis, as far as I know. My shop didn't have anything about that and it was 5*............

 

[Troutmaster]

I think if the OP sends PADI $187.00 US with proof of the 170fsw dive they will certify him as a tech diver.

 

[vladimir]

I am a rookie diver, an older man with plenty of flab. On a recent dive in the Philippines, the Divemaster got carried away and took me down to a depth of 52M. Although it was an exhilarating experience I believe an unnecessarily dangerous one. He was later disciplined for it. My question is should we have decompressed as we ascended? We had the 3 min at 15' but is that sufficient? Was I in danger?

I didn't see anybody answer your direct question, "should we have decompressed as we ascended?" Depending on how much time you spent at 170'--and I suspect it wasn't much--you almost certainly acquired a ceiling, or mandatory decompression stop, which might have cleared as you did a slow ascent. If not, the 3-minute optional safety stop may have stood in for a short mandatory decompression stop. Of course you should know the answer to that question before you do the particular dive, but I believe that's been covered. In a way, the small air supply in our single aluminum-80 tanks is one of the things that keeps ignorant recreational divers like us safe , by not allowing us enough bottom time to accumulate a big decompression obligation on a single dive.

 

[biscuit]

finbob, congratulations on recognizing that something wasn't right about the dive even though you proceded with it. That shows you have basic good instincts that will now be further developed with every dive you make. You aren't the first to want your instinct confirmed in the face of an "expert" telling you to do something different.

Best wishes for hundreds of safe dives, and by all means continue advancing your level of certification.

 

[finbob]

finbob,

By all means, proceed as you see best.

My observation, however, would be that your inquiry here on SB appeared to be focused on the development of protocols for your own safety and decision-making.

While your adventure may have been alarming in retrospect, you described it as "exhilarating" at the time. You also noted that your escort to the deeps was disciplined.

My point is that you descended with the other diver, and have learned an interesting lesson. Unless you feel that additional punitive actions would be somehow constructive, you may wish to simply focus on what you yourself can take from this episode, and how you wish to plan your dives and u/w communications in the future.

If you feel punitive actions are warranted, so be it. But the lesson-learned here, I submit, is personal in nature and need go no further to be both efficient and effective.

Your mileage may vary,

Doc

Thank you, I completely agree.

The Divemaster has been reprimanded and it needs to go no further.
For myself, this is a good scuba life-lesson one of many I'm sure.

 

[Hammerhead]

Finbob, sorry but just noticed that this happened in the Philippines. I'm a regular visitor and have logged over a thousand dives there. Well, I would have if I'd actually logged them, but that's another story.

Anyway, I've done a fair bit of travelling round the place and there's a fair chance I'd know the outfit or even the DM / Instructor. Any chance you could send me a Private Message with some details?

I'm not about to start a campaign here, but it would be nice to know if there's someone to avoid...

Gentlemen, thank you for your comments.

Although I am very reluctant to do so, I will ensure that an incident report is sent to Jimmy Christrup - PADI's representative in the Philippines. My desire is that the particular dive shop tighten up on safety issues and ensure the instructor is suitably qualified in the future.

However, I do not want to disclose publicly the particular dive shop or divemaster that was involved. Rather let PADI handle it - I'm sure you will understand.

Sincerely, finbob

finbob,

By all means, proceed as you see best.

My observation, however, would be that your inquiry here on SB appeared to be focused on the development of protocols for your own safety and decision-making.

While your adventure may have been alarming in retrospect, you described it as "exhilarating" at the time. You also noted that your escort to the deeps was disciplined.

My point is that you descended with the other diver, and have learned an interesting lesson. Unless you feel that additional punitive actions would be somehow constructive, you may wish to simply focus on what you yourself can take from this episode, and how you wish to plan your dives and u/w communications in the future.

If you feel punitive actions are warranted, so be it. But the lesson-learned here, I submit, is personal in nature and need go no further to be both efficient and effective.

Your mileage may vary,

Doc

Thank you, I completely agree.

The Divemaster has been reprimanded and it needs to go no further.
For myself, this is a good scuba life-lesson one of many I'm sure.

So are you going to report the guy personally or not?

Oh and by the way, Jimmy Christrup's a friend of mine and also a Scubaboard member...

 

[finbob]

As mentioned, Jimmy Christrup has been informed.

 

[Live Aboard Dive Boat]

I too have willingly gone to 170 feet (once) on a single 80 of air with a computer and had no deco obligation. A slow decent and slow ascent with less than a minute at 170 did not require a stop, but I did stay at my safety stop for 10+ minutes just in case.