100' before aow... how and why?

[DevonDiver]

This debate got me thinking....http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/basic-scuba-discussions/370031-100-before-aow.html

It's an interesting debate that illustrates a trend amongst some newly qualified diver to exceed the depth limit recommendations given in their certification courses.

To add more light to this trend, I thought I would add a poll that may provide some insight into why novice divers chose to ignore agency depth/safety recommendations.

The poll is aimed at those divers who exceeded the depth limits recommended by their respective agencies, at an early stage in their diving development.

 

[Osric]

Missing your poll?

 

[Insta-Gator]

From my experience, the early DM lead 100' dives are 'bounce' dives, i.e. DM plans & briefs the dive to be a very short "get to 100', see (whatever it is) and then ascend slowly to xx'" for the remainder of the dive. Personally I've never had a DM take a group to 100' with the intent of staying the length of the NDL time.

 

[waterpirate]

Let me start by saying "then is not now" in regard to training. I did not know how to answer the poll. Then we were trained to go 130fsw out of the gate. Now there is a progression of training to get you there. I will answer I never violated my initial traing.
Eric

 

[Walter]

Your poll is misleading. While your post refers to "recommendations," your poll refers to "limitations."

I would also like to point out that while those recommendations do change with AOW, AOW does not qualify a diver to dive to 100 feet. It is quite possible (and not all that unlikely) to get certified AOW with 9 total dives, 8 of them to 20 feet and only 1 to 60 feet. Such a diver is not qualified to dive to 100 feet.

On the other hand, it is also quite possible (depending on agency) to get an OW certification with 4 dives to 60 feet. That diver is also not qualified to dive to 100 feet, but is qualified to make dives to 70 feet. After a little experience at 70 feet, is then qualified to dive to 80 feet. It will not be long before that diver, without ever taking AOW, will be qualified to dive to 100 feet.

You are assuming something magical happens with AOW. It does not.

I also see you are assuming people who dive with computers, do not plan their dives. I'm sure that does happen, but many folks plan their dives when they dive with computers.

 

[BabyDuck]

i understood that ow was good to 130, though that might not be recommended as ow dive #1 after class. if that was incorrect, too late now!

 

[DevonDiver]

Walter...the post and the poll are one and the same. I am refering to 'recommended limitations'.

I'd value your experiences on this, if you can remember those dives. I don't need any feedback on the poll.... it was for my own benefit and learning. If you feel that the poll could or should contain different options, please feel free to write your own.

The poll is meant to discern whether entry-level (OW) divers exceeded their recommended limitations. i.e. what they are told to consider as their maximum on that training course in official agency materials (for instance, the PADI OW manual states 18m/60ft).

I didn't quote a specific depth, because I wanted to keep the discussion relevant to divers from any agency (who may have different recommendations).

Basically...we're dealing with a diver's first few dozen dives after OW, before they do further training. After that point, they might be considered to have gained enough independant experience to decide their own personal limitations.

 

[Tim Self]

i understood that ow was good to 130, though that might not be recommended as ow dive #1 after class. if that was incorrect, too late now!

No, AOW has the limit of 130 ft/40 meters. Basic OW has the limit of 60 ft/18 meters.

Even after certification. all the guys I dove with were either instructors or DM's so there were no breaking the limits till I advanced.

 

[DevonDiver]

No, AOW has the limit of 130 ft/40 meters. Basic OW has the limit of 60 ft/18 meters.

Are you talking about PADI? If so,

Deep Diver has the recommended maximum limit of 130ft/40 meters.

AOW has the recommended maximum limit of 30m.

OW has the recommended maximum limit of 18m

Scuba Diver is limited to 12m (accompanied by a PADI Pro, who is also limited when escorting Scuba Divers, I believe...)

 

[Montana Diver]

I was invited by my instructor to join him as an extra for his AOW deep class. I went to 100' on my 9th dive. One major factor was my respect for the instructor and that I was diving in tropical water with a vis of 120'. I would have not considered diving that deep in our 15' vis in MT clad in a drysuit. The narcosis factor in tropical was negligible. I was very aware of the possibility of narcosis, however with AL80 tanks and being a new diver, time spent at 100' was perhaps 5 minutes.

I skipped AOW, however we discussed getting it prior to rescue. Felt it was not a critical step in logging five more dives, one being deep, versus just getting more dives done.