Beyond Rec. Diving ?

[Bobb]

I am certified OW through SSI. I have made approx. 30 dives, mostly fresh water (local lakes) My question is this:
The rec limits are in the neighborhood of 130' max. and at this depth I believe that the max time is 5 min...for no deco dive. so......
What happens if I were to go beyond the depth or time ? How would I know how much of and what depth to make a deco?
I have no plans on doing this...the max depth I've been is 81'. I will go to 100' just to do it, but I really have no desire to go that deep.
thanks

 

[Lost Yooper]

Greetings,

To answer your first question, if you go beyond the limits of the pretty conservative recreational dive tables, you certainly run a greater risk of experiencing some form of DCI.

For your second question, you would have to be knowledgable in proper decompression procedures to give yourself an idea of what kind of deco would have to be done during the dive.

In a general sense, my advice for a rec diver who might bust a profile would be to ascend very slowly (30fpm) and hang at 15' for as long as you have air available, then make a very slow ascent to the surface -- slower the better.

Considering the amount air a recreational diver will probably have (ie. single 80), they aren't likely to get into too much mandatory deco anyway. The biggest problem, as I've seen it, for recreational divers going to those depths is having an insufficient amount of gas to deal with potential problems that can arise (ie. running out of air).

Take care.

Mike

 

[scubabunny]

This is when a computer would come in handy! They tell you how much deco time you have, and where to make your safety stops..and for how long if you do go into deco.

You can get a basic, no frill computer for between $200-$300..depending on where you go and what you want. Its a little bit of money, but your life is worth it.

If you don't want to do that..try to get your hands on some Navy Tables. They have deco stops included in them, I think.

 

[Rick Murchison]

Bobb,
Your question can be reworded thus: "What happens if I dive outside the limits of my training?"
Short answer: Bad things... Don't.
If you want to exceed the envelope you have been trained to explore, take the course that covers that area. To do less will bite you - sooner or later.
Rick

 

[Green_Manelishi]

1) "just to do it" is a poor reason to dive to 'x' depth

2) you SHOULD be planning your dive and diving your plan.
your PLAN should incorporate contingency times/depths.

3) you need to dive more at depths WELL within "rec" limits
and NDLs and build a base before you even CONSIDER
buying a 'puter and trusting your life to it.

4) (to Scubabunny) ... the Navy tables DO have deco times
etc on them but I remind you that most of us are NOT
"Navy trained" nor do we have their available resources

 

[Liquid]

There's a simple answer.

Take a technical diving course.
You will be tought about decompression more thoroughly. You will be tought about the procedures of a deco dive, the kinds of gasses best to use and so on other topics. Using a computer for a decompression dive, without proper training is also not a good idea. While peing still relatively safe it will limit you in certain ways, becouse you will not be able to plan the dive properly and will not know what to expect.

 

[britishdiver]

A little advice for what it's worth:

1/ Stay well within no deco times, it is a proven fact that 40% of DCI incidents are within no deco times!

2/ Take your time there is no rush to get to any depth.

3/ When you are ready for the next step, find an instructor who is doing the diving you want to do.

Always remember "those who can do, those who can't teach"

4/ If depth ever becomes the motivating factor hang up your fins and find another passtime!!!

This may sound strange from a Trimix diver, but...

You must have motivation beyond depth, I dive to 310 fsw, but it is to achieve an objective not to reach a depth.

http://www.britishdiver.com

 

[Lost Yooper]

Welcome British Diver.


Great to have another technically oriented diver around.

Mike
Michigan USA

 

[Bobb]

I think that the post I started needs a little clarification. The main objective of my question was this:
I was just considering that rec. divers are not taught or given any information on depths below 130'...I am in total agreement that you shouldn't go beyond these depths without proper training...and...you should always know at what depth you are, and how long you've been at that depth...BUT, if for some reason, you do go beyond the depth/time, there is nothing on the dive tables to tell you at what depth and for how long to do a deco stop. I just thought that it might be useful information to have. Also, no one mentioned the possibility of oxygen toxicity...
just a thought...

 

[vmf]

Bobb,
Check out Dr Decompression for many past threads on oxygen toxicity.
Also have a look at the US Navy Divers Manual, downloadable for free from [http://www.scubatoys.com] - it is very comprehensive !!!

Regards,

vmf