How deep do you usually dive?

[ladycute1]

For me depth is a function of the purpose of a given dive -- most of my 360 dives are fairly shallow shore dives where the reef starts at the surface and goes to the bottom -- 30 -40 feet. So, for those dives, the maximum depth is "no deeper than the bottom"

On the other hand, I've done deep dives to learn specific skills or to look at a specific attraction. My deepest is 141 FSW -- the purpose was to explore a colony of long armed lobsters that lived under an overhang at 135 FSW.

 

[QuoVadis]

I was taught that deep diving SUCKS!! (as in air) I would rather dive at 60 feet and stay down alot longer than dive at 120 feet and come right back up.

 

[Cave Diver]

So, for those dives, the maximum depth is "no deeper than the bottom"

I'm still hoping to remedy that for myself. There are a few wrecks out there that have settled into the sand and it's actually possible to penetrate and find yourself deeper than the bottom.

My average dive is usually within recreational depth limits (<130') but I have been known to exceed that on occassion. <g>

For me, depth is a function of planning. A given dive has a given depth for a given purpose and we don't dive deep just for the sake of going deep.

There's a whole lot of ocean to be seen between 0 and 100' and most of it is quite beautiful.

Dive safe!

 

[Walter]

There is often too much emphasis of depth. How deep you can dive is not the same as how deep you should dive. Deep dives are dangerous for many reasons. Keep it shallow. When you're beginning 60 feet is deep enough and sometimes too deep. The maximum recommended depth for more experienced divers is 100 feet.

 

[pt40fathoms]

Some of my most interesting dives have been at 10 - 20 feet! On other dives, we had to go down to 335 feet to get to our objective. The very deep ones are very rare, and need lots of planning and a whole lot of backup. Not to mention divers who are along just to make sure you are OK when you reach the shallower depths and start decompression. This can and has taken hours to complete, so support divers can be a lifesaver, literally!

In many cases, a support diver is a diver who is AOW certified, and is along to gain experience. They tend to have the most fun, are the busiest divers on the boat, and stay the warmest. The phrase "worked like a mule" comes to mind.

 

[MikeFerrara]

Some of my most interesting dives have been at 10 - 20 feet! On other dives, we had to go down to 335 feet to get to our objective. The very deep ones are very rare, and need lots of planning and a whole lot of backup. Not to mention divers who are along just to make sure you are OK when you reach the shallower depths and start decompression. This can and has taken hours to complete, so support divers can be a lifesaver, literally!

If you've done dives to 335 why are you taking a DSAT tec rec course that has a max depth of 165? No biggie, just wondering.

In many cases, a support diver is a diver who is AOW certified, and is along to gain experience. They tend to have the most fun, are the busiest divers on the boat, and stay the warmest. The phrase "worked like a mule" comes to mind.

I don't think we would ever use AOW divers as support for deep technical dives. Probably not even for surface support but certainly not for in-water support.

 

[glbirch]

If you've done dives to 335 why are you taking a DSAT tec rec course that has a max depth of 165? No biggie, just wondering.

I don't think we would ever use AOW divers as support for deep technical dives. Probably not even for surface support but certainly not for in-water support.

From his phrasing, I would guess that he has been part of a team that hit that depth, though he himself has not. In my mind that's a good way to see what it's all about and gain some firsthand experience in what's involved in planning and implementing such a dive. Sounds like an interesting idea to me.

 

[SDAnderson]

In my mind that's a good way to see what it's all about and gain some firsthand experience in what's involved in planning and implementing such a dive. Sounds like an interesting idea to me.

Being a support diver is like being invited to a cool party...and then finding out that you're there to park cars. You can hear the band...you can smell the food...but it's just not the same. It's an awful thing to ask of your friends.

As far as being a good place to learn, I'm with Mike. Support divers aren't there to learn, they're there to watch my back and I want them as qualified as I can get them. An AOW can sherpa gear on the dock and the boat all day long but is somewhere between worthless and dangerous if I need help at the 190' stop. If I need in-water support, I want those divers to at least have rescue skills and to be qualified for depth.

 

[pt40fathoms]

If you've done dives to 335 why are you taking a DSAT tec rec course that has a max depth of 165? No biggie, just wondering.

Plan on teaching the course. The LDS I work with will be 5 star this summer, and it will be an added value for me and the shop if I can teach it.

I don't think we would ever use AOW divers as support for deep technical dives. Probably not even for surface support but certainly not for in-water support.

Oh, there not alone, LOL. Not in my life time anyways. They assist the support divers and are along for experience. We work them hard, but they are only assisting. However they do make the job a lot easier, and just about all of them want to get into technical diving anyways. This gives them a good way to see what happens top side and durring deco, and they do most of the heavy lifting.

(never refuse free labor I always say)

 

[glbirch]

Being a support diver is like being invited to a cool party...and then finding out that you're there to park cars. You can hear the band...you can smell the food...but it's just not the same. It's an awful thing to ask of your friends.

As far as being a good place to learn, I'm with Mike. Support divers aren't there to learn, they're there to watch my back and I want them as qualified as I can get them. An AOW can sherpa gear on the dock and the boat all day long but is somewhere between worthless and dangerous if I need help at the 190' stop. If I need in-water support, I want those divers to at least have rescue skills and to be qualified for depth.

As long as I get to sit in on the planning I'd do it once anyway, just for the experience. Knowledge is never wasted, and IMO I'm always there to learn, as long as someone is willing to teach.