How Deep Is Air Safe As A SCUBA Breathing Gas?

[dive-spot]

I could be wrong but I seem to remember reading that the deepest air dive ever was 332 ft. I cannot find the link or the info now though. Also the deepest tri-mix dive was over 1000 ft. With that said, I would think almost any depth on air is safe as long as one is mentally and physically prepared. Though you wont find me under 120 ft on air.



I found this article (a must read):
A Journey To 308 Metres - The Deepest Open Circuit Scuba Dive Ever @
http://www.tech-dive-academy.com/journey.html

 

[100days-a-year]

The world record deep air dive is significantly deeper than that.5 hundred something I believe.I 'd like to see someting other than anecdotal evidence and opinions on necrosis and red blood cell rigidity.How about a link someone from somebody like the EDU or Duke university.If it's true it shouldn't be hard to find some evidence to trump naysayers.A lot of the opinions seem to run counter to practicality and towards idealism.I'm with Walter on some of this and FredT when it comes to spearfishing gas choices.I use what best suits the conditions and considerations.Air is $1.50 to $2 a fill for me and nitrox is $3.Mix is not only more exspensive even when I buy the gas it takes time to blend and therefore is used when I know a sites depth and I will have the option of a somewhat square profile.That means in some ways convenience is a consideration within reason.

 

[captain]

Can someone tell me how did I survive 35 years diving on plain old air. I guess air works for those whose who believe it will.

Captain

 

[JustAddWater]

That was a very interesting article. As far as an air dive to 322ft, I would think that O2 toxicity would be unavoidable.

 

[Scuba_Vixen]

of course there are those with double coverage......

Children love to play with firecrackers..most never get burned....but ask the 3 fingered kid what he thinks of them ...

What really makes me curious...is here's all these folks swimming around at 100 feet or so, but no thought to redundant air supply...


Darlene




Dang, suckered into another deep air thead....

 

[The Iceni]

Walter once bubbled...
I can't imagine an advantage to nitrox at that depth.

Hi again folks,

I fully agree with DTS and Walter, but their perspective seems to be rather special, i.e. training and shallow professional diving.

This is a little like a discussion on routine driving matters conducted only by driving instructors and the police (State Troopers?) who quite roghtly will reinforce the law regarding speed limits and defensive driving but we all know the vast majority of driving is underttaken by the average driver, whose only concern is getting from A to B.

Probably a poor analogy I accept, but this thread/poll only asked about safety, not cost or convenience. OK, I accept one is unlikely to suffer DCI (or become incapacitated by narcosis) when diving at less than 20 feet where there is no no-stop limit.

My rather brief analysis of those three gasses summarises how I feel we ought to approach standard, post-qualification UK recreational diving pracictice.

Put simply, Nitrogen is the devil's gas! and deep air diving is not a good idea.

 

[Genesis]

to redundant air supply at 100'!

 

[Tekk Diver]

Seen this in Rodale's August 2003 issue:

52% of divers who say they've never "experienced" nitrogen narcosis.

Believe it. Or not.

 

[bwerb]

captain once bubbled...
Can someone tell me how did I survive 35 years diving on plain old air. I guess air works for those whose who believe it will.

Captain

Nice thought but no...it isn't in the mind. There are advances in many fields which show us all sorts of ways in which we can do it better now.

Kermantle Nylon climbing ropes vs. hemp
Polymer based WW kayak bodies vs. fiberglass
Seat belts vs. the windshield

Just because you did it and "survived" doesn't mean with today's knowledge it's prudent to continue to do so.

 

[Doc Intrepid]

God protects me under one of those categories or the other most of the time.

And I'm not believing that you got suckered into yet another deep air thread!!