I know padi says an Ow diver should only dive 60' deep. Id like to know what depth other Ow divers go to. Im a new diver with only ten dives . My max depth so far was 45' and i felt very comfortable that deep. Im not shure if it is the same for every one but after 15 ' i didnt feel much diference with the pressure. Id allso like to know if thier is a big change in diving deeper than 60'. I do plan on taking an Aow class but im trying to get a few dozen dive in first.
How deep is too deep for Ow diver?
- Thread starter nemo06489
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PADI recommends the 60ft depth limit for a couple of reasons. They all relate to your safety and are why the Deep dive is required for AOW.
1) Narcosis - affects people differently. The first time you experience it, its smart to do it with someone who already knows how it can mess with you.
2) Air Consumption - increases with depth. Because you consume your air supply 4 times as fast at 100ft as you do on the surface, you should be checking your supply 4 times as often.
3) Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent - becomes riskier and less of an option the further you are from the surface.
It becomes all the more important to stay close to you buddy and his alternate air supply when you're deeper.
Those are the biggies.
PADI's recommendation is that you limit your depth to 60ft until you have experience beyond that depth. PADI doesn't say that that experience HAS to be with an instructor, although that certainly is one way to get it.
It sounds like you have a good plan. Go dive, hone you skills, get really comfortable in the water and just have fun. Then you can concentrate on the skills presented in your AOW class, rather than be distracted by such things as bouyancy control, finning technique, etc.
Todd
1) Narcosis - affects people differently. The first time you experience it, its smart to do it with someone who already knows how it can mess with you.
2) Air Consumption - increases with depth. Because you consume your air supply 4 times as fast at 100ft as you do on the surface, you should be checking your supply 4 times as often.
3) Controlled Emergency Swimming Ascent - becomes riskier and less of an option the further you are from the surface.
It becomes all the more important to stay close to you buddy and his alternate air supply when you're deeper.
Those are the biggies.
PADI's recommendation is that you limit your depth to 60ft until you have experience beyond that depth. PADI doesn't say that that experience HAS to be with an instructor, although that certainly is one way to get it.
It sounds like you have a good plan. Go dive, hone you skills, get really comfortable in the water and just have fun. Then you can concentrate on the skills presented in your AOW class, rather than be distracted by such things as bouyancy control, finning technique, etc.
Todd
Nemo, Todd is bang on on this issue. Nothing wrong with going deeper if you feel comfortable with it, but first make sure you have the proper training to make sure you can do it safely. I did my first dive deeper than 100' with less than 20 dives under my belt. But not before I got the training behind it.
The only other thing I would add to Todd's comments on this regarding air consumption is how you manage your gas usage at depth. Stressing your first stage at depth can run a higher risk of free flow from freeze-up (due to adiabatic cooling - expanding air must draw heat to expand) from drawing too much air all at once. You need to be concious of maintaining proper buoyancy all the way down by periodically adding air to your bc (so as not to have to do it all at once at the bottom or at your desired depth). As well, you should learn not to breath off your reg and inflate your bc at the same time. If you have to switch to your buddy's alternate due to a free flow - try to avoid breathing at the same time as your buddy (as that may also cause a free flow). These are just some considerations that are not as critical at shallower depths.
The only other thing I would add to Todd's comments on this regarding air consumption is how you manage your gas usage at depth. Stressing your first stage at depth can run a higher risk of free flow from freeze-up (due to adiabatic cooling - expanding air must draw heat to expand) from drawing too much air all at once. You need to be concious of maintaining proper buoyancy all the way down by periodically adding air to your bc (so as not to have to do it all at once at the bottom or at your desired depth). As well, you should learn not to breath off your reg and inflate your bc at the same time. If you have to switch to your buddy's alternate due to a free flow - try to avoid breathing at the same time as your buddy (as that may also cause a free flow). These are just some considerations that are not as critical at shallower depths.
Don Burke
Contributor
I'm a little narced at 60, although it takes a pretty complex task to show it. Buoyancy control is actually easier deeper.
As stated above, the big issues are keeping track of your air and what you do when something goes wrong.
ScoobyPat
Guest
Stay within 60' for the first dives without instructor, play around with your buoyancy and get comfortable. If you are ready to go deeper, go for it. "Deep" is a relative term and varies greatly from diver to diver. I just finished my AOW and had the first 'pleasure' of getting slightly narced beyond 90' - I was really anxious to go that deep that early and would have never done it without an instructor. For now 90' is deep for me and I am feeling relatively comfortable in 60'-80'.
Once I feel comfortable and more experienced, I will definitely go deeper. But remember, deeper is not better. As previously said, if you stay well within the NDL, your max time at about 100' is about 20 mins. If you're diving singles, it'll be less (depending on tank size and air consumption), plus subtract a 5 min deco/safety stop and you'll see that your time at those depths is quite limited.
Personally, I prefer the shallower depths for now, fin around and enjoy the scenery without the worry of maxing out the NDL limits.
Once I feel comfortable and more experienced, I will definitely go deeper. But remember, deeper is not better. As previously said, if you stay well within the NDL, your max time at about 100' is about 20 mins. If you're diving singles, it'll be less (depending on tank size and air consumption), plus subtract a 5 min deco/safety stop and you'll see that your time at those depths is quite limited.
Personally, I prefer the shallower depths for now, fin around and enjoy the scenery without the worry of maxing out the NDL limits.
hantzu701
Contributor
I agree with ScoobyPat. After my OW, I was in a hurry to get to 100ft. No particular reason. Just because I thought it would be neat to be that far down. Since my OW and later AOW, I've gotten over this attitude.
Get more experience, ask questions, and develop a baseline of comfort. You'll thank yourself later.
Warren also made the point that cold water has it's own problems. Next time you're at 20ft, simulate a free-flow. I think you'll find that "sipping" that air in cold water is going to freeze any feeling that you have left in your face!
Get more experience, ask questions, and develop a baseline of comfort. You'll thank yourself later.
Warren also made the point that cold water has it's own problems. Next time you're at 20ft, simulate a free-flow. I think you'll find that "sipping" that air in cold water is going to freeze any feeling that you have left in your face!
This question got me curious, so I flipped through my log book-
I will preface this by saying my OW instructor recognized right off that I was comfortable in the water.
4th dive (yep - OW class) was to 70', H2O temp - 39F
5th - 65'
6th - 86' - temp 43F- I still remember this dive - I was still kind of struggling with buoyancy and about 10 min into the dive just told myself - "dammit, this is supposed to be FUN - RELAX!!" I did and it all came together. After that I started dropping 2-4# of weight (with 2# on each ankle, I was using 40# total!!) each dive until I figured it out.
7th - 83'
9th - 96' - tried no ankle weights and trim was better - hehehe
11th - 126'
Was I narced on those deeper dives? Yep. If I pay attention, I can start to notice it at ~80'. So far it doesn't bother me, although on deeper (>130'-) dives I occasionally find myself wishing my head was clearer
Now that I'm a DM, I won't take OW divers deeper than 60' or their comfort level - whichever is shallower. Also, even though I'll dive with about anyone, I won't dive deeper with someone who doesn't seem comfortable shallow. Why? I already know that if someone needs help, I will, no matter what - but though I'm not worried about my own safety, if avoidable, I would rather not get hurt saving someone else's butt. There are a couple of buddies that I will dive at any depth and any profile with - and I don't give a hoot what their cert level is.
There's a woman who's OW class I helped out with this summer that wants to keep diving. She's not comfortable diving deeper than 30' - if she ever expresses an interest in going deeper than that with me, it will be in small increments until we're BOTH comfortable with her going deeper.
So to answer your question - depends on your comfort level and the comfort level of the buddy you're diving with. The "official" depth limits are to try to get people to become more comfortable with their diving skills, then get more training before doing deeper and riskier dives.
I will preface this by saying my OW instructor recognized right off that I was comfortable in the water.
4th dive (yep - OW class) was to 70', H2O temp - 39F
5th - 65'
6th - 86' - temp 43F- I still remember this dive - I was still kind of struggling with buoyancy and about 10 min into the dive just told myself - "dammit, this is supposed to be FUN - RELAX!!" I did and it all came together. After that I started dropping 2-4# of weight (with 2# on each ankle, I was using 40# total!!) each dive until I figured it out.
7th - 83'
9th - 96' - tried no ankle weights and trim was better - hehehe
11th - 126'
Was I narced on those deeper dives? Yep. If I pay attention, I can start to notice it at ~80'. So far it doesn't bother me, although on deeper (>130'-) dives I occasionally find myself wishing my head was clearer
Now that I'm a DM, I won't take OW divers deeper than 60' or their comfort level - whichever is shallower. Also, even though I'll dive with about anyone, I won't dive deeper with someone who doesn't seem comfortable shallow. Why? I already know that if someone needs help, I will, no matter what - but though I'm not worried about my own safety, if avoidable, I would rather not get hurt saving someone else's butt. There are a couple of buddies that I will dive at any depth and any profile with - and I don't give a hoot what their cert level is.
There's a woman who's OW class I helped out with this summer that wants to keep diving. She's not comfortable diving deeper than 30' - if she ever expresses an interest in going deeper than that with me, it will be in small increments until we're BOTH comfortable with her going deeper.
So to answer your question - depends on your comfort level and the comfort level of the buddy you're diving with. The "official" depth limits are to try to get people to become more comfortable with their diving skills, then get more training before doing deeper and riskier dives.
Just because you feel comfortable doesn't mean that you can handle a problem. You need to have practiced the kind of problem management you may need to apply on a deep dive and have confidence that you can do it when it counts.
Some in this thread have refered to early deep dives after getting training. I'm pretty familiar with the "deep dive" training that most recreational divers get and it often leaves out any meaningful gas management. Watching your gauge isn't managing gas.
I diver who doesn't have solid skills at 20 ft shouldn't go to 100.
I don't go to 100 ft without redundancy and plenty of gas and I don't mean a spair air or a silly little pony bottle.
For those who have had "the training"how much gas do you reserve for solving a problem at 100 ft and getting you and your buddy safely to the surface?
Some in this thread have refered to early deep dives after getting training. I'm pretty familiar with the "deep dive" training that most recreational divers get and it often leaves out any meaningful gas management. Watching your gauge isn't managing gas.
I diver who doesn't have solid skills at 20 ft shouldn't go to 100.
I don't go to 100 ft without redundancy and plenty of gas and I don't mean a spair air or a silly little pony bottle.
For those who have had "the training"how much gas do you reserve for solving a problem at 100 ft and getting you and your buddy safely to the surface?
Well...first of all, let's address the first question...
OW divers and their depth...yes, it is recommended that divers stay above 60'. However, there is not a mgical right of passage to dip below that depth. What is required is a little more planning. You are going to be deeper, you are going to need more gas on reserve in the event of an emergency at deeper depths. You shold also consider that the water will be colder, you will have less bouyancy in your suit (if diving wet), and that the whole "deep dive" is something new. Essentially you've added three new things on one dive. I don't suggest dropping beyond 60 feet unless you're very comfortable with your bouyancy, trim, and "situation handling" skills. Some things that can happen, lost mask, lost fin, OOA, free flows, etc., etc. The diver should be able to handle all of these situations in the shallow water before moving beyond that...
Now mike...my answer to "how much gas do you have on reserve at 100'". Well, my buddy and I were diving wrecks up in the straits, and decided it would be a good idea to find out how much gas we'd need to solve a problem at 100' (why 100'...b/c that was how deep the planned wrecks were). We fgiured 1 minute to solve the problem at depth, 1 minute back to the up line, 1 minute at 1/2 max depth (we're on air not any special mix here), 1 minute each at 30, 20, and 10'. So that's a 6 minute ascent from the time we had a problem at an average depth of 51.666'....or approximately 2.5 ATA. So we assumed that since we'd probably be a little panicked that our SACs would be rather high...so we assumed a SAC of 1.0 cu.ft. per minute. So...for 2 divers you have 12 minutes of ascent * 1 cu. ft. * 2.5 = 25 Cu ft. of air to keep on reserve, which comes out to just under 1000psi in an AL 80 tank.
Good answer Big-t-2538! That must be something you learned in your AOW class right? Or did you pick it up somewhere else?
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