How Deep is Too Deep for You?

[lamont]

What's your personal limit on depth? We need a lively debate to break in the new puppy.

I'm starting to consistantly dive to 115-120 max depth for 30-35 mins. I feel very comfortable with those dives at this point, so 150-160 is next and I've been spending months making certain that I will feel comfortable with square profile dives to 150-160 when I get there.

My ultimate limits are that dives to 240 fsw on the Governor sound cool and not entirely insane. Dives to the Admiral Sampson at 320 fsw seem insane. I'm going to have quite some time to reevaulate things before I get to either of those depths though...

 

[limeyx]

Trimix should be made more easily available to recreational divers. That's part of the point of this thread. A lot of divers are closet deep air divers because they don't have the certification at the tech level. It's a tough class for people who don't want to dive deeper than 180 feet. We have a disconnect in education in the 100-180 foot depth. So people dive deep air and don't talk about it.

Interesting -- the last time someone dared mention recreational triox around here they got slaughtered for it

And I would argue that 100-180 is NOT recreational diving by any standards and the classes *should* be hard to pass before you are certified to dive to those depths.

 

[limeyx]

I'm starting to consistantly dive to 115-120 max depth for 30-35 mins. I feel very comfortable with those dives at this point, so 150-160 is next and I've been spending months making certain that I will feel comfortable with square profile dives to 150-160 when I get there.
...

but you *are* gonna take tech1 first, right?

 

[TheRedHead]

And I would argue that 100-180 is NOT recreational diving by any standards and the classes *should* be hard to pass before you are certified to dive to those depths.

The recreational diving limit is set at 130 feet, but lots of people dive to 150 or deeper and don't talk about it. Normoxic Trimix class requires a lot of physical strength and I can assure you that a lot of women coudn't pass it. And it is not a matter of skill or knowledge. It's really a barrier to safer diving for those who don't have the muscle.

 

[lamont]

but you *are* gonna take tech1 first, right?

definitely, but I view that as just part of a process, and one of the smaller pieces -- although it is an exceptionally shiny mirror...

 

[JeffG]

Normoxic Trimix class requires a lot of physical strength and I can assure you that a lot of women coudn't pass it. And it is not a matter of skill or knowledge. It's really a barrier to safer diving for those who don't have the muscle.

Why? Trimix diving is no "harder" than deep air. The fact that helium is added to the tank doesn't make that diving any harder. Where is this need for huge physical strength?

 

[trucker girl]

I never had any thought of ever going very deep until I made my first Lake Michigan wreck dive this last weekend. Prior to that I saw myself as a warm water diver and saw little reason to go deep. Now I understand what the draw is around here. I don't see myself going deeper than rec limits (130) because of fitness, cost and training time (two girls approaching college). The deepest I have gone is 108.

Interesting. Ber Rabbit and Notso_Ken are going to Tobermory and I think to myself... WHY? It's deep. It's cold... why not travel a little further to Florida...

But if it's worth it maybe I should reconsider... not this year, though!

 

[trucker girl]

My OW training is through PADI so if I go below 130ft, I'll die. Therefore, my limit is 130ft.

Very funny! For some reason I can't insert a smiley or go to the "more" page... El Orans? Granted, my computer and I had an argument today and we're just now starting to tolerate eachother...

Technically, if you're OW cert through PADI then 60 ft is your "I'll die" limit...

Do other certs "allow" deeper for rec limits?

 

[TheRedHead]

Why? Trimix diving is no "harder" than deep air. The fact that helium is added to the tank doesn't make that diving any harder. Where is this need for huge physical strength?

No it's not any harder. But the course requirements are. Doubles plus 2 deco bottles and rescuing some huge man wearing the same. Hauling yourself up the ladder wearing 1-1/2 to 2 times your weight in gear takes strength.

 

[trucker girl]

First post on the board

For me, I trained PADI OW so 12m/50ft (ish) was the limit, but i just turned 15 so i'm no longer a Junior OW and the limit is 18m for me now - big new prospects!

Went to 18m on a recent dive for the first time, and for me as a relative amateur it felt no different, looked no different and i used up the air at the same rate, so i probably feel comfortable down to 20m now. Makes sense - thats the depth where my cheap Underwater Camera breaks!

Well, welcome to the board! I see you've made a few more posts since this one!

I'm always impressed when I see a teenager get certified for diving. I never had the interest or the discipline to pursue something like this. And, of course, it is the ULTIMATE cool passtime!

Deep is silly, really IMO! There is so much to see in the shallows that I don't see any need to take on the extra nitrogen and the extra risk involved with going deep. And, being "comfortable" at a certain depth doesn't mean you should be!

Regardless of my high horse moment there- I'm proud of you for getting certified. My LDS recently certified a 15-year-old guy and I was so impressed with him- his maturity and his confidence were stunning to a formerly shy kid!

Enjoy diving to the utmost!

T.G.