Is 130 ft too deep?

[MikeFerrara]

So when you teach open water divers and you take all those eager beavers in the deep blue sea for the first time they are all able to survive the dive without help and they understand gas and decompression planning?

YES. If I drop dead of a heart attack in the middle of an OW dive one, I am confident that my students, in buddy teams, can end the dive safely. While my being there might provide a margine (for lack of a better term) they are there to get experience but they have already demonstrated the knowledge and skills. While I guide their planning...they do it.

Eventually we all encounter some level of "trust me" dives.
pediatron stated she has done several dives to 100+ ft and was comfortable at that depth. I say provided you are comfortable the blue hole might be a great experience. It may help to have someone more experienced such as a DM to supervise.
I tell my students to go into the water and don't be afraid to push the limit once in a while as long as you take baby steps.

130ft is only 15ft deeper than her deepest dive. That sounds like a baby step to me.

I'm not saying she shouldn't do it. Look at my first post. I listed a series of questions that I would ask myself. Maybe 130 is only 15 ft deeper but did she do the last dive or did she follow some one else who did it?

I don't need an answer. It's just something I think is relevant to her.

 

[wedivebc]

I'm not saying she shouldn't do it. Look at my first post. I listed a series of questions that I would ask myself. Maybe 130 is only 15 ft deeper but did she do the last dive or did she follow some one else who did it?

I don't need an answer. It's just something I think is relevant to her.

BTW: I was looking for a post you made about "poodle jacketed, split fin wearing..." remember where it was? I almost fell off my chair

 

[texdiveguy]

Go for it only if you are at comfort with that decsion. Only you can decide.

 

[scubapro50]

"there are old divers, and there are bold divers. but very few old bold divers" Heard that before? DEEP DIVING is someting left to the young ..... been there, done it and made it back. I'm not saying you can't make a 130ft dive but why do you want to. If there is something that you really want to see (like a German U-Boat or Spanish Gallon then go for it) you only live once. Think about it ... 130ft is not really that deep if you are prepared for it. When was the last time you had a physical from a doctor? Is all your equipment in excellent shape and can you trust your life with it. Do you have a dive profile and a plan on what to do if something screws up. If you say YES to all those questions then "DO IT".

 

[MikeFerrara]

BTW: I was looking for a post you made about "poodle jacketed, split fin wearing..." remember where it was? I almost fell off my chair

No, I don't remember.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

BTW: I was looking for a post you made about "poodle jacketed, split fin wearing..." remember where it was? I almost fell off my chair

That wasn't Mike ... it was Boogie ...

http://scubaboard.com/showpost.php?p=655694&postcount=3

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[dweeb]

No, its OK if the guy your diving with knows what the heck they are doing. I have taken many divers on their deepest dives from 80 feet to 380 feet with no problems. Why, because I have the training and experience with deep diving to handle the situation and provide the diver with the basic training to handle the situations.

Oh, so, "trust me" dives are OK if the person you are abdicating responsibility to has long list of impressive credentials and publishes a magazine.

Thanks for clarifying.

 

[dweeb]

So isn't a students first deep dive with an instructor a "trust me" dive?

Not if the instructor has been doing his/her job BEFORE that first deep dive. The instructor's job is to see to it that the student is trained to handle the dive BEFORE the dive. The purpose of the dive itself is to EVALUATE the student, not do things for them. You can't take your tutor into the final exam to bail you out of the tough questions.

 

[dweeb]

A. I carry my own back-up. (never trust a buddy)

B. I have never gotten in trouble at 130 feet, and if I did, I would buddy breath with whom ever I am taking there, or grab my bailout. I would even bet I could make it to the surface without gas. Might not feel good afterwards, but I am sure I could make it.

And what happens if you run into some kryptonite, Kal El?
When diving with students, you're essentially solo diving.
Solo diving has increased risks precisely because there are scenarios where only another COMPETENT person will help.

Does this mean I cannot teach mixed gas diving anymore, because I always take them deeper than they have ever been? Isnt this a trust me dive?

It is if you haven't properly trained them to the point where you are just there as an observer. In any dive training, the purpose of the actual open water dives is final evaluation. The students are supposed to complete their learning and make their mistakes PRIOR to that.

 

[DORSETBOY]

"there are old divers, and there are bold divers. but very few old bold divers" Heard that before? DEEP DIVING is someting left to the young ..... been there, done it and made it back. I'm not saying you can't make a 130ft dive but why do you want to. If there is something that you really want to see (like a German U-Boat or Spanish Gallon then go for it) you only live once. Think about it ... 130ft is not really that deep if you are prepared for it. When was the last time you had a physical from a doctor? Is all your equipment in excellent shape and can you trust your life with it. Do you have a dive profile and a plan on what to do if something screws up. If you say YES to all those questions then "DO IT".

all excellent points but they apply to all diving not just deep diving, it's just that they tend to become more important on deeper dives than shallow as the margins for error become slimmer.