Is Master Scuba Diver "worth it" in your opinion

[BabyLitigator]

With the ability to keep diving and learning I have never understood the Master Diver route. Aside from going to Rescue for obvious reasons I don't think paying for a route like that makes sense unless I were to go the instructor route.

To some extent it's less a "route" than a souvenir if you stick with one agency. AOW, Rescue and Nitrox are to some extent required to do anything interesting, and at least in my part of the country, so is Dry. Deep is a prerequisite for most Tec classes for all practical purposes, which gets you to 3 specialties, if you are taking a Tec route.

I kind of stopped there, but the local shop was running a trip to go ice diving in the mountains and that came with two more certs (Ice and Altitude), so it was just a question of whether to pay Padi for the souvenir.

 

[inquis]

If you are doing 8 minutes at 130 you should have a lot more than an aluminum 80, and true gas planning is almost certainly called for.

Run the numbers. The 8 mins includes the descent. Even at a SAC of 0.7 cuft/min (20 L/min), you have more than half the tank left for a stressed/shared ascent.

 

[The Chairman]

Yeah, phucups may drive one to deco but I consider that a failure in the planning/execution.

This is the biggest problem with so many recreational diving and why taking a technical course and cavern is really a great idea: they plan for everything to go "as planned". They simply don't have enough padding in their planning for when things go south.

I always plan as if things will go sideways. No, they never do for me, but it's been great for those around me that didn't have as much luck.

 

[Blackcrusader]

Run the numbers. The 8 mins includes the descent. Even at a SAC of 0.7 cuft/min (20 L/min), you have more than half the tank left for a stressed/shared ascent.

Every diver has a different consumption rate. For me I would still have around 180 bar on an AL 80 filled to 210 bar. 20l/min would certainly be chugging it. Yeah bounce dives just to end up on the surface after 20 mins not for me.

 

[Centrals]

Every diver has a different consumption rate. For me I would still have around 180 bar on an AL 80 filled to 210 bar. 20l/min would certainly be chugging it. Yeah nounce dives just to end up on the surface after 20 mins not for me.

Any experienced diver will tell you that consumption rate can various greatly. It is entirely depends on the conditions of the dive.

 

[scubadada]

Any experienced diver will tell you that consumption rate can various greatly. It is entirely depends on the conditions of the dive.

Your average RMV varies less than you would think. I have my RMV from 1965/1994 dives from 2010 to date. These represent dives in warm to cold water, no current to ripping current, excellent to no visibility, completely relaxed to high anxiety. My average RMV is 0.36 cu ft/min with a standard deviation of 0.04 cu ft/min. 95% of my dives are between 0.28 and 0.44 cu ft/min. The actual range is 0.24-0.63 cu ft/min. I have learned exactly what dictates my gas consumption. Obviously, exertion contributes to my gas consumption. Being cold contributes nearly as much as exertion. Anxiety during the dive is the last significant contributor.

Following your RMV can be very valuable and can aid tremendously in gas requirement calculations. Much of my diving is solo. I use twice my average RMV for calculating my emergency redundant gas requirements

 

[The Chairman]

Any experienced diver will tell you that consumption rate can various greatly. It is entirely depends on the conditions of the dive.

Many a dead diver can attest to learning that lesson just before they perished. Excitement, especially that caused by fear, increases respiration many, many times over. Don't plan for everything to go well on your dive, rather prepare for things to go sideways. Don't take 'enough' air, take beaucoup amounts. Learn to sling stages if you're going deep. That means taking a deco class. Hopefully, you'll never need it... but if you do, you'll get to post all about it here.

 

[Centrals]

Have I ever ran out of back gas? Only once at 6m so buddy breathing with my buddy. Lesson learnt. Never ever happened again.
100 bars is the turning point to the shallow(12m - 15m) if I am not already there.
NDL is another deciding factor.
Pay close attention to ndl and spg. It is not that difficult.
50 bars is when I am back to the boat.
BTW, my SAC is 6L per min(single 11.2L) and 10L with twin set and two stage bottles(6L) in ideal condition.

 

[stiebs]

Why ‘Retail Therapy’ Makes You Feel Happier

When you describe a shopping trip as “retail therapy,” you’re probably joking. But can shopping really help us feel better? A psychologist says it can. Find out why.

health.clevelandclinic.org

There's a quote in that article:

“If you’re concerned about developing a shopping addiction, try substituting your spending habit with a positive behavior, goal or hobby,” she suggests.

She obviously didn't consider what happens when the hobby you choose fuels your shopping addiction

 

[scubadada]

Have I ever ran out of back gas? Only once at 6m so buddy breathing with my buddy. Lesson learnt. Never ever happened again.
100 bars is the turning point to the shallow(12m - 15m) if I am not already there.
NDL is another deciding factor.
Pay close attention to ndl and spg. It is not that difficult.
50 bars is when I am back to the boat.
BTW, my SAC is 6L per min(single 11.2L) and 10L with twin set and two stage bottles(6L) in ideal condition.

That surfacing pressure seems quite conservative, 35 bar seems more reasonable.

@Centrals Your RMV with a single cylinder is extremely low, 0.21 cu ft/min, are you represented in the poll?

Post in thread 'Average Gas Consumption'

Feb 2, 2025

This thread is about 8 1/2 years old and now has more than 72,000 views. There are 864 votes in the poll.

The median, mode, and weighted average remain 0.5-0.59 cu ft/min or 14.2-16.9 l/min.

If you have not voted in the poll, please consider doing so. If your average RMV has changed, please change your vote.

Great diving

• scubadada

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