max depth allowed.??????

[ghosty_old]

My wife and i were just certified about 2 months ago. We are going on cruise in january and i booked a 2 tank dive with one of the local dive shops in grand cayman. I asked the person for a brief description of the dives. They said one dive would be to a local reef and the other would be a 100' wall dive. Now i'm pretty sure my instructor said that the maximum depth that i was allowed to go to was 60'. I told the person this and they said not to worry about it, that the actual correct number is 100'. I always thought that scuba diving was a world wide sport with the same teachings and limits. I was certified through PADI. Do different institutions have different limits.

 

[MechDiver]

PADI OW is 60' in like conditions. That is a recommendation and not an absolute as there are no "scuba police". Tropical operations seem to allow more latitude, although I am a little surprised you were told 100' without an Advanced card.

That is all beside the point, as you should only dive as deep as you and your buddy feel comfortable. Just because its a 100' wall does not mean you have to go that deep.

Phil

 

[luvdiving]

Hi Ghosty:

You are correct about the PADI OW 60 ft. limit.

There are no PADI police hiding below the 60 ft. depth waiting to check your C card as you descend past that level (if there are, they always give themselves away with the bubble trails). However.....
I always advise my students to stay within their limits and get comfortable about being underwater before "pushing the envelope".
It's also a good idea to take advanced courses on the different types of diving you intend to do.

If you aren't comfortable with being below 60 ft. at this point, call another dive shop. Someone will be willing to help.:boom:

 

[The Chairman]

to dive in the same conditions that you were certified in. If you went no lower than 60', than 60' should be YOUR maximum. Find another dive operator, unless they plan to further your training to do those deeper dives.

BTW, there are no Scuba police to make sure you descend no lower than 60'. YOU are the one responsible for your dives. Don't go on any "trustme" dives, where you just accept what any person tells you. Use your head, and call a dive whenever you are exceeding your training.

 

[djhall]

Depending on your relationship with your local dive shop, it may also be possible for you to do the Deep Dive from the PADI Adventures in Diving program before you leave. This class will familiarize you with issues that have a potentially greater impact at greater depths and will take you on a dive to 100 or more feet with an instructor. This dive would also count toward your PADI Adventure Diver or PADI Advanced Open Water certification.

Of course, only you will know whether you are ready to continue your training to another level or not. As others have said, only dive within the limits of YOUR training, experince, and mental skills. Just because the wall or the divemaster goes to 100 feet does not mean you have to go there too.

Dive safely and have fun!

 

[BlueWaterDiving]

They speak the truth. There is no deep police, but you should not dive passed your training. If you fill good with it ok but if not you are a bigger person for not doing the dive. I like to think he or she who dive's safe today will be around to dive tomorrow.

 

[lawofgravity]

My first real dive after owc was a 60ft wall dive in Belize. I was diving with a buddy (dm) and an instructor. I guess he felt I was doing okay because the next day, he threw me into an 80ft wall dive, and the day after that, a 90ft wall dive. I asked the instructor about the 60ft limit, and he told me as long as an instructor or dm was with me, it would be okay, that it would be no different if I had signed up for a deep speciality course.

lawofgravity

 

[joens]

Never dive beyond your training level/comfort level and never follow someone anyplace you are not comfortable going . and having an instructor or dive master with you does not mean anything . there is no place in diving for anyone that would pressure someone to dive beyond their comfort/training .Any shop that would do that should be avoided at all costs. If someone wants to extend their comfort level. get the training and the experience to do it safely.
joens

 

[jhelmuth]

There are many good points and correct responses (why dwell on what is or may be technically incorrect or other wise?), but let's consider the reality in the context of your circumstances.

[1] You are newly certified (me too). This means that you’re probably not that experienced (unless you’ve been logging quite a few dives in the frigid waters of the winter). Also consider the experience and “common sense” you’ve acquired in your dive training. Are your “reactions” to problem situations quick and correct? Be honest. How likely are you to place your, or worse yet – your buddies, life in danger if the unfortunate happened? Having a dive master near by may be the answer, but only if he/she can act as a 3rd buddy. Find out in advance if this will be the case. If so, be prepared to pay that person for the privilege to learn more and feel safer at the same time.
[2] This is a vacation (bought and paid for I assume). So you really may not be able to “undo” your plans (not without severe financial repercussions anyway). So make the best of it. Solve the issues before you leave. What about going back to you LDS where you got your training and see what they can do to help you prepare. I went to the pool every weekend durring the 5 weeks of my OW training, for 2-3 hours each day, focused soley upon perfecting the techniques so that I could perform them as nearly perfectly as was possible in the placid, safe harbour of the pool (knowing that there was a greater element of unfamiliarity and risk in the OW). Have your dive instructor speak with the dive master where you plan to vacation – better yet, have him/her write you a letter of recommendation commenting on your skills and what they feel is appropriate for you to tackle. Who says you have to do both dives? Can you dive the reef twice (did you ask)?
[3] Best rule-of-thumb: Don’t make any dive you are not absolutely sure that you are prepared for unless you are assisted by an instructor or dive master. Even then, if you don’t feel that they have your best interest at heart – don’t dive with them either. Remember how much emphasis was placed on planning your dive in your OW class (I hope anyway)? There is a good reason that this time was taken and the emphasis was great and serious. Don’t lose sight of that important point – Plan your dive (thoroughly) and dive your plan (don’t deviate from the plan). This I know is 100% sure every time: If you are not sure that you can do it – you probably shouldn’t try it unless failure is an option. If failure is not an option – practice, practice, practice until you know you can!

Now whatever you do - have fun and have it safely!

:newbie:

 

[Butch103]

your advise is right on the money.................as always.......except for that time when you said............well never mind , but Ghosty listen to Pete...................