More experience = shallower dives ...

[jeckyll]

I've been thinking about this lately. I seem to make more and more shallower dives. I'm enjoying the life there more and seem to have more fun all around.

I had been working up to doing slightly deeper dives, and for a while many of my first dives were in the 80 - 90 + range with a second dive around 60. Always with a checkmark style profile, so lots of time shallow with average depths usually around 40 - 50 fsw even for 'deeper' dives.

This shouldn't be all that much of an epiphany really, but latley I've had the best time in around 10 - 20 fsw.

 

[Louma]

I go in cycles - if I want to see wrecks they are usually deeper. Reefs - usually shallower. I'm in my shallow mode now - shore dives, Florida springs. There are times also that I just like to get out of all of the SCUBA gear and just snorkel. Still lots of "stuff" to see at 20 feet!

 

[tankboygreg]

Longer air times with less DCS risk, more lsealife, better lighting, and shorter swims from shore, what's not to like? That is if you are a Pacific Coast Diver. However, jumping into the water from a boat and dropping to 100 fsw on the backwall of the Molokini Crater off Maui with 150+ vis is nice too.

 

[jeckyll]

Greg: All my dives have been in the PNW so far.

Maybe 50' vis on a stellar day

 

[Rick Inman]

There is no place I don't enjoy.

I've seen people race down and race back up as if getting there and getting back isn't part of the dive.

I used to be like that, until a dive with Uncle Pug some years back where, thinking the dive was over, every time I was about to surface (we were in about 5' of water) he'd point out something else cool.

Actually, it took a couple of dives 'cause I lernt real slow.

 

[TSandM]

You know, I was thinking about this after our Sares Head dive on Thursday.

The best part of every dive to me is above 60 feet. This is especially true in the PNW. What I have realized, slowly, is that I just frankly get narced, and it's significant below about 80 feet. Even when I control it, there's a general feeling of unease and discomfort about being there, and the dive opens up and is much more fun once we ascend a bit.

I'm not diving wrecks or anything else where there is a dramatic change in what there is to see when you go deeper. You just use your air faster, and have to watch your NDL time.

I did a 78 minute dive with a max depth of about 35 feet today. It was lovely. We found a small octopus, we swam through dense schools of tubesnouts and herring, and I spotted a sturgeon poacher in the shallows (9 feet or so) on the way in. Why do I need anything more?

 

[GDI]

Just Dive Man and Have fun. It does not matter at what depth that fun comes at you. Having made dives to some very deep depths I can tell you that I have enjoyed the dives made at 30 ft or less just as much. You could make a 100 dives at the same spot and if you are looking you will see something different each and every time

 

[Dreadnaught]

Longer air times with less DCS risk, more lsealife, better lighting, and shorter swims from shore, what's not to like? That is if you are a Pacific Coast Diver. However, jumping into the water from a boat and dropping to 100 fsw on the backwall of the Molokini Crater off Maui with 150+ vis is nice too.

Add to that list warmer water..
Absoulutely!!! Shallower is more enjoyable! (why go deeper unless required to to accomplish your goals for that dive???)

 

[r&wc]

id have to agree with gdi, dive wherever you find most enjoyable, i think what you like to see plays a big part in where you go. my wife likes scenery so she likes the wrecks mostely in the 70' range, i like finding little critters like gobys blennies and little crabs so i prefer the 30' reefs, more little critters and more bottom time to find them

 

[REII]

I do enjoy the deeper wrecks from time to time. But most of my dives off the Pompano Beach to Boca Raton area are between 50 and 80 feet. It depends on the visability, current and the reefs in your area that you like to dive. Many times, I have found the most life at a shallower depth.

So I think it is more about getting the most out of your dives, rather than trying to go deeper.

TOM