PADI AOW qualified depth

[conundrum]

Deep dive test that your got Nitrogen narcosis or not at that depth (in instructor manual the deep training dive not deeper than 30 m.). However, the limitation depend on individual. Some got narcosis at 25 m., some still OK at 45 m, But the limitation for recreational diver is 40 m.

There are a few recreational dive site that required you to reach 40 m., you rarly see beautiful things at depth beyond 30 m. So if you want reach to 40 m., you must find the reason "Why ?", "Is it necessary" and "Does the local dive leader recommend or not".

 

[DevonDiver]

However, the limitation depend on individual. Some got narcosis at 25 m., some still OK at 45 m, .

Define "OK"...?

Do you mean no obvious and immediately incapacitating narcosis...... or do you mean no effect of narcosis?

Everyone is affected by narcosis.... it just may not be obvious. It usually becomes very obvious when a problem or emergency is encountered though......

 

[conundrum]

Define "OK"...?

Do you mean no obvious and immediately incapacitating narcosis...... or do you mean no effect of narcosis?

Everyone is affected by narcosis.... it just may not be obvious. It usually becomes very obvious when a problem or emergency is encountered though......

sorry man! I mean as you mean "no obvious and immediately incapacitating". Yes, everyone is affected by narcosis.

However, as I mentioned "you must find the reason "Why you have to reach that depth ?", "Is it necessary?" and "Does the local dive leader recommend or not?".

Thanks for your comment.

 

[larien]

There's a lot of stuff in here, but what I'm mostly concerned about is whether I'd be insured to 40m based on current qualifications. I've dived to 30m a few times now and not had any issues so I'm ready to go further (in sensible stages, obviously) but if it's going to invalidate any insurance, it's not going to be worth the risks (hyperbaric chamber sessions not being cheap if something does go wrong...).

As an aside from the above, I'm not racing towards going deep for the hell of it - I actually prefer shallower dives (longer no-deco times, lower air consumption, better light) but if there's something really worth seeing at 35m (say) I'd like to be able to get there.

 

[TheScubaBOB]

I'm half way through the PADI Deep Diver Specialty.

I was disappointed when I found out that (due to local dive sites) my max depth for the training dives would be 80ft. I've already been down to 90 & 106ft (both times for shipwrecks) during my AOW Training Dives.

I found a competent dive buddy and together we did a nice MultiLevel dive:

Down to 100ft first for him to replace an object anchored to a line.

Next we dropped over the wall (the line was anchored to the top of the wall) and descended to 130ft for a couple of minutes.

After freezing our butts off to see a dank gray wall for a couple of minutes we swam up the profile and spent 40 minutes above 50ft enjoying the rest of our dive.

What was the point of getting to 130ft? I wanted to see if I felt any different at that depth as I know there are Wrecks within the 100 - 130ft range and Wrecks are my primary interest.

 

[DevonDiver]

For insurance issues, you are best advised to check directly with your insurance provider. Some companies do impose limitations...whether based on the diver's certification or anything else the company wants to put into the small print.

I once read a forum report of a UK company that provided holiday insurance. They approved cover for scuba diving.... but the small print apparently stipulated 6m max!?!?

 

[toefa]

So let me get this straight.. I have just become a PADI AOW diver. I dived to 40 metres on my course and managed all the tasks set by my instructor perfectly, as did my wife. So even though i have had quite a few dives beyond 30 metres, my new 'qualified' level is 30m? So.. in order to dive below 30m 'legitimately' in PADI's eyes, i have to undertake the Deep Specialty - that may only take me to say 35 metres to complete the course?
Why is it that i can become a rescue dive - DM or instructor without taking this specialty if it is so important?

I am a little confused about this, and i can see myself getting a tad angry if i was refused a dive based on my current certification.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

You do not HAVE to take the deep specialty. I don't know what you mean by legitimately though. That you have dove to 100 feet. Sorry don't like that meter stuff. I friggin hate it when customers send us drawings in meters and then give the tolerance in inches! Stupid gits.

Anyway back to your question. Diving to 130 instead of 100 is different. It's another atmosphere so you use gas even faster. The narcosis MAY become even more pronounced. And even though you've done a few dives to 100 feet do you really know what you are doing? What is your rate of air consumption at that depth? What buddy procedures do you use? Have you done an air share or mask off and on? Do you use deep stops on the way up? What deco schedule will you use of you run over your NDL's? Were these things covered in your class? They really should have been to qualify you to safely dive to these depths.

What kind of buoyancy drills did you do at 100 feet? Do you have enough air after 10 minutes at that depth to get you and your buddy to the surface should they lose their gas supply? If you don't know maybe you need to rethink the reasons for going that deep until you find out. I cover all this in my AOW class. There are other instructors that do as well. Deep diving is not just about going deep. It does require more extensive gas planning and dive planning over all. What about redundant air supplies? Do you use one or plan on it? Have you deployed one at the start of your ascent from 100 feet? You would with me.

No one but yourself really can set limits on your depth. there are ops that will not let you do certain dives without an AOw card. It;s too bad that there are not more that will also check logbooks to be sure that the AOW card reflects true ability to do the dives. If I had an op and you were come to me with an AOW card I'd look at it. Then I'd ask for your logbook. Then I'd ask some of the questions that I've just posed. If you could not answer at least 75% of them you would not be doing a 100 foot dive from my boat without a QUALIFIED DM or Instructor. THat's the kind of thing I'd like to see. I just certed 2 AOW students a couple weeks ago. They did EVERYTHING I just noted. My recommendation to them-Do not go out and start doing 100 foot dives. You're comfortable with 60. Do a few more of those and use what you learned. Then go to 70 for a few dives, then 80, then 90, then 100. And if you are presented with a 100 foot dive before that? Think, is it that great a dive, will it still be there a year from now, what is there really to see that is not at 60-80? Are you absolutely comfortable with it knowing that though there may be a DM or Guide that they are most likely not going to make the dive any safer with their presence? If so go ahead but plan it like I showed you and dive that plan. Do not let the DM or Guide decide what you are going to do. And lastly if there is any doubt whatsoever- don't do the dive.

 

[toefa]

Thanks for the reply Jim, i'll try and answer some of your questions..

You do not HAVE to take the deep specialty. I don't know what you mean by legitimately though. That you have dove to 100 feet. Sorry don't like that meter stuff. I friggin hate it when customers send us drawings in meters and then give the tolerance in inches! Stupid gits.

Yeah i fnd this one interesting.. I know that a person does NOT have to take a Deep specialty in order to complete rescue, DM or Instructor courses. If i were PADI, i would then do as you and some instructors do and combine a more intensive focus on Deep dives in AOW training. This is a way of gauranteeing that divers come through to a higher responsibilty level of diving such as DM with the right skills. Hopefully.

Anyway back to your question. Diving to 130 instead of 100 is different. It's another atmosphere so you use gas even faster. The narcosis MAY become even more pronounced. And even though you've done a few dives to 100 feet do you really know what you are doing? What is your rate of air consumption at that depth? What buddy procedures do you use? Have you done an air share or mask off and on? Do you use deep stops on the way up? What deco schedule will you use of you run over your NDL's? Were these things covered in your class? They really should have been to qualify you to safely dive to these depths.

Yes. I try very hard not to dive in conditions im not absolutely sure about. It is not about me, my wife is my buddy which makes it necessary for me to be able to give my entire focus to assisting if something were to go pear shaped. That means not putting myself in any risk where i'd have to get her to rescue me.

Rate of air consumption was something i made sure i knew before diving to any considerable depth, because i was worried that on air i wouldnt have time to complete all necessary deep stops or safety stops. This is something that we conciously plan for.

What kind of buoyancy drills did you do at 100 feet? Do you have enough air after 10 minutes at that depth to get you and your buddy to the surface should they lose their gas supply? If you don't know maybe you need to rethink the reasons for going that deep until you find out. I cover all this in my AOW class. There are other instructors that do as well. Deep diving is not just about going deep. It does require more extensive gas planning and dive planning over all. What about redundant air supplies? Do you use one or plan on it? Have you deployed one at the start of your ascent from 100 feet? You would with me.

I guess we had a good instructor and i really think this level of detail on your courses must make your students much better divers. I agree that this should be dealt with before big deep dives and i am all for giving people the necessary education and training before they get themselves into serious trouble - though again, PADI lets a person go through to DM without completing the Deep specialty, so build a more intensive training module into the AOW which everyone will need to take.

No one but yourself really can set limits on your depth. there are ops that will not let you do certain dives without an AOw card. It;s too bad that there are not more that will also check logbooks to be sure that the AOW card reflects true ability to do the dives. If I had an op and you were come to me with an AOW card I'd look at it. Then I'd ask for your logbook. Then I'd ask some of the questions that I've just posed. If you could not answer at least 75% of them you would not be doing a 100 foot dive from my boat without a QUALIFIED DM or Instructor. THat's the kind of thing I'd like to see. I just certed 2 AOW students a couple weeks ago. They did EVERYTHING I just noted. My recommendation to them-Do not go out and start doing 100 foot dives. You're comfortable with 60. Do a few more of those and use what you learned. Then go to 70 for a few dives, then 80, then 90, then 100. And if you are presented with a 100 foot dive before that? Think, is it that great a dive, will it still be there a year from now, what is there really to see that is not at 60-80? Are you absolutely comfortable with it knowing that though there may be a DM or Guide that they are most likely not going to make the dive any safer with their presence? If so go ahead but plan it like I showed you and dive that plan. Do not let the DM or Guide decide what you are going to do. And lastly if there is any doubt whatsoever- don't do the dive.

I think you're right here again.. If an op turned me away because i was AOW and didnt check my log book, i'd be furious. If they checked my record of deep dives and the level of detail i do log on dives and still turned me away, then i would (be still dissapointed) have to assume the dive is still out of my experiance level.

Cheers,
Toefa

 

[k ellis]

Ive done most of my deep dives up too around 80 feet and my deepest was 100. At 100 feet I saw an excellent wreck but I do in fact have to agree with most post in that the majority of the best sites are in more shallower areas. In lakes I really base my depth max to about 50 feet. Its because they tend to be darker and less inviting then the ocean.

One problem I have encountered with the ocean and depth is that 90 feet almost looks identical to 80 feet so in clear deep water dives constant monitoring of the depth is almost a requirement or you can find yourself a little too deep a little too fast