PADI Depth Restrictions

[mccabe]

The deeper you go the more technically demanding the environment becomes (so they say!!) but the point is that PADI are by no means policing the divers world but warning you that without the right training you could encounter difficulty. They are simply covering the backsides!!!

If you join an organised dive run by PADI professionals then yes they will employ the recomendations as laid down by PADI. No one is questioning your experience or ability but simply providing healthy advice!!

 

[LSDeep]

Do you have experience diving deeper than 60 feet? If so, how much?

if he / she never dives below 60' he / she will never gain this experience right? nobody was talking about 130' maybe the majority of reefs at the destination is between 65 and 75' where the 60' restriction could be of concern.

 

[mccabe]

if he / she never dives below 60' he / she will never gain this experience right?

Exactly, which is why you complete your AOW!!
Understand what you are saying but what PADI are trying to emphasize is that the deeper you go the more trainging you need and it must be capped at each stage otherwise whats the point!!
One other consideration is if you was to encounter a problem your insurance may become void as you dived beyond your trained limit!!

Andy

 

[LSDeep]

Exactly, which is why you complete your AOW!!
Understand what you are saying but what PADI are trying to emphasize is that the deeper you go the more trainging you need and it must be capped at each stage otherwise whats the point!!
One other consideration is if you was to encounter a problem your insurance may become void as you dived beyond your trained limit!!

Andy

i agree with you, i am an instr myself. what i try to say here is that a dive to 65ft instead of 60 wont kill you and an aow card (be it padi - to be reached with 9 dives or ssi with about 20 dives) gives you not necessarely any competency to do deep dives. otherwise, yes i agree with you about taking ongoing courses as you expand your range of diving.

 

[BabyDuck]

ok, i'll be the dissenter.

i didn't learn a thing in aow that i didn't know from ow. 75 feet is not the same as an overhead.

if you can knock out aow before the dives, do it so nobody can say anything, but my first deep dives were before aow - ymmv & i'm not telling you what to do.

 

[Walter]

if he / she never dives below 60' he / she will never gain this experience right? nobody was talking about 130' maybe the majority of reefs at the destination is between 65 and 75' where the 60' restriction could be of concern.

True and since AOW is a joke anyway.........

I merely ask to gain information necessary to answer his question. It's possible he has 4 dives to 20 feet and no additional experience. If so, he isn't qualified to dive to 50 feet, much less exceed 60. OTOH, it's possible he has hundreds or even thousands of dives deeper than 100 feet. If so, of course he's qualified to dive deeper than 60 feet. In reality, his experience is probably somewhere between those two extremes.

You are qualified to dive is conditions similar to the ones in which you've trained/have experience. If a diver was trained to 60 feet (practical application, not just theory), then they are qualified to dive to similar depths. That is not a hard bottom of 60 feet, but to that general depth. A dive to 70 feet is not unreasonable. After a little experience at 70 feet (5 or so dives), dive to 80 would be the next logical progression. Taking small steps to increase experience on deeper dives is much more helpful than taking the AOW class.

PADI has set up basic guidelines solely for the safety of thier divers.

I have a bridge for sale.

 

[Walter]

i didn't learn a thing in aow that i didn't know from ow.

There's a reason for that.

 

[BabyDuck]

which is what, honey?

 

[Walter]

It's not designed to teach you anything.

 

[BabyDuck]

ah! gotcha! i was hoping it wasn't because you think i'm dense!

as wonderful as dinner was, next time i want to actually dive with you.