So how close would you push your NDL?

[Crass3000]

I know I'm going to get a lot of crap for this but looking for honest answers and please no preaching. I like to dive deep air (don't really have any option) and yesterday I made it to 165FSW. I know that's not deep for most of you but deep for me. I was going out from shore so I could easily start out deeper. Basically I dive in a quarry. I don't think anybody will teach me advanced nitrox and deco cause I don't have a dry suit and it will be at least a year before I can afford one. I have cancer so my time is limited but it thrills me to go deep. I have and have read most of the relevant TDI manuals but really wouldn't put them to use until I was sure I knew them better and was happy with a 40% mix. Just got "Deco for Divers" in the door but haven't read it.

Anyhow, I'm ready to be told it's a bad idea but would rather have real answers. My computer is set to conservative but I'm not factoring that in. I want to get as deep as I can (165 to 200). I basically watch my computer for pressure, depth, and NDL. As long as you had a few NDLs would it be safe to keep going deeper (assuming ample air)? I know I'm pushing my luck but what do you think? This is just a down there and back dive. With a tank of 40% to take a long safety stop up top (10 minutes at 15 ft.). Things should be fine if I don't pass NDLs? How far do you push your NDLs? It seems that when you get deep (again see 165) they really go down slow?!

I want to get down. Wish I could take classes but no decent drysuit that I would by and trust unless its a DUI and fits. I'm sure there are others but really uncomfortable sinking that kind of money into something that isn't perfect.

I guess reading the books I could probably work the numbers out regardless and go with doubles (and work out the decompression) when I can get them. But just wondering how far you would push your NDLs?

Never felt narced with lots of "deep" dives.

Cue: Don't do that!!!

 

[pensacolaracer]

Well, the first half of your first sentence is true.

I'm not sure what you mean by the deeper you go the slower your NDL's seem to go.

At face value, that statement tends to tell me you are narced off your ass.

There are all kinds of horror stories on here about people doing deep bounce dives. More than a few have resulted in death.

Not sure if you are going to get too much of the advice you are looking for from the folks on here who are deco certified.

You may get some advice from some folks who bounce deep air... But as the saying goes, you don't know what you don't know.


Sent from 115 FSW.

 

[ferris213]

I stay within 10 mins of NDL. That way if something happens that needs to be fixed at any time on the dive I can safely get it sorted without exceeding them. I have only dived to 30meters (90ft) and theres no way you'd catch me at 165ft

As for the rest of your post. It sounds like a big bag of bad ideas to me...

 

[Crass3000]

But as the saying goes, you don't know what you don't know.

I understand that and that's why I asked and I read a lot!!! It's all I can do.

 

[DevonDiver]

Won't skimp on a lesser drysuit, but will skimp on procedures and training.

If "uncomfortable sinking that kind of money into something that isn't perfect", why not seek the training you need to conduct the dives you want to do perfectly?

 

[Crass3000]

If "uncomfortable sinking that kind of money into something that isn't perfect", why not seek the training you need to conduct the dives you want to do perfectly?

I already mentioned that they won't train me unless I have a dry suit. Too broke to get a dry suit as I'm trying to get a tech rig together.

 

[tamas970]

First of all, sorry to hear about your condition but I'll never give suicide ideas...

165-200fsw can easily fatal at the first time you do it. You need practice that you learn in a TEC course and test your tolerance for narcosis/use trimix. Otherwise you have a fair chance to get narced, simply "forget" to come back and die.

As a recreational diver: yes, 165 IS too deep for me. I don't know if I'll ever get/want to get that deep. First of all, I have a back condition that doesn't like me to carry 40kg of tanks. Besides, there is not much to see down there, 99% of interesting sealife is in the 1-130' rec zone.

Once I was at NDL (20min@120') and felt pain in my ankles because of my boots were too tight and probably promoted local bubble formation/inhibited off-gassing at the safety stop. Fortunately it didn't spread and I didn't go to chamber.

 

[Griffo]

An Edge drysuit will cost you $800 from DRIS.

 

[Crass3000]

Who knows... maybe I'll come up with a drysuit. It sounds like people are more conservative than me and that's probably not a good thing. Any other answers to the first question would be appreciated. I guess I know I need a drysuit for trimix regardless.

 

[DCBC]

... I have cancer so my time is limited but it thrills me to go deep.

I'm sorry to hear that. What's the prognosis?

Anyhow, I'm ready to be told it's a bad idea but would rather have real answers. ...I want to get as deep as I can (165 to 200). ...As long as you had a few NDLs would it be safe to keep going deeper (assuming ample air)? I know I'm pushing my luck but what do you think? This is just a down there and back dive. With a tank of 40% to take a long safety stop up top (10 minutes at 15 ft.). Things should be fine if I don't pass NDLs? How far do you push your NDLs? It seems that when you get deep (again see 165) they really go down slow?!

Air quantity can be managed. The problem is NO2 Narcosis. Unless you want to commit suicide, don't go too deep too fast. If you can't get training in Deep-Air without a Dry Suit where you are, you should at least discuss narcosis management/recognition with a Deep-Air Instructor (you could send me a PM, if you like).

Are you diving alone? Do you carry redundancy? Be aware that if you follow the NDT, Navy Divers have experienced a 2% chance of developing DCS. This is however dependent upon the tables you use. On a Deep-Air dive, ascent rate is critical...

...how far you would push your NDLs?

When you put a revolver to your head, how many bullets do you put in the six chambers before you pull the trigger? I never push the tables...

Never felt narced with lots of "deep" dives.

Many years ago, I was a Navy Diver involved in research at DCIEM. My Master's thesis surrounded Narcosis research (Hyperbaric Physiologist). Regardless of what you think you feel, if you are deeper than 50 FSW, you are experiencing narcosis. It's just a matter of degrees. The problem with narcosis (and alcohol for that matter) is that it's difficult to quantify your degree of impairment after you're impaired.. If you dive deeper on air, you should be aware of how this can be done in a safer manner. Deep-Air or any form of diving isn't totally safe (people do die), but the risk should be reasonable and acceptable to the diver.