Dive Operators and Training limits.

[warm water wuss]

I know the answer to the following question but just in case, (That’s a get out attempt). I am qualified to PADI OW, and as such am qualified to 18m for the environment I trained in, warm clear salt water. I do most of my diving when on holiday or travelling on business in warm sunny climes.

What is the position when a dive guide at a PADI certified dive centre takes me down to 33m. This has happened twice and of the 16 dives I have exceeded the 18m 5 times. The centres know my experience level and qualification is this allowed or is the onus on me to prevent this.

On the last 2 dives in Barbados (I only had time for 2) the first dive was to 30m+, and the second was to penetrate 4 wrecks in Carlisle bay for which I have no training, over head hazards and the like.

This is not a complaint but an observation, I am not uncomfortable doing this when with an experienced, but should I be doing it. I like it as it gives me more experience but am under no illusion that I would ok to go to 30m in the UK with poor vis and cold temperatures, I simply would not do it.

What are other peoples experiences and views.

Mark

[Harlequin]

Hi mate.

As a newly qualified OW I will watch with interest.

Personal thoughts:

Going deeper than I am qualified wouldn't really bother me that much so long as I was with someone I trusted and was comfortable doing it. However, if you knew how much air i sucked I doubt you'd want to buddy me

[Rod]

If you are not happy going to those sort of depths then why not just stop at 18M ? They are not going to drag you down into the depths. If you are happy then there is no problem unless something happens and you try and claim on your insurance.

There are strict depth limits when you are being trained by PADI Instructors but not when you are a qualified diver diving for pleasure.

Personally my problem is the wreck penetration, that I would strongly advise against especially as there were 'overhead hazards'.

[fezboy]

We'll be OK when UDLSC (underwater depth limits signage campaign) gets fully active, currently I'm seeking funding both governmental and personal for two signs 'Caution you are going past 18m' and 'Stop now it's deep and dark, are you trained for deep scary stuff', which myself and a small group of volunteers are going to instal globally at 18m and 30m. Received an email from the UN last week saying it wasn't a problem, waiting on a response from the US State Department and Homeland Defence, no problem from the MOD they still measure in fathoms anyway, chucked the former soviet republics $20, so just need the divers now and the world's supply of sign posts. Signs will be installed on the 18m contour and 30m contour globally, will be constructed with twin set sensors to render them invisible when approached by someone wearing those. Currently working on a solution for areas without easy access to solid anchorage.

Donations or volunteers please email us at udlsc@useyourbrainwhilediving.hotmail. Sponsorship opportunites are available

[jorawley]

haha - fabulous idea Fez

well www all depends on how comfortable you are if things go wrong - free flows and loosing weightbelts (fast ascents) from 30m are a hell of alot different from 15m. If your instructor got in trouble at at say 40m would you be too narked to act correctly or would you be able to do your controlled ascents from that depth, share tanks and still reach the surface???

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Harlequin

<snip>
Going deeper than I am qualified wouldn't really bother me that much so long as I was with someone I trusted and was comfortable doing it. </snip>

Generally speaking doing a "trust me" dive is not considered to be good diving practice.

Ian

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by warm water wuss

What is the position when a dive guide at a PADI certified dive centre takes me down to 33m.

Depth and depth limits.

Having somebody take you somewhere where you do not have the training or experience is fine until you don't come back. Beware of the warm water DM who just churns out the same guided tour day in and day out and doesn't really care about the customer's qualifications. The smile is plastic and the cheery manner comes with the job. He wanted to go diving when he took this position but he's doing customers again.

[Rod]

Originally Posted by fezboy

We'll be OK when UDLSC (underwater depth limits signage campaign) gets fully active, currently I'm seeking funding both governmental and personal for two signs 'Caution you are going past 18m' and 'Stop now it's deep and dark, are you trained for deep scary stuff', which myself and a small group of volunteers are going to instal globally at 18m and 30m. Received an email from the UN last week saying it wasn't a problem, waiting on a response from the US State Department and Homeland Defence, no problem from the MOD they still measure in fathoms anyway, chucked the former soviet republics $20, so just need the divers now and the world's supply of sign posts. Signs will be installed on the 18m contour and 30m contour globally, will be constructed with twin set sensors to render them invisible when approached by someone wearing those. Currently working on a solution for areas without easy access to solid anchorage.

Donations or volunteers please email us at udlsc@useyourbrainwhilediving.hotmail. Sponsorship opportunites are available

LOL

[calski]

Hi Mark

You're not alone in your experience, that's for sure! I qualified out in Egypt and the first dive I did post OW course was to 28 meters. I remember thinking "shit, this is deep... shit... this is very deep! shit... this is deeper than the 18 meters!"

Then I just thought "well, she (the DM) knows what she's doing... "

In hindsight (always a beautiful thing) I shouldn't have been down there and should have not put myself in that position (I could blame the DM but ultimately, I am responsible for what I do / don't do). However, as I was new / nervous /naive, I didn't want to look like a prat. I now realise a prat who is alive is better than a prat who is dead!

One thing to keep in mind though I suppose, is that to get the deep diver speciality, you essentially have to dive to a depth deeper than 18 meters without being AOW (assuming you do it as part of the course). So, I guess that really, there will always be at least one instance of you breaking the 18 meter rule.

I guess it's a tough one really. I'm OW and not AOW - I don't really intend on doing the AOW at the moment but am off to Sharm in June. Will I dive deeper than 18 meters? Probably. In fact, I know that I will. Should I? According to PADI? No. Will I feel comfortable at 20 meters? Yes. 25? Yes. 30? No.

You have to make the choice for yourself at the time and live (or not) by the resulting consequences I guess.

I'd also echo the sentiments about DMs on holiday (some but not all I might add). In mexico, I saw a "Discover Scuba" chap bouncing off the sea bed at 20 meters. He was really struggling and the DM just kept an eye on him (???). He came out of the water with cuts all over his knees.

Safe diving!

calski

[Steve S]

Hi there,

not really going down the route of trust me, the real gray area is if you have an incident, any insurance life/injury/travel would gleefully wash ther hands as you are diving beyond the limit of your certification.

I would assume its ok if you are on a course that requires depth though.

Safe diving,
Steve