4 ms·

What you’re taught as an entry-level diver: if you don’t have a clear path overhead, you’re at way more risk. 30m down with a clear view overhead is less danger

What you’re taught as an entry-level diver: if you don’t have a clear path overhead, you’re at way more risk. 30m down with a clear view overhead is less dangerous than 5m down in a shipwreck, and there are other counterintuitive things you have to internalize. Decompression sickness from a too-fast ascent is treatable (especially from the 30m limit of the entry-level licenses) - drowning, not so much. Brushing your flippers against the ground can knock up a potentially hazardous amount of silt/sand. You can have trouble telling up from down (look for your bubbles). I’ve not been in nearly 15 years, so more experienced divers PLEASE correct me.

defterGoose 4y ago
It's pretty well drilled into your head in most lower-level license courses that you should never be in an enclosed/overhead environment without proper training AND equipment like a bail-out bottle. One of the basic requirements of Decompression (Tec) diving is a fully redundant second air supply, which is generally not necessary with rec diving for the very reason you stated: an emergency ascent within deco limits is generally very safe even without the (optional) safety stop. Most deaths of rec divers are caused by a lack of training that leads to panic and drowning at depth or the surface. For this reason, more advanced (and arguably all) scuba diving is the province of those with complete focus and mental fortitude.
- c_o_n_v_e_x 4y ago
  I’m a fairly well experienced diver. The “closest call” I had was while fighting a strong current on a wall (Yapak in Boracay,Philippines). I was working hard to keep up with my instructor and using a lot of air. My reg could not keep up and I started feeling like I was not getting enough air. Felt the beginning stages of panic kicking in. I knew technically what was happening , but I had to really mentally focus on my breathing to remain calm. I could definitely foresee situations where someone panics underwater.
- MandieD 4y ago
  I’m glad I did my training through US Army MWR while working on a post in Germany, because they had far less economic motive to hurry us along. It gave me enough appreciation for how risky diving can be, and how much your safety depends on the state of your equipment, and your and your diving buddies’ staying aware and calm that I’ll probably never do it again. And from your and others’ responses, there’s enough I’ve forgotten that I’d have to approach it as a beginner again if I changed my mind.
genmud 4y ago
It’s also important to know that there is no difference between hard ceilings (caves, wrecks, etc) and artificial/decompression ceilings if you are doing that type of dive profile. Most of those dives will be 3 or more tanks or rebreathers though.

defterGoose 4y ago

It's pretty well drilled into your head in most lower-level license courses that you should never be in an enclosed/overhead environment without proper training AND equipment like a bail-out bottle. One of the basic requirements of Decompression (Tec) diving is a fully redundant second air supply, which is generally not necessary with rec diving for the very reason you stated: an emergency ascent within deco limits is generally very safe even without the (optional) safety stop. Most deaths of rec divers are caused by a lack of training that leads to panic and drowning at depth or the surface. For this reason, more advanced (and arguably all) scuba diving is the province of those with complete focus and mental fortitude.

c_o_n_v_e_x 4y ago
I’m a fairly well experienced diver. The “closest call” I had was while fighting a strong current on a wall (Yapak in Boracay,Philippines). I was working hard to keep up with my instructor and using a lot of air. My reg could not keep up and I started feeling like I was not getting enough air. Felt the beginning stages of panic kicking in. I knew technically what was happening , but I had to really mentally focus on my breathing to remain calm. I could definitely foresee situations where someone panics underwater.
MandieD 4y ago
I’m glad I did my training through US Army MWR while working on a post in Germany, because they had far less economic motive to hurry us along. It gave me enough appreciation for how risky diving can be, and how much your safety depends on the state of your equipment, and your and your diving buddies’ staying aware and calm that I’ll probably never do it again. And from your and others’ responses, there’s enough I’ve forgotten that I’d have to approach it as a beginner again if I changed my mind.

genmud 4y ago

It’s also important to know that there is no difference between hard ceilings (caves, wrecks, etc) and artificial/decompression ceilings if you are doing that type of dive profile. Most of those dives will be 3 or more tanks or rebreathers though.