What is a dive?

[twinkles]

The various certifying agencies require x number of dives to qualify for y certification. And PADI's specialty courses require x number of dives. But I have had instructors say "we can split a tank and make it two dives" on a one tank night dive. So what exactly constitutes a "dive?"

 

[spectrum]

If you really want to split hairs then you need to look at the specific agencies written definition and I know PADI has a very defined one consisting of CF of air used, time and min depth reached or something like that.

As far as preparing yourself for further training I would not split a tank into multiple dives just because you took a break, that's just an easy out for the instructors. Bottom time = experience so don't work the system. Find time to dive often instead.

Pete

 

[RJP]

So what exactly constitutes a "dive?"

If after surfacing you ask yourself "I wonder if that constitutes a dive?" then it probably doesn't.

 

[1_T_Submariner]

I think more is learned on the desecent (equalizing, not crashing the bottom) and ascent (safety stops, monitoring ascent rate etc...) than cruising at depth.

I commonly split my hp120 between two shallow dives my son uses 2 al80's and I only get one fill. I've seen guys in doubles get more than 2. This would be 2 45min dives.

My opinion if you feel like it was long enough to be a dive then log it as one. IF you are going out descending to 20 feet for 15 minutes then ascending and taking an SI and doing it again I don't think I would count that.

 

[Gary D.]

INHO, if you go into a liquid environment that requires life support equipment and you stay for a time period that requires the use of that equipment, it’s a logable dive.

Gary D.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

INHO, if you go into a liquid environment that requires life support equipment and you stay for a time period that requires the use of that equipment, it’s a logable dive.

Gary D.

That's my view. Now if as an instructor you see someone has done 10 10-min dives to meet some minimum number of dives, I'd question them about whether they really "get it."

 

[GDI]

20 ft 15 minutes or 50 cubic ft of breathing medium. Yes there are those in any agency who will slip and dip you and call it a official dive.

 

[Mako Mark]

INHO, if you go into a liquid environment that requires life support equipment and you stay for a time period that requires the use of that equipment, it’s a logable dive.

Gary D.

If you are breathing underwater, you are either diving or drowning.

That's my view. Now if as an instructor you see someone has done 10 10-min dives to meet some minimum number of dives, I'd question them about whether they really "get it."

As far as Training Dive requirements for proof of experience, the above example of teabag diving doesnt really count.

PADIs requirement is 20 minutes or 50 cfu of air as a minimum for a training dive. I am sure that the other agencies have a similar definition.

 

[PlayaCountryBoy]

If you are breathing underwater, you are either diving or drowning.

I second that! This is actually a very good quesiton. I have instances where I believe I would count it as a dive, but maybe others would not. For example, what if you are in a spearfishing tournament? You may make 6-10 bounce dives down to depths of 100' +/-, so does that count as 8-10 dives or 4-5 dives? We had surface intervals between all dives, and we were on scuba. And what about all the countless hours I have spent on the bottom of a pool teaching intro or open water courses? Do these count as dives? It certainly is time spent breathing underwater, no? I look forward to hearing everyone's responses.

 

[mhedstrom]

For PADI standards I was told by several different instructors that 20 ft for 20 minutes is counted as a dive, but that means as long as you hit 20 feet at some point during the dive, it counts.