What KJackson 60 describes as a "surface support station" is standard on most live aboards, but in 14 years of diving with over 100 day boat operators, I have never seen a day boat "dangle a tank." Diving no decompression profiles with a buddy and a dive professional in the water suggests such a "surface support station" would not be expected as part of the reasonable safe practices expected of the dive concessionaire. Let me comment on the "60 feet is a deep dive" part of the thread. The description of 60 feet or deeper as a deep dive is done as the issues of nitrogen loading and fidelity to no decompression limits becomes more important and less forgiving once we descend to those depths. But the fact is, the consensus recreational dive maximum, up to which many ndl dives are done every day, is 130 feet. Nor does one's level of certification dictate to what depth you can "legally" or competently dive. That is determined by your skill level, conditions and, at times, who you are with. My first dive after certification was at Molikini Crater off Maui, to a depth of 80 feet. While I hold a professional rating, my wife and buddy is an open water diver. However, she has hundreds of ocean dives, dives with me, and nearly 20% of her dives have been to a maximum depth of over 100 feet. We also have plenty of dives to 30 feet. All divers should dive within their limits. That includes those who hold advanced open water credentials, but have few if any dives other than their certification dives. Don't worry about getting a ticket from the scuba police for exceeding 60 feet with only an open water certification. It has never happened. We are each responsible for diving within our own competence and limits. Be active, be safe, and have fun! Just be smart.
DivemasterDennis