In the Advanced Scuba Discussion forum today, the top three subjects are:
Whilst everyone is thinking about these subjects, I want to throw another one out.
If one accepts that it may be acceptable for "non-technical" divers to engage in solo diving, provided they have (amongst other things) the proper training on gas planning and redundant gas supplies, should there be any objection to training recreational divers to conduct "light deco" dives. By "light deco", I mean envisaging using your back gas only for decompression, and limiting the mandatory decompression stop to, say.... 6 minutes.
Let's be clear - lots of experienced divers do this in practice anyhow. So what we are really discussing is whether if agencies (first SDI, now seemingly PADI) start to accept solo diving as appropriate for properly trained and equipped recreational divers, why not "light deco" to?
It does very much blur what the core boundary line which usually used to distinguish "technical" diving (see Andy's article). But (speaking from my personal diving practices) for me there is a world of difference between carrying a rich deco gas (or two) on a dive where I am planning either an extended stop or series of stops to off-gas, and simply running a "long" recreational dive acknowledging that I am going to have to sit at 15 feet for a while longer breathing back gas at the end of the dive before I can surface.
- The definition of Recreational Diving vs. Technical.
- Does defining "technical diving" serve any purpose?
- Do You Consider Solo Diving to be Recreational or Technical?
Whilst everyone is thinking about these subjects, I want to throw another one out.
If one accepts that it may be acceptable for "non-technical" divers to engage in solo diving, provided they have (amongst other things) the proper training on gas planning and redundant gas supplies, should there be any objection to training recreational divers to conduct "light deco" dives. By "light deco", I mean envisaging using your back gas only for decompression, and limiting the mandatory decompression stop to, say.... 6 minutes.
Let's be clear - lots of experienced divers do this in practice anyhow. So what we are really discussing is whether if agencies (first SDI, now seemingly PADI) start to accept solo diving as appropriate for properly trained and equipped recreational divers, why not "light deco" to?
It does very much blur what the core boundary line which usually used to distinguish "technical" diving (see Andy's article). But (speaking from my personal diving practices) for me there is a world of difference between carrying a rich deco gas (or two) on a dive where I am planning either an extended stop or series of stops to off-gas, and simply running a "long" recreational dive acknowledging that I am going to have to sit at 15 feet for a while longer breathing back gas at the end of the dive before I can surface.