Max Depth for AOW

[SilverNU]

I hear different answers from different people..

The most common is 100 ft.

What is the depth limit for AOW ?

[Tortuga68]

Which agency are you asking about and what do you mean by depth limit - maximum depth during the course, or the depth you will be certified for after completing the course?

[Paco II]

The answer may also vary by country.

[oggy666]

padi says 100 and 130 if you have deep specialty.

[DevonDiver]

Most agencies will state a recommended maximum depth appropriate to the qualification. In most instances that recommended depth is well-considered and a valid safety measure.

Divers sometimes confuse this with the maximum permissible depth allowed during the training course. This is a standard that applies to the instructor teaching the course.

For the PADI Advanced Open Water (AOW) course the maximum depth is 30m/100ft. This is also the maximum recommended depth for (AOW qualified) divers who have not completed specialised Deep Diver training.

[String]

Depth on a course as per standards is one thing.

After a course there is no depth limit. Standards do not apply. You can go to 90m if you want without breaking any "limit" (except maybe local laws and insurance!).
Dive centres often have policies restricting depths to the recommended max for the qualification they hold but that isnt a "law" its simply a centres policy.

PADI only make recommendations or sometimes limits for their courses. Outside the course they don't care.

[Garrobo]

Depends on your past experience and how much air you can carry so's you won't drown or end up with the bends on ascent. Recommendations are just that: recommendatiions. I did the Speigle Grove with only ten dives under my belt and an OW cert (of course accompanied by a DM). That is actually what hooked me on diving. My first ten dives were around Lauderdale and was disappointed with what I was seeing but the deep ship dive did it for me.

[Mike Boswell]

MY depth limit is whatever I think I and my buddy will be safe with, based on the conditions, our experience, and our equipment. In cold water that is usually 100 feet. In warm water a bit more if there is a reason to do it. For us, deeper dives are shorter and less relaxing, generally.

[fnfalman]

It's as deep as you want to go.

[Mr Carcharodon]

Using the certification to set limits has a lot of problems. Some people are ready to go deep with out the class, for some the class is enough, and others not enough. My take is you should be on firm ground on decompression and gas planning and be confident in your skills before going below 100 feet. Your buddy should be too.

[DevonDiver]

In addition to maximum 'recommended' and 'training' depths, we also have to look at the maximum depth to which a diver is trained.

Given the contents of the OW and AOW course, the diver's training does not exceed a basic understanding of narcosis, buddy techniques, rudimentary ascent (with safety stop) techniques. There is no training in decompression, emergency decompression, gas management, redundant gas systems, advanced ascent procedures or narcosis management.

In reality, the limitations of training reflect a 30m/100ft depth limitation; beyond which the diver is at greater risk of narcosis, exceeding NDLs, gas depletion and DCI.

Specialised 'Deep Diver' training, should provide the outstanding training and knowledge required for sub-30m/100ft dives, up until the limit of no-decompression diving.

At no point will a PADI recreational diver recieve any training in effective decompression procedures. This effectively prohibits safe diving beyond the NDLs formulated by tables or individual dive computers. In practice, this makes any depth beyond 40m/130ft 'off-limits' to the PADI recreational diver.

[FritzCat66]

I got my AOW with PADI and then took the SSI Deep Diver cert mostly so I could dive within recreational limits (40m/130') without anyone being able to rightfully accuse me of "diving beyond my certification". But I must say that the Deep Diver cert really didn't teach me anything I hadn't already learned from my AOW training, just more emphasis on gas management and the effects of nitrogen, etc.

Not that the extra emphasis is a bad thing, mind you. :dontknow:

[String]

just more emphasis on gas management and the effects of nitrogen, etc.

To be fair those are pretty much the only important things between 30 and 40m :)

[DevonDiver]

just more emphasis on gas management and the effects of nitrogen, etc.

You could say the same thing about a technical extended range course..... ;)

[koozemani]

I was taught 130' for recreational diving. I've never pushed it much past 100', never had a reason to.

[Bob DBF]

Max Depth for AOW

When asked what the maximum depth for our submarine was, the reply was "all the way to the bottom".

The proper question is how deep can you go and safely return to the surface.

You need to answer the question because you are the one going down and it is your life.

Bob
------------------------------
I am not to be used as an example.

[DevonDiver]

The proper question is how deep can you go and safely return to the surface.

You need to answer the question because you are the one going down and it is your life.

Technically, I agree with that. However, I doubt many divers have sufficient understanding of the full spectrum of issues and dangers involved with making that personal decision. Instead, they choose based on "what they are happy with", which tends to be a subjective view based on their psychological comfort and level of percieved anxiety. In addition, the sublime effect of narcosis can impact on that self-assessment of capability.

Any diver who feels sufficiently capable of exceeding agency recommended limits should have a very strong and rational basis to do so.

This should be rooted in a comprehensive familiarity with the risks and issues involved. Due to the subjective and often inaccurate nature of this self-assessment, a second-opinion from a knowledgeble authority (instructor/mentor or more experienced peer) is a very wise consideration.

[rk288]

PADI and NAUI 100 ft for the courses I took.

[Mayor]

For me the tank or tanks would also play a factor, not to mention gases. For example you will not get me any deeper then 80 feet on an AL80. :D

[SilverNU]

thanks for the input..

Im fairly new to diving.. I would rather not have any "mandatory" deco.. by accident or otherwise.. for quite awhile.

I also want to be on firm ground and more experienced before I even think about doing anything beyond my limits. Just have to make sure to know why my limits are.

[emoreira]

As for SSI, an OWD can dive up to 18 mts depth (60 fsw).
To become AOWD the diver must have at least 24 dives logged in the log book and 4 specialties that qualify for AOWD. One of the specialties that qualify for AOWD is Deep Diving. The specialty Deep Diving allows the diver to dive up to 40 mts depth (130 fsw).
Though there is a special mention in the book that the diver must have some experience to reach that depth.
Besides 40 mts (130 fsw) is considered the limit for Recreational Diving. SSI tables for Recreational Diving are limited to 40 mts.
Again, a SSI AOWD could not have the Deep Diving certification and, in spite of being AOWD, could not dive beyond 18 mts.

[diver 85]

I hear different answers from different people..

The most common is 100 ft.

What is the depth limit for AOW ?

my computer gives me a max depth time down to 160, I believe......:)

[emoreira]

my computer gives me a max depth time down to 160, I believe......:)

The manual of my Veo 180NX PDC goes into error mode if depth is beyond 99 mts (325 fsw).

[diver 85]

The manual of my Veo 180NX PDC goes into error mode if depth is beyond 99 mts (325 fsw).

Now we talkin'-------I use the same computer, but have never read the manuel.........

[knowone]

thanks for the input..

Im fairly new to diving.. I would rather not have any "mandatory" deco.. by accident or otherwise.. for quite awhile.

I also want to be on firm ground and more experienced before I even think about doing anything beyond my limits. Just have to make sure to know why my limits are.



You've sorta answered your own question?

It is the distance between your gauges your eyes and your abilities.