Further course, no deep diving?

[Skittl1321]

So I've finished the bookwork portion of OW, and am really thankful I have found scubaboard. The book was woefully uninformative (hoping the instructor led portions are better!) and most every topic discussed I knew, and then knew more from reading here (so really it just served to reinforce the things here were true, since you know- internet is not fact.)

The one thing I read over and over here is that OW doesn't really prepare a diver for much and after 20 or so dives, you really ought to go into AOW and get more training.

AOW requires a deep dive. Due to a medical condition, that probably isn't a big deal, but I'd hate to find out that it is, I plan to be very conservative with my diving and I have zero interest in deep diving.

Are there still courses out there that allow me to become a more informed, safe diver? Or is OW the only card I'll be able to earn?

 

[windapp]

You don't need to take any courses unless they are required for a charter you will be doing. You can learn a lot from experienced divers, and instructors without getting a certification for each new thing you learn. Since deep diving is the only thing that the AOW cert is required for, and you don't want to do that, you don't need it.

What medical condition prevents you from diving deep that doesn't prevent you from scuba diving at all?

 

[uncfnp]

And what do you consider deep or your personal max depth

 

[Skittl1321]

What medical condition prevents you from diving deep that doesn't prevent you from scuba diving at all?

I have a multi level cervical fusion and spinal cord damage at that site. The hyperbaric physician /active diver I spoke with basically just said the scar tissue makes it much more difficult to out gas the nitrogen and this combined with the damage spinal cord makes me more susceptible to a type 2 hit, maybe. They really aren't sure. People successfully dive with both issues, and likely the same combination I have. It was just recommended since there are no conclusive studies I don't dive deep. She was very encouraging about scuba in general though.

Having had to learn to walk again once, I'm more than happy to take the advice, even if it turns out to not be an actual issue.



So it sounds like the best way for me to get more training on being a safe diver is to find some sort of mentor. Since we'll mostly be vacation divers, this might mean sending my husband to classes and learning from him.

As for my max depth, I really don't know. But 60 feet really sounds like plenty. I'm a bit of a weeny.

 

[Superlyte27]

Okay, verify this with DAN, because I could be completely wrong, but I'm pretty sure the Cervical Fusion (My mom had it done) involves bone right? So, my mom also had scar tissue on the bone, just like any broken bone. As Nitrogen isn't absorbed into bones, but rather fat and muscle tissues, I really don't think this is an issue. Add in a serious level of conservatism (like Nitrox using air tables/computer) and an extra long safety stop, and I'd bet my rebreather that you got nothing to worry about.

 

[Imla]

It might be of interest to know that although the AOW will allow you to dive to 30m, the actual criteria to fulfil requirements for AOW is only that you conduct a dive between 18-30m.
So... In essence, you can do a dive to 19m and still get your AOW. You are then good to go for rescue and so on.

 

[Skittl1321]

Okay, verify this with DAN, because I could be completely wrong, but I'm pretty sure the Cervical Fusion (My mom had it done) involves bone right? So, my mom also had scar tissue on the bone, just like any broken bone. As Nitrogen isn't absorbed into bones, but rather fat and muscle tissues, I really don't think this is an issue. Add in a serious level of conservatism (like Nitrox using air tables/computer) and an extra long safety stop, and I'd bet my rebreather that you got nothing to worry about.

I have talked to DAN. It was them who mentioned I would be at additional risk and refered me to the hyperbaric people. My Dr. just did a regular physical to do the PADI waiver.
The Cervical fusion is a bone graft + metal plate, but I imagine there is some level of scar tissue in the fat/muscle, because they had to cut into the neck to remove the bone before putting in the new one. (I also have scarring on my hip from where they removed the graft bone, but I'm less worried about that because it isn't in close proximity to a damaged spinal cord.)

Like I said, it is likely a non-issue, but having been paralyzed once, I have no desire to ever have that happen again. Thanks for mentioning Nitrox- that may be something I look into to reduce the nitrogen levels.

---------- Post added June 4th, 2013 at 12:07 PM ----------

It might be of interest to know that although the AOW will allow you to dive to 30m, the actual criteria to fulfil requirements for AOW is only that you conduct a dive between 18-30m.
So... In essence, you can do a dive to 19m and still get your AOW. You are then good to go for rescue and so on.

Thanks. I'll ask my dive shop if they can do this for the checkout dive. (We have to go out of state for a weekend trip to check-out, so I'm not sure how accomodating they can be.) Definetly good to know though- because PADI really pushes rescue as essential for safety, and I'm not feeling too confident about the information provided in OW.

 

[knotical]

Even if you never go deep, there are other courses that have proven worthwhile. For examples, well-conducted courses in Peak Performance Buoyancy and Underwater Navigator.

But if you can accomplish AOW, it serves as a prerequisite for the Rescue course which is generally considered one of the most useful courses available.

As for the risk associated with scar tissue, my non-medical take is that the risk is low and/or unknown. Perhaps just diving conservatively would be sufficient, i.e. go deep, but still stay well under the NDLs.

 

[Akimbo]

Given your concern, I would plan on getting Nitrox certified. It can give you a significant added margin of safety against DCS complications, especially if you continue to decompress on air schedules. I am a volunteer with the Monterey Bay Veterans on their Lift to Freedom Disabled Diver Training Program. In addition to a lift/elevator, we are installing a Nitrox system on their MV Freedom for this very reason.

Sorry I can’t offer a lot more information but I’m working on the engineering side of the effort. You might gain more insight by posting in the Marine Science and Physiology forum.

 

[Damselfish]

As far as Rescue, you could do it with NAUI (or maybe some other agency) which doesn't require AOW first.