Am I being a wimp about these dive plans, or is this how you become a better diver?

[boulderjohn]

As a PADI OW diver you are only certified to dive to 18 metres or about 60 feet, any deeper and your insurance is probably invalid. I would suggest that you and hubby both do you advanced course as this will start to give you some of the skills and self awareness (particularly for hubby) that will hold you in good stead for future dives

PADI recommends that new divers stay within the limits of their training and experience, and it recommends that divers extend those limits by taking classes and/or extending their limits through experience. PADI has no power to enforce any dive limits on anyone other than instructors doing classes. Your insurance is not affected if you dive beyond 60 feet as an OW diver, unless it is some crazy policy I have never heard of. Some DAN policies will limit you to 130 feet; mine does not.

 

[boulderjohn]

Overhead environments require overhead training.

What is the appropriate class to take to prepare for a short swim-through?

 

[boulderjohn]

I truly believe the 60" restriction is just a way for PADI to make money.

As I stated a few posts ago, there is no restriction, just a recommendation. No agency has the power to limit what you do on your personal dives.

The people putting restrictions on dive depths are dive operators, who do have that power.

 

[scrane]

As I stated a few posts ago, there is no restriction, just a recommendation. No agency has the power to limit what you do on your personal dives.

The people putting restrictions on dive depths are dive operators, who do have that power.

PADI doesn't seem very active in making the distinction. I am waiting for the "No, no, you've got it all wrong!" memo.

 

[Celt]

And shops like this have killed people in the past.

You don’t know what shop there going to, you don’t know what dives the shop intends to do and you don’t know any of the people involved but you were actually able to tell them it was time for a divorce, how hilarious is that. People need to start coming back to earth. We know nothing of the planned dives or who’s doing them.

 

[NorCalDM]

The only actual depth restriction PADI has is for training dives. OW dives 1 and 2 no greater than 40ft, dives 3 and 4 no greater than 60ft if doing 3 training dives in one day the last dive is no greater than 40ft. Please correct me if I'm wrong boulderjohn as I haven't looked at my instructor manual in awhile.

 

[boulderjohn]

PADI doesn't seem very active in making the distinction. I am waiting for the "No, no, you've got it all wrong!" memo.

Do you think agency people are reading threads like this to find people who are misinformed so they can correct them personally?

 

[noserider]

PADI recommends that new divers stay within the limits of their training and experience, and it recommends that divers extend those limits by taking classes and/or extending their limits through experience. PADI has no power to enforce any dive limits on anyone other than instructors doing classes. Your insurance is not affected if you dive beyond 60 feet as an OW diver, unless it is some crazy policy I have never heard of. Some DAN policies will limit you to 130 feet; mine does not.

BJ - don't mean to be argumentative but, please check facts before you post.

My annual UK insurance policy has a clear clause that says you are insured up to the depth that you are certified to or a maximum of 40 metres, maybe US insurers are different.

Padi also states on its website "Open Water Divers can plan and execute dives with a certified buddy or dive professional to a maximum depth of 18 meters/60 feet." that feels a little bit stronger than a recommendation and if you are diving with a PADI facility I would expect them to enforce the limits that divers are trained to dive to or I would go elsewhere

The Difference Between Scuba Diver and Open Water Diver?

When people say they are a scuba diver or have a scuba diving license, what do they mean? Find out more about diving certifications here.

blog.padi.com

 

[scrane]

Do you think agency people are reading threads like this to find people who are misinformed so they can correct them personally?

Alright, I understand your position as a representative of PADI.

 

[NorCalDM]

BJ - don't mean to be argumentative but, please check facts before you post.

My annual UK insurance policy has a clear clause that says you are insured up to the depth that you are certified to or a maximum of 40 metres, maybe US insurers are different.

Padi also states on its website "Open Water Divers can plan and execute dives with a certified buddy or dive professional to a maximum depth of 18 meters/60 feet." that feels a little bit stronger than a recommendation and if you are diving with a PADI facility I would expect them to enforce the limits that divers are trained to dive to or I would go elsewhere

What is your insurance for, instructor liability or trip insurance or? I don't have to have insurance to go diving. I carry liability insurance for teaching and DAN for traveling but only one Liveaboard and one resort has ever required dive insurance that I have been to and they were very remote destinations. My medical insurance covers me if I get hurt diving in the US, I've checked. Also the website states "You can dive on your own with a buddy up to a maximum depth of 18 meters/60 feet" nothing mentioned about with a professional. My understanding of this is that was your training depth max so as a newly trained OW diver you have not been below that so have not gained that experience yet. Diving with a guide/DM/instructor below that depth is how you gain that experience.