Three dives in one day against the rules?

[nereas]

LOL, thanks guys. I'd still like to hear from someone who is a CMAS instructor whether such a rule really exists.



Do SSI standards restrict instructor or a student to no more than 3 dives a day?

I can see some logic in both - a student shouldn't have three classes in one day in order to remember something from his training, and an instructor probably doesn't want DCS from doing too many CESA drills in one day...

The training agencies, yes, have these limitations for students. But remember, the students are highly task loaded, and they are normally using air (not nitrox), and as uncertified there are higher risks associated with their diving.

 

[nereas]

What I ask for is scientific proof, here is the answer I got from DAN:
I quote:
There is unfortunately no scientific data available as yet that can provide accurate information for multiple dives per day. In terms of general safety dive medicine professionals recommend that if you chose to dive aggressively that follow the recreational guidelines regarding no-decompression limits, use surface intervals that are longer than the minimum required and to stay well hydrated. The more dives that are done in the day the greater the potential fluid loss is. As far as covering the treatment for an aggressive diver we can only answer for DAN America. We would cover the expense regardless of the diver's profiles and diving style. If we can be any further assistance do not hesitate to contact DAN.
Divers Alert Network

Marty McCafferty, EMT-P DMT-A
DAN, Medical Information Specialist
Department of Anesthesiology
Duke University Medical Center
(919) 684-2948 ext. 286
(800) 446-2671 ext. 222
(919) 493-3040 Fax
E-mail: mmccafferty@dan.duke.edu

So are we happy now?

DAN is saying that they will cover you no matter how many dives you do in a day.

And with the Master and the Preferred plans, they cover you to any depth as well, even if you exceed your recommended certified training limit (130 fsw for most non-tech divers in the USA, 140 fsw for PADI DMs, etc).

[Some European organizations have different recommended MODs.]

 

[nereas]

*** UPDATE *** UPDATE *** UPDATE ***

So, there I went to a club meeting yesterday and no one mentions anything regarding the three dive rule. As I had to leave on business before the meeting was over, I thought this story was over...

But, as it turns out it was nothing but! When I got home and checked my mailbox I found out they sent everyone a new "Club diving organization rulebook"!

And here it is (translated):

1. General rules
Dive club expects organized dives, diving trips, diving courses and other activities to be SAFE and so is the motto of the club: SAFETY MUST BE IMPERATIVE!

2. Diving depth
Diving depth is strictly limited in accordance with Croatian Diving Association rules and not following these rules may result in membership cancellation.

3. Number of dives
Within one day (24 hours) it is allowed to make 2 dives MAXIMUM regardless of depth or bottom time of those dives. Recommendation for beginners (R1) is one dive per day.

In case the first dive was a deco dive, there can be no second dive in the same day.

In case of making two dives over several days (club week, dive camp etc.) it is allowed to dive maximum of three days after which there should be a mandatory day off...

Thanks for your update, mislav. This does indeed appear to be a local issue specific to your dive club. But you would be surprised how often professional operators, like dive shop owners, also enforce a 2 dive limit, on trips, and such.

For live-aboard diving, it is fairly common to make 5 dives per day, for the entire length of the trip. It is also recommended to take a day off after 3 days, but it is virtually never enforced.

For such diving, nitrox is a really good idea. However I have seen divers on live-aboards do their 5 dives per day strictly with air. The boat captain offered them nitrox, and he was not happy when they refused him, in favour of air.

I believe in nitrox for all diving on which I am not using trimix, and that is my recommendation for you as well.

 

[pakman]

http://www.cmas.org/

CMAS - Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques

They're French, why do you think they have that reeedeeeculous accent, you English pig dog!.... :joke:

sorry, couldn't resist throwing in that classic Monty Python's Holy Grail quote...

 

[mislav]

Agreed, Nereas - I also promote diving on Nitrox on every occasion possible. In fact - I've done 5 Nitrox dives this last weekend. Outside of that club of course, they don't dive Nitrox...

With an increasing number of dive centers offering free EAN fills I see Nitrox diving as the future of rec diving. Voodoo gas is going mainstream.

@pakman: I didn't expect PPD inquisition in here!

 

[pakman]

don't worry Mislav, I have to deal with British BSAC rules at my local club! [gasp!]

 

[pupdiver]

I try not to do less than 3 dives in a day! I don't get as much time to dive as I would like so I like to fill up the day when I do get to go. I have done as much as 5 per day for three days in a row (with sufficient surface intervals) and I am still undead.

 

[markfm]

Undead -- zombie diver! "Nitrox, I smell Nitrox..."

 

[nereas]

Agreed, Nereas - I also promote diving on Nitrox on every occasion possible. In fact - I've done 5 Nitrox dives this last weekend. Outside of that club of course, they don't dive Nitrox...

With an increasing number of dive centers offering free EAN fills I see Nitrox diving as the future of rec diving. Voodoo gas is going mainstream.

...

Cool!

Just for more info, for you, on the technical part of their policy, it is perfectly normal to plan and carry out 2 deco dives in one day, as well. Repetitive deco diving is no more unusual than repetitive NDL diving. This is precisely why I have 2 sets of doubles, of each size that I own, small and large. (4 of them. They take up a lot of room.)

The only issue is the depth and time spent on the first dive, regarding what the required surface interval must be. Generally speaking, a 2 hour surface interval is considered to be the minimum between any 2 deco dives.

However you must use a software program like V-Planner to determine when a longer surface interval is needed. The required surface interval can be anywhere from 2 to 6 hours, according to the V-Planner model.

In addition, some agencies such as NAUI-Tech have additional safety rules forbidding a repetitive deco dive within 12 hours, if the first dive has been 250 fsw or deeper (75 meters). [I don't know exactly what their rules are now, but once upon a time, that was one of their rules.]

That is just food for thought, for you, since you seem like a very well informed person, who likes to obtain more knowledge.

 

[mislav]

Good post. Thanks, Nereas.