Don't forget about the insurance aspect as well. If you get injured, how happy will your insurance company be with you if they discover you dove deeper than you were certified for. How would they find out? How many people dive with a computer?
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Xanthro:As others have said, there are no Scuba police. While some boats may require you have an accompaning DM on deeper dives, that's usually based on C-Card (a mistake in my opinion) or your dive log.
mark99:I think the reason they want the advanced C-card is to try to limit their own liability in case of an accident, not for any particular concern about your actual ability.
According to my PADI OW manual (Version 2.4; Rev. 10/03) safe practices include limiting your depth to 18m/60ft or less as a new diver.RonFrank:For and OW cert the limit is 18m/60ft. An OW diver can dive deeper IF he is accompanied by DM, AI, or Instructor.
PADI says that if you don't have an AOW card, dives beyond 60ft are a no no. As many have pointed out, there are no scuba police, and PADI does not seem to recognize that someone with 100 dives is likely a much safer diver at 100ft, vs. the guy with 9 dives, and an AOW card.
mark99:I think the reason they want the advanced C-card is to try to limit their own liability in case of an accident, not for any particular concern about your actual ability.
PADI has a Discover Nitrox class that you take online, and only do the test an analyze a tank with an instructor. It certifies you up to EAN32, and requires no dives.shooter226:Don't kid yourself. The reason is so they can charge you extra for the dive.
Put
Another
Dollar
In
This is what they are trying to do.
cudachaser:For NASE the rules are to conduct the 4 first open water dives in a min of 20ft to a maximum of 60ft. After that the pool is open to 130ft for air dives